Pastor Jeff

Grace & Truth

2009-12-10T07:51:00.000-08:00

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (KJV)

It is a difficult combination to find.

Some people easily speak the truth.

"That's an ugly tie."

"I hate that music."

"That's the dumbest idea I've ever heard."

It may be true. But it sure isn't gracious.

Others display grace and generously give it to all who are around them.

I think of 1 Corinthians 13:7. It says love "always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I know a few folks like that. "Defenders of the world" a friend of mine calls them. And the world could use more of them.

They are always willing to give the benefit of the doubt to someone else.

Always willing to go the second mile when the rest of us are done.

Always have something kind to say about the person everyone else is ready to trash.

They are full of grace.

The first set of people often speak the truth. The second set of people extend grace.

But it is the rare person who is able to do both.

John describes Jesus, the Word of God, as being "full of grace and truth".

Not just a little grace. FULL of grace. Not mostly true. Full of truth. In fact, later in his Gospel, John will quote Jesus who said, "I am the truth."

Jesus is grace incarnate. Jesus is truth in the flesh.

Most of us tend to lean more toward one than the other. We may have an easy time speaking the truth, as we understand it. But grace is nowhere to be found.

Some of us are very comfortable extending grace but stepping up to speak the necessary, difficult word is...well, difficult for us, even though it may be necessary.

Only when we are "full" of the One who was full of grace and truth, can we hope to express that perfect, Christ-like balance. This season seems like a great time to seek the Spirit's work and presence in our lives. To become filled with the One who is grace and truth.

When shopping "to do" lists become overwhelming, when noise and distractions give us a migraine, when sitting in a meeting with people who completely disagree with us raises our blood pressure and lowers our verbal self-control, that is when we most need to be "full of grace and truth". Becoming walking, talking expressions of grace and truth. That's what this season needs. What a great gift we could give to the people in our lives.

Grace (and truth) and peace to you

The Life You Save...

2009-11-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

John Wesley was known to tell people that he gave, not simply so others would be saved, but so that he himself would not be lost! What did he mean by that?

Check out Luke 16:19-31. It is the story often referred to as "The Rich Man and Lazarus".

The story goes like this. There was a rich man who had it all, food and clothing beyond what he could have ever needed. (Notice the way "luxury" is defined? Not by all the things you and I consider to be required. Simply having food and clothing meant he was wealthy.)

And there was a poor man, a beggar, named Lazarus. (Apparently he didn't have food or much in the way of clothing to call his own.)

The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. (What a way to go! God's messengers came and personally escorted the poor beggar into eternity!)

The rich man also died and was buried. Not so good, in comparison. No angels. No Abraham. No such luck. As a matter of fact, the next line reads, "In hell (Hades), where he was in torment..." Ugh. Not so good to be the rich man, I guess.

You may be wondering, "What was the difference maker for each of them? What sent the rich man to torment while the beggar went to Abraham's side?"

...Abraham replied, 'Son, remember in your lifetime you received good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.'

We have been given good things, not simply to enjoy them or hoard them but to share them with others and to bless others; to honor God with our wealth and use it the way He chooses for it to be used.

THIS COMING SUNDAY we will be receiving an offering for Nazarene World Missions. It is our opportunity to reach around the world and touch some of the beggars and those who are in need with the good things you have received: the Good News and financial blessings (medical care, food & clothing).

Every penny that the church is given this Sunday for missions will go out of our church and be sent to those who support missionaries around the world in over 160 countries. Not one cent of money given for missions will stay here.

Will you join me and my family as we plan to set aside something beyond our normal tithe? One of the lives you save may be your own.

Grace & peace

Don't Forget to Remember

2009-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

I wonder if other parents fight the same fights with their kids that we fight with ours. I can only assume you have the same conversations in your home that we have in ours.

Do you ever tell your kids to remember to do something? And when you tell them that, do they ever respond, "Yeah. I know"? And after they have told you that they know, do they fail to do it anyway?!

Maddening, isn't it?

As every parent knows, sometimes "Remember" doesn't simply mean to not forget or to know you've heard it before. Sometimes "remember" means to act. Pick up your shoes. Put your dishes into the dishwasher. Hang up your clothes. Do your homework. "Yeah, I know."

One of my favorite passages in all of the Bible is in Exodus 2:24. The Hebrew people have been enslaved. Generation after generation is born into captivity. They must have begun to feel like this was their lot in life forever. They cried out to God. And nothing seems to be happening. He was like the teen ager: They told Him, but he wasn't responding.

Amidst years and years of inactivity, one little, seemingly harmless verse shows up.

God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

"Big deal!"

You ask, "Who cares if God simply remembers?!"

Oh, but that isn't the end. The remembering means God is getting ready to act. Things are about to change.

And God isn't the only one who is called to remember. In the Book of Ecclesiastes we read...

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth,
before the days of trouble come
and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them".
Remember him - before the silver cord is severed,
or the golden bowl is broken;
before the pitcher is shattered at the spring,
or the wheel broken at the well,
and the dust returns to the ground it came from,
and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
(Ecclesiastes 12:1, 6-7)

What does all that mean? Read what one scholar writes about this passage:

"Solomon urged people to live responsibly before death comes. He refers to two common figures of light ('golden lamp') and water (see Ps. 36:8-9 for a similar use of those two figures). The dissolution of the body is suggested by light being extinguished: the silver cord holding a golden bowl (in which the light burns) snaps and the bowl is broken. Death is also referred to by water being unavailable: the pitcher which holds water is shattered and the wheel by which it is drawn from the well is broken." (Donald Glenn)

Someday your life will end. Don't wait till the silver cord breaks and the bowl shatters. Remember your Creator now. Learn who your Creator is. Discover what your Creator is like. Begin to reflect your Creator's character in the world. Begin to live out the destiny for which you were born. Don't forget to remember.

One day the spirit will return to God who gave it. I want to plan ahead and be ready for the day I'll give an account for this life I've been given. How 'bout you?

Grace & peace

2009-11-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

Being Called

2009-11-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I like being called. I like it when several of you "called" me last month either by phone, e-mail, Facebook, or card to say "happy birthday".

Sometimes I'd prefer not to be called. Like when telemarketers or political machines "call" to sell me or try and persuade me.

But did you know if you are part of the Church you have been called? The New Testament word we translate as "church" actually means "called out"? (More about that on Sunday!)

So we are probably right to think of "The Church" as a congregation (those people who have congregated or gathered together). And we are probably right to think of the "The Church" as an assembly of people (individuals who have been assembled or put together for a particular purpose).

But we probably miss the boat when we think of "The Church" primarily as a building or the place individuals go to fulfill a particular religious function.

We don't get the picture of brick and mortar places where Jesus (who instructs an offended person to "tell it to The Church") or Paul talk about "The Church" (see 1 Cor. 11:18 as an example).

Our "calling" is to something and SomeONE higher than a location or an edifice.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who CALLED you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Join me this Sunday as we unpack some of what it means to be the "Called out" ones. I trust you will have your sense of calling and belonging to the Church elevated and your passion and dedication increased.

Grace & peace

Stuff for My Mystery Bag

2009-11-04T09:39:00.000-08:00

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,and through him to reconcile to himself all things,whether things on earth or things in heaven,by making peace through his blood,shed on a cross (Colossians 1:19-20 NIV).
I'll be the first to admit it. There are just some things I don't understand in life.

- Children who are abused.

- Politicians who abuse the trust they're given by constituents.

- Why one person dies early and another gets to live to a ripe old age.

- People who get disproportionately angry and end up hurting themselves because of their rage.

Just to name a few. (I've got a lot more and you probably do too.)

A friend of mine once told me that his mom took such oddities in her life and mentally dumped them into what she called her "Mystery Bag". "These are the things and the people I don't understand and figure I just never will."

I decided I need to get me one of those "mystery bags". I have people and situations that just don't make sense to me and after living for a little more than four decades, some of them will probably continue to puzzle me.

But as a person of faith, on days when I'm overwhelmed by those "mysteries" that can frustrate me, wound me, or leave me angry, I have to take a step back and be reminded that somehow, somewhere, in some way, God is reconciling all things to himself.

"All" is one of those funny words that sometimes seems to throw everything off. Think about it.

I can say some people are over seven feet tall and you'd probably agree with me.
But if I said, "All people are over seven feet tall" you'd be quick to point out such a statement is ludicrous.

Likewise, I could say "God works some things for our good" and that would be easy to believe. But if I said, "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called, according to His purpose" that would be a little more difficult for us to stomach at times, right?

So there is this audacious statement: God is reconciling all things to himself.

All things? Really? I am tempted to ask God, "Do you know what I know? Do you STILL want to say 'all things'?" (Silly, huh? But be honest, there are times and there are days you wonder the same thing.)

I decided I needed a better understanding of the word "reconcile" so I looked it up. Webster's Dictionary says that "to reconcile" is to "Restore to a state of harmony after a break in relations."

Broken. A break. Maybe now we're getting somewhere.

It is certainly easy for me to slap the "broken" label on some of the things (and some of the people) I put in my mystery bag.

The economy: broken.

Angry people and foreclosed houses: broken.

Hopes of families who have lost their jobs: broken.

People who look for help in the wrong places, wrong things, and wrong people: broken.

People who seem to always see the worst, believe the worst, and react in the worst possible way: broken, broken, broken.

So for now it's like we're looking through a dark glass or window. We know things aren't quite right. But we trust, we hope, we believe that the Gospel is truly God's Good News for us. That God is reconciling all things to himself. Not just "some". Not even "most". All.

May it be so. And may you and I look at those difficult people and difficult situations a little differently today.

Grace & peace

Thank You! Yes! And Amen!

2009-10-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

A big THANK YOU to all of you for the many kind words and generous acts to us in October.

Pastor Appreciation Month and my 42nd birthday give you excuses this month for the wonderful way you treat us all year long. My family and I greatly appreciate it!

I have told my children several times to notice the way you have treated us and that they should "go and do likewise" to their pastors as they become adults and attend churches of their own. Your faithfulness to Christ and those who seek to serve you will become replicated in the lives of our children. Keep up the great example!!

I've continued to mull over the idea of the word "amen" (which is also occasionally translated "verily" or "truly" in other contexts). One of the passages we looked at Sun. included 2 Cor. 1:20:

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

God's "Yes" in Christ turns into a resounding "Amen" by us when we are obedient to the Spirit's nodding, prodding, prompting, and behooving (to quote Steven Curtis Chapman).

One song we sometimes sing was mentioned to me by Rene Eiseman after the sermon. It goes like this,

I'll say Yes! Lord, Yes!
To Your will and to Your way
I'll say Yes! Lord, Yes!
I will trust you and obey
When your Spirit speaks to me
With my whole heart I'll agree
And my answer will be
Yes! Lord, Yes!

Are you like me? I sometimes I say and sing better than I live.

Sometimes my response is less of a full-throated YES! and more of a half-hearted "maybe".

God asks:

Are you willing to turn the other cheek? I'm surprised at the question and respond, "I suppose".

Are you willing to bless those who curse you? "Sometimes."

Are you denying yourself, taking up your cross and following me? "I'm working on it."

It is at times like this I need to run back to scripture and see what God's promises are to you and me.

In the first letter to the church at Corinth we read that the all-surpassing treasure of the knowledge and presence of God has been deposited, not into superhuman, superholy, superstars.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (1 Co. 4:7)

The power of God's promises, God's YES! at work in my sorry, pitiful, little life. It's my only hope today. How 'bout you?

Grace & peace

What Time is it Right Now?

2009-09-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

WhatWhat time is it right now?

Don't look at your watch or your computer. They won't give you the answer we're looking for. Read on:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace...

He has made everything beautiful in its time." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11)

Probably nearly every one would agree with the premise. But the key is not in agreeing with the concept as much as it is in understanding what time it is.

Think about it.

Your car won't start. Is it time to buy a new one or fix the old one?

Your child hasn't done what needs to be done. Time to correct a mistake or stand up to disobedience?

You see an accident beginning to take place on the highway in front of you. Is it time to hit the brake or the gas?

You have some extra cash. Is it time to make that big purchase or build up the savings account?

Things aren't going well in some area of your personal life (church, marriage, exercise, etc.). Do you let it ride or chart a different course?

1 Chronicles 12 gives a list of key people in the life of King David, warriors who came to his aid. In verse 32 there is an interesting description of the men of Isaachar. We read that they,

"understood the times and knew what Israel should do..."

What a gift to have!

I've sat in enough meetings and been on enough committees to know someone like that is invaluable. When a big decision, often a crisis, is being faced, there can be a flurry of ideas and suggestions.

It can feel like you're on the interstate, far from home, and there is a blizzard. You can't see ANYTHING just ahead of you. You're ready to pull over. The meeting is out of control. One person says "hang on" and another says "let go" and the now you're totally confused.

But at that exact moment, a voice of reason, a seasoned, well-respected member, the person everyone has learned look to in moments just like these, says just the right word, heads begin to nod in agreement, and the group comes to a consensus before that individual has finished speaking.

Why? What happened?

They knew what time it was.

They knew when it was time to be quiet.
They knew when it was time to speak.
And they knew what we needed to do at this moment.

Some people think there is only 1 season; that it is ALWAYS time to speak.

Or ALWAYS time to laugh.

Or ALWAYS time to give up.

Or ALWAYS time for war.

But that isn't the wise way to live, is it? We need other tools in our toolbox. We can't always use the sledghammer. Or a hug. We need the right tool for the right job. We need the right response in the right season.

I'm trying to learn that lesson.

And this passage in Ecclesiastes makes us a promise:

He has made everything beautiful in its time.

Be patient. Be listening to The Voice.

Be in relationship with The Spirit.

Be still and know HE is God.

May we allow God to show us what time it is today.

Grace & peace

She's Having the Wrong Baby!

2009-09-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

"She's Having the Wrong Baby"

That was the headline from the Detroit Free Press dated Thursday, September 24, 2009. The story goes on to describe a mix-up at a fertility clinic in which one metro Detroit woman's embryos were mistakenly used to impregnate an Ohio woman. Maybe you've seen the story.

I thought of another story which has some parallels. But this story has a different cast.

The birthing mother, in the second story, is The Church. The babies are those of us who call ourselves Christians.

The Apostle Paul writes, "My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you..." (Galatians 4:19 NIV). But instead of being a mother carrying around this potential "bundle of joy", Paul is in the morning-sickness-phase. "I know what you can become, but right now you make me more than a little ill!"

Do our spiritual mentors, leaders and those to whom we are accountable ever think this about us? (I'm sure people have thought that about me more than once.)

In the Free Press story there seems to be a pretty good chance the baby birthed will look nothing like the birthing mother. I wonder if occasionally those of us who call ourselves "Christians" look nothing like the One after whom we are named. (Certainly there have been times in history when the Church has not lived up to its name.)

In another passage Paul tells us "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:22 NIV). Things aren't right in the world, in our community, in our family, in my life. We are hurting and longing for Someone to come and set them right. We long for all of "creation (to be) liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God".

Certainly the two families and the fertility clinic have unwillingly become examples of one part of creation that is groaning through human error. But they are just one small part of a much larger world. You and I could easily list any number of other places where this world groans, where life is broken and bloodied because of choices, both intentional and unintentional. Times and places where people have been careless, stupid, selfish.

I recently saw an episode of Ken Burns' latest documentary, "National Parks: America's Best Idea." They were discussing a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt, known as someone who appreciated God's creation in a variety of ways and through a number of activities.

After seeing the Grand Canyon, he warned people who lived in the area the best thing we as a country could was to, "Leave it alone. People can only deface it." And then the President set off on a crusade to begin to mark off various parts of the country that ran the risk of being defaced, commercialized, and scarred beyond recognition.

What a great idea: preserving places unlike anywhere else on earth. Planning on our country's well-being, not only for a few years, but for generations.

Can you imagine if there were no Grand Canyon to take your children to see? Or if Yellowstone National Park had become commercialized and Old Faithful had been named for some sponsor? (Go ahead, you can think of a clever company or two.)

For better or worse we are on this planet and we live with each other. And we will leave our mark, one way or another, on the places, systems, structures and yes, people with whom we live.

If you are or have previously been part of "The Church", whatever branch or brand of Christianity you might be or have been, then this next sentence is for you.

The children of God, God's sons and daughters, have not yet been fully "revealed".

So if you look at your own life and feel frustration at how far you are from who God has called you to be, take heart! Maybe you are still in gestation. Don't give up. Christ is still being formed in you!

Or if you have experienced a situation where those The Church claimed were the sons and daughters of God bore no resemblance to the Christ whose name they shared, be patient. Maybe she is having the wrong baby!

The update on the Free Press story was that the impregnated mother-to-be had decided she would carry the baby full term, give birth to the baby, and then give the baby away to the other family!

I wonder if there isn't a lesson there for all of us pastors and priests, deacons and deaconesses, chaplains, board members, teachers, preachers and leaders, about how we, "The Church," ought to view those to whom and with whom, we minister.

Much like that birthing mother, we are called to treat them with respect. We are called to cherish and protect them. Then we are called to give them away because they were never truly ours. We were birthing this baby for Someone else.

What might The Church look like if you and I purposed in our hearts to live life that way? I don't know about you, but I'd sure like to find out.

People with No Religious Affiliation Increasing

2009-09-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

The following is from today's USA Today. I have a few observations at the bottom if you're interested.

Grace & peace
Jeff

---------------------------

Enlarge
By Erich Schlegel, for USA TODAY
On a typical Sunday morning, Diane and Stefan Mueller don't go to church they often walk their dogs and take their son Kai to play in nearby parks.
COMPARE CHANGES IN U.S. RELIGIONS OVER 2 DECADES

FAITH & REASON
Join the conversation on religion, spirituality and ethics here.
And catch up on interesting news with USA TODAY'sCathy Lynn Grossman.

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY
Americans who don't identify with any religion are now 15% of the USA, but trends in a new study shows they could one day surpass the nation's largest denominations — including Catholics, now 24% of the nation.

American Nones: Profile of the No Religion Population, to be released today by Trinity College, finds this faith-free group already includes nearly 19% of U.S. men and 12% of women. Of these, 35% say they were Catholic at age 12.

FAITH & REASON: What's your religious path: Any, many, one or none?
"Will a day come when the Nones are on top? We can't predict for sure," says lead researcher Barry Kosmin.
But if Nones, now 22% of all adults ages 18 to 29, continue to gain among young adults, to draw more people "switching out" from denominations and to replace more religious older people, researchers forecast one in five Americans will be Nones in 20 years.
"Trends clearly favor this," Kosmin says. But he also notes, "There could be a Great Awakening (massive Protestant revival) or immigration may bring in more Catholic believers."
Kosmin and Ariela Keysar of Trinity College, Hartford, Conn., directed three editions of the American Religious Identification Survey over 18 years. The 2008 ARIS (pdf), based on a sampling of 54,000 U.S. adults, also burrowed in for a closer look at 1,106 Nones, who answered extra questions about their beliefs and behaviors and views on God.

ARIS: Most religious groups have lost ground in USA
'NONES': Now 15% of population

The report finds:
•Not all Nones are alike. Half (51%) still believe in God or a higher power.
•Nones also are the only major U. S. faith group that's majority male. Even when girls grow up with unbelieving parents, they're more likely to find a faith as adults than their brothers.
"Women are also less skeptical than men and less drawn to irreligious and anti-religious views. They are more likely to reject a secular upbringing," Kosmin says.
"There is a lot of 'churning' going on but Nones gain much more from switching (people leaving religion) than from natural growth (children emulating unbelieving parents)," he says.
•The percentage of atheist Nones — who say there's no such thing as God — hasn't budged in years.
"It's not as though dozens of people at the Methodist Church read (atheist Richard) Dawkins and suddenly decided God doesn't exist," says Kosmin.
"There are so many misconceptions about who the Nones are. They're not New Age searchers or spiritual or even hardened atheists," says Kosmin.
"They're a stew of agnostics, deists and rationalists. They sound more like Thomas Jefferson and Tom Paine. Their very interesting enlightenment approach is like the Founding Fathers' kind: Skeptical about organized religion and clerics while still holding to an idea of God."
One quirky fact: 33% of Nones claim Irish ancestry, although the U.S. Census says only 10% of the USA does.

"We have no idea why," he says. "Maybe you could ask (Fox newscaster) Bill O'Reilly.
In some way, researchers found Nones are very much like the overall, largely religious, U.S. population. There's no statistical difference on education, or income or marital status. They are just as likely to be divorced as anybody else.

"Nones are not a fringe group anymore and are now part of Middle America. They're present in every socio-demographic group, Keysar concludes in their report.
----------------------------------------------------------

Some observations:

HARVEST - In John 4:35 Jesus says, "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (We spoke briefly about this verse on Sunday as we discussed the "Days of Elijah".) Initially the headline may not seem like there are a lot of people who are ready to be introduced to Jesus. But...

ATHESISTS - the article said the number of people who don't believe in God has NOT increased in years. People may be leaving large denominations, but they are NOT deciding in mass numbers that they don't believe in God at all. Which means...

SEEKERS - there are a larger number of people in the U.S. than ever who aren't really sure WHAT they believe or are wondering WHO they can trust.

CONFUSED - Many are confused about where Truth can be found. (Interested in joining the next group meeting for the Truth Project from our church on Sun. PM's? See Terri Kalmbach.)

FAITHFUL & PASSIONATE - More than ever the Spirit is seeking men and women, boys and girls, who will be faithful to Him and passionate for people who don't know God.

Will you recommit yourself today to be such a person and to live that sort of life?

Grace & peace

The Days of Elijah & a Mexican Fiesta

2009-09-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

Are you familiar with the song we sing at church by that name?

It is pretty popular.

The tune is catchy.

The beat is powerful.

And the words...

This coming Sunday we'll sing the song (TWICE)

...and we'll be looking at some of the words.

They come from a variety of passages in scripture and paint some very vivid pictures of God's work.

One of those pictures is from Ezekiel 37 (The Valley of Dry Bones). God tells the prophet to "prophesy to the bones". Seems crazy, doesn't it? To speak to a pile of bones and expect them to respond!?

You might as well talk to your toaster or your lawn mower.

But Ezekiel obeys. God moves. And things change.

What might God have in store for us this weekend if we obey?

Then following the service there will be a time of fellowship as we enjoy a Mexican Fiesta.

Hope you can join us. Maybe even invite a friend to lunch. And watch as God moves.

Grace & peace

Good and Faithful

2009-09-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus describes the Kingdom of heaven as being like "a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them."

The property, or "talents" were handed out "according to (the) ability" of the servants.

I used to think of the application of this parable as challenging me as to how I use my talents, time, and money. And I think that is all appropriate. But I wonder...

What other gifts has God entrusted to me and how am I incorporating them into my life?

Think about it.

The Church is a gift God has given Christians. Do I make an effort to intentionally, regularly meet with other Christians? Or do I careless and easily neglect relationship with others?

Scripture has been entrusted to me. Have I made a commitment to get into God's word and get God's word into me? Do I meditate on it or do I do more of a "drive-thru" diet?

Prayer is something the Master has left with us. If my spiritual health depended upon how often God and I talk, how extensive those conversations are, what would my level of health be?

I recently read the following, "The penalty of not praying is the loss of one's capacity to pray!" (Edward J. Farrell Prayer is a Hunger).

But isn't the "penalty" not only a loss of "capacity" but a loss of "desire"? "I haven't been and I don't want to!"

I wonder if the same can't be said for other "gifts" God has given us, and other "disciplines" to which God has called us.

"I haven't been with other believers; I'm not really interested in meeting with them and talking about God."

"I haven't read my Bible. I don't see what the benefit would be for me to do so."

"I haven't been in the habit of praying. And I don't see any real interest on my part to change soon."

Later in the parable the Master tells two of the servants, "You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things."

Is it possible if we are not faithful in the areas where God's Spirit is challenging us, we shouldn't expect any new insight or blessing in other areas?

The Master calls those who were stewards, "Good and faithful". I want to be faithful with the gifts God has given me. I want to be filled with faith and show myself faithful to God.

As I heard another recently say, "I would like to think God has learned He can trust me with certain things." I do too. How 'bout you? Will God be able to call you "good and faithful"?

Grace & peace

Who You Rely Upon

2009-05-18T08:35:00.000-07:00

Each morning when I start up my computer I see it.

The website that I go to has it built into its template.

This page has the up-to-date headlines from around the world.

And one part of that page always lists the current status of the stock market; whether it is up or down; and what the current level is.

The down days seem to have outnumbered the up days a lot recently.

This morning I was waiting in the orthodontist's office. I saw a Time magazine. The cover spoke of how the economy had changed the outlook for jobs over the next decade. Inside the magazine was an article that gave statistics and details to the story. The article included a map of the U.S. and broke down what job growth in each state was anticipated to be in the near future.

If you lived in Texas, Nevada, Florida, or Georgia, the numbers weren't comparatively bad.

If you lived in Michigan or Ohio, well...maybe you want to consider moving to Texas, Nevada, Florida, or Georgia.

Things have been good in the past.

Not so good currently.

What will the future hold?

Isaiah prophesies about a time to come, after God's judgment has been poured out on God's people.

In that day the remnant of Israel,
the survivors of the house of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
who struck them down
but will rely on the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 10:20 NIV)

Isaiah's people had known good days back when the David was king.

But the kingdom broke up.

Then the people would become slaves.

What would the future hold?

Notice two things:

1.) The people would no longer rely on him who struck them down. Why would you rely upon anything that would turn on you? (Anyone thinking of your 401(k)? How 'bout that company that had been in existence for years and once provided you health care or a steady paycheck?)

Things we've depended upon for years are now being seen for what they are...temporary.

Is it possible that in this economy, we may have a unique opportunity to turn away from things that have proven themselves unworthy of our trust?

2.) Isaiah offers hope but he is not talking about all of Israel. He is only speaking about the remnant. A small group, a minority of the nation, will rely upon the LORD.

That can be disheartening, can't it? Wouldn't you think EVERYONE would turn and trust?!

But no. The prophet is clear. Twice in a couple of verses he tells us the remnant will rely upon the Living God. The remnant will return.

If you are feeling like a small minority in your faith, don't be discouraged! You're in good company.

May you look to the Holy One to provide daily bread in your life.

Grace & peace

Unjust Laws

2009-05-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

"Obey the law" we tell our children.

We believe that most laws are for our good. And they probably are.

But not always. Sometimes laws do more to mess people up than to help them.

"Woe to those who make unjust laws,
to those who issue oppressive decrees,"

What types of laws might be "unjust"?

What would "oppressive decrees" do?

...deprive the poor of their rights
and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless. (Isaiah 10:1-2 NIV)

This passage in Isaiah is a pronouncement of God's judgment against God's people, Israel.

Do you think God has judgment to pronounce against God's people today, for similar types of sins?

Have we valued "the law" of the land above "the rights of the poor"?

"What rights?" we might wonder.

Well, it seems like food, shelter, and clothing are pretty basic. Everyone should have access to those things.

And in our culture we expect medical care and education to be pretty basic.

Have our laws withheld justice from the oppressed? Have we failed to make sure the least and the last are protected?

I have to confess nearly everyone I know would be outraged if they saw widows becoming prey or orphans being robbed. Most of the people I know are pretty decent folks and they'd step in if they noticed something so heinous happening.

But if you're like me, it seems more likely that we might not even be aware of those who suffer from an unjust world. It is easy to insulate ourselves from "the poor" and "the oppressed" even if we don't mean to.

We may be totally oblivious to the ways our laws in the city, county, state, or nation are unjust.

I was recently with a group of my peers from around southeastern Michigan. We were looking at the unemployment rates for twenty or so counties in the state. At the time (several months ago), the percentage of adults looking for work but unable to find it was double-digits for every county...except one... Washtenaw County, where most of us live.

I'm guessing most of the numbers have gone up since then. However, compared to nearly everyone else in the state, we were doing pretty well.

I was reminded again of how privileged we are, even in this economy. Even though our community has not been untouched by the difficult financial times.

Layoffs, shrinking 401K's, and foreclosures have seemed to wake us up to those types of needs.

Maybe we'll begin to wake up, not only to our own needs, but to the needs of those around us.

Maybe such circumstances will help sensitize us to the less fortunate who live close by.

Maybe we can train our eyes to see where our society has allowed some to be robbed or others to become prey.

Maybe we can step up, speak up, and protect those who need it most.

I hope so.

Grace & peace

Your Situation & God's ANSWER

2009-05-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

Your Situation & GOD'S ANSWER:

This was sent to me the other day. It's something that we might want to refer to every once in awhile.

Grace & peace

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible
(Luke 18:27)

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest
(Matthew 11:28-30)

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you
(John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient
(II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps
(Proverbs 3:5- 6)

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things
( Phil ippians 4:13)

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able
(II Corinthians 9:8)

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it
(Roman 8:28 )

You say: 'I can't forgive my self'
God says: I Forgive you
(I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs
( Phil ippians 4:19)

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear
(II Timothy 1:7)

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME
(I Peter 5:7)

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom
(I Corinthians 1:30)

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you
(Hebrews 13:5)

6 Things God Hates

2009-05-06T07:12:00.001-07:00

There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

a false witness who pours out lies,

and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. (Proverbs 6:16-19 NIV)

Any of those surprise you?

Probably not the lying or the false witness.

You'd probably agree the shedding of innocent blood is a problem.

No one likes the idea of people rushing to do evil or devising wickedness.

But haughty eyes (the KJV reads "a proud look")?

Is that really as bad as lying?

Apparently it is on God's scales of justice.

The word means "to exalt self" or to be "too high or lofty".

That gives insight into Psalm 131:1 which reads,

My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

Sometimes we concern ourselves with matters we ought to leave to God.

I have a friend of mine who is fond of saying, "That is above my pay grade."

"Those issues are beyond me" is what he is saying.

I think we need to remind ourselves of that once in awhile.

And we need to always have that attitude, don't we?

The church has not always been know for its humility, have we?

Think about it. If this is an attitude GOD HATES, (that's what we read in Proverbs 6, right?), then it is an attitude we need to TRADE IN!! Get rid of. Or run from as fast as we can.

Do a check on yourself as you go through the day today:

- Do I consider myself better, smarter, or more deserving than others?

- How might that affect the way I am able to see God in that person's life? (Remember, "when you've done it to the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you've done it unto me"!)

May God help us to be in the process of being shaped into the image of Christ in our attitudes.

Grace & peace

Guard Your Heart

2009-05-04T05:14:00.000-07:00

Do you remember this song?

Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above
Is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

It was a song I learned as a little child. It may have been in Sunday School. It might have been in our home. But I learned the words long ago.

And I continue to be reminded of the truth.

I thought of that song this morning as I read Proverbs 5:23

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Out of the heart flow decisions,

words,

acts,

and

ultimately,

our destiny.

For example, suppose you have a choice of how to use a couple of hours. You can either spend time on your favorite hobby (hunting, golf, surfing the net, a night out with the guys/or girls having fun)

OR

you could spend that time with your child, your parent, your spouse, or someone else who would appreciate your attention.

What do you choose?

Here's another one. You're by yourself and your going to listen to some music or watch a movie or surf the web. And you have a choice. You can go to that site or song or show that looks very attractive, (but you know at best it's a HUGE waste of time and at worst it's not something you'd want to tell grandma or the pastor about)

OR

You can shut it off and go do something that would be a better use of your time.

What do you choose?

Here's one more.

You go the kitchen to have a snack. You could have some fresh fruit...

OR

you could have that last, extra-large piece of cake or dive into a bag of chips.

What do you choose?

In many ways, we have already made the choice BEFORE the moment of truth arrives.

Another song on this very subject, entitled appropriately enough, "Guard Your Heart" says:

The human heart is easily swayed
And often betrayed
At the hand of emotion
We dare not leave the outcome to chance
We must choose in advance
Or live with the agony
Such needless tragedy

Guard your heart
Guard your heart
Don't trade it for treasure
Don't give it away
Guard your heart
Guard your heart
As a payment for pleasure
It's a high price to pay

For a soul that remains sincere
With a conscience clear
Guard your heart

I don't know who wrote it. But they were right on.

So how do you guard your heart? Here are a few thoughts:

- Practice Sabbath: God tells us 1 day out of 7 is set aside to be kept holy, without work. Life gets out of balance in a hurry when every day is spent running and rushing. Our heart becomes open to attacks from a variety of places.

- Be Intentional about your Activities: Find the things that consistently draw you closer to God, make you aware of the Spirit's presence in your life, and regularly incorporate them into your day or week. Maybe that is a walk in the woods, sitting down with your Bible and a cup of coffee, listening to music that increases your faith, reading e-mails from well-meaning pastors... Whatever. Find your activity and do it regularly.

- Seek out Faith Partners: Who are the people that draw out God's best in you. Find a few of the people who encourage you to allow the image of Christ to be shaped in your life and calendar regular times to be with them. (You know, SUNDAY AT 11AM is a great time for you and your family!)

- Choose in Advance: If there are areas where you know the battle is being fought, decide up front what you will/won't do. If the battleground is food, plan ahead of time what you're going to eat. If the battleground is gossip, decide who you might not seek out and what topics you'll try to avoid. If the battle is entertainment such as movies and websites, do your best to be accountable to someone else.

Guarding your heart is a lifelong challenge. But the prizes for doing it are unbeatable, both for you and those you love.

May we encourage each other to guard our hearts.

Grace & peace

Stop Bringing Me Stuff

2009-04-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

Stop bringing me meaningless offerings
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations -
I cannot bear your evil assemblies. (Isaiah 1:13 NIV)

Is God really telling his people to stop bringing sacrifices?

Does God not want people to gather together to worship?

Not exactly.

Notice He doesn't say "stop bringing me offerings".

He qualifies it by prohibiting "meaningless" offerings.

So what does God want?

...Stop doing wrong,
learn to do right!

Like what? He goes on...

Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed,
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.

And not only taking care of others. Make sure YOU are in right relationship with God:

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:16b-18 NIV)

God wants our sacrifice and our worship to be meaningful.

God longs for our obedience and offerings to flow out of a responsive, thankful life.

Take a moment and ask God, "Is there anything in my life that is displeasing to you?"

"What can I do to begin to make it right?"

God will respond to us as we respond to Him.

Grace & peace

The Way it is; The Way it Will be

2009-04-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

...I will create a new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17 NIV)

That verse describes a time that isn't here yet...but is coming.

Now if you are currently enjoying your life I imagine you might be a little bit bothered at the prospect of thinking all of this will one day be gone and something new will replace it.

You might be thinking,

"But I WANT to remember the way things are now."

"I don't want for change."

Fair enough. We need to give thanks for our life and the circumstances in which we find yourselves. Everyone is not so blessed.

The following is from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. It describes horrors I can't even imagine.

Who Will Help the Over 100,000 Refugees?
"We fled with tens of thousands into the security zone. On one side was the ocean, on the other a lagoon. It got worse every day. So finally my wife and our five kids fled through the lagoon.

When we were in the middle they started shooting at us. Our twelve year old son was hit. In order to save the others we left him there, dying. Finally, government troops came to us through the water and saved us. Now we are here, in a refugee camp."

This is the story of just one family of many who is struggling to survive the intense battling between the Tamil Tiger rebel group and government forces in Sri Lanka. By now over 100,000 refugees have reached the camps; tens of thousands are probably still in the area of fighting.

Some have lost all they had, including their entire families. At the same time, they are torn emotionally by the 25 years of civil war and it will take many years to overcome this trauma.
It seems that the war will soon end "officially." Who will then help the far more than 100,000 internal refugees? Where should they go? Who will build them new homes? Who will help them rebuild their lives in the aftermath of such devastation?

The director of NCM Lanka is on his way to the refugee camps. The Sri Lankan government has asked him as well as a few other organizations to help. Thankfully, the work after the Tsunami and with the internal refugees in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka has laid a foundation of trust between the government and NCM. But what a challenge they are facing!

Local specially trained NCM workers will help the suffering to overcome their emotional scars through trauma counseling. They will also supply food, household kits, and tents if resources permit it. Crisis Care Kits are being compiled to provide some of the most basic comforts. All steps will be planned in such a way that they result in long-term change and allow the refugees to build the foundation for a new life. This has already worked after the catastrophes in the East of Sri Lanka where NCM International is still working effectively together with its local and international partners.

Through prayer and financial support you can be part of serving the refugees in Sri Lanka and helping them start new. Every gift, whether large or small, will be invested in the future of people who hardly see reason for hope.

Persons and churches wishing to make a donation can mark their checks “Sri Lanka Internally Displace People NCMPRLK09” and mail them to the Global Treasury Services, PO Box 843116 Kansas City, MO 64184.

Online giving is available at ncm.org

Those Who Wait for Him

2009-04-27T05:53:00.000-07:00

Since ancient times no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
(Isaiah 64:4)

Yesterday in the church service we heard testimony about how God answered prayers in our own congregation because people waited for God.

Have you set time aside today to wait for him?

The prophet tells us God acts on (their) behalf.

I wonder: do we want God to act on our behalf? Or do we simply say we want God to act on our behalf?

I encourage you to carve out a few moments, lay out your requests and petitions to God, then wait for the Spirit to act on (your) behalf.

Grace & peace

When Leading is Tough

2009-04-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod
and save his soul from death. (Proverbs 23:13-14 NIV)

"Discipline" (the KJV reads "correction") is not always negative. We can correct or disciple (train) people in a positive manner.

You can show someone how to handle a paint brush: "Do it like this."

We have a toddler at our house three days a week who has recently learned how to use a spoon. Someone showed her how to use it in order to feed herself.

That's discipline that is positive.

But sometimes correction or discipline can be painful.

I looked up the word "punish" that the NIV uses in Proverbs 23:13. I wondered if "punish" was the best word choice. I thought there might be something "softer" implied.

But the KJV doesn't soften the translation at all. It goes the other direction. "Beat" is the word used there!

Beat?

Why beat or strike a child?

Because your angry? Never.

Because you want to take out your frustration? No way!

The goal is stated in the last line:

save his (or her) soul from death

It's one thing to teach a child to use a paint brush correctly. It's another thing to make sure they know how to handle a chain saw or drive a car.

If you mishandle a paint brush you might end up with unwanted streaks and drips.

If you mishandle a chain saw or a vehicle weighing several thousand pounds, some one could end up maimed or someone could die.

Getting the lesson on the paintbrush is optional. Getting the lesson on the chain saw or the car is vital.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes they are to expel a member who has been intentionally, continually misbehaving and breaking commandments.

Why hand this man over to Satan?

...so that the flesh may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:5 NIV).

The goal is not punishment.

Punishment is a tool.

THE GOAL is salvation, restoration, and God's will being able to happen in this man's life and the life of the Church.

Sometimes leadership (parenting and other forms) can be tough.

Nobody likes to have the difficult conversation or say the hard thing.

But if we keep THE GOAL in mind, God will give us wisdom and strength (and the heart that desires the best for that person) as we seek to do God's will in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Grace & peace

Train a Child

2009-04-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Train a child in the way he should go,
and when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)

Many parents want to make all the choices for their child, but this hurts him or her in the long run. When parents teach a child how to make decisions, they don't have to watch every step he or she takes. They know their children will remain on the right path because they have made the choice themselves. Train your child to choose the right way.
(From the Life Application Study Bible)

I have to confess that I have found a new, laser-like focus on this principle in the past few months. Our oldest child is getting ready to go to college. I often find myself assessing decisions I make, words I use, or attitudes I display with this criteria:

Do I want this replicated in her life?

Because if I do want her to act, speak, or think this way, my choice is probably a good one.

But if I do not want to see or hear this coming out of her life, I should probably choose a different one myself.

Would this line of questioning cause some of us to be less critical?

Would this cause us to live with integrity?

Someone once said, "Past performance is the best predictor of the future."

What I have done in the past is most likely what I will do in the future.

What my young children see and hear from my own life is most likely what they will do in their life.

May we be intentional in what we are passing onto our kid and grandkids, nieces and nephews.

Grace & peace

The Mind Opener

2009-04-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45 NIV)

Sometimes we think the Gospel is a reasonable thing, driven by logic.

Like 2 + 2 = 4 it is an equation that leads you, naturally, to a conclusion.

Or like the fact that Lansing is the capital of Michigan, we think it is data we can memorize.

We figure people should be able to hear verses like

The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached...(Luke 24:46-47a)

and people will line the doors of the church, waiting to get in.

(Wouldn't that be GREAT!!)

But Luke reminds us that hearing does NOT automatically lead to belief. And being aware of the story does NOT automatically lead to faith.

Minds must be opened so (people can) understand.

And only the Mind Opener can bring that about.

Sometimes the realization comes suddenly, violently. (See Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus in Acts 9.)

But other times God comes more as a patient, loving, polite suitor; desiring to be invited in and welcomed into our life (See Revelation 3:20).

Take 30 seconds and ask youself these questions:

1. How would I describe the way God has opened my mind in the past? Violently or gently?

2. Who do I know that doesn't "get it"; they don't understand what God has done or is doing?

3. Am I willing to ask God to send the Spirit to open their minds so they could understand ? Do I care enough about them to take the time to ask God on their behalf?

Spend an additional few seconds and speak to God right now. Use these words below if you want:

God, thank you for opening my mind to the Good News of Who You are.
Please send your Spirit to _____________ today.
Help him/her understand how much You love him/her,
how much (s)he needs to repent
and how great Your forgivenes can be in his/her life.
Thank You for hearing my prayer.
Amen.

Wouldn't it be great if resurrections will continue in the lives of those for whom our congregation is praying?!

Grace & peace

Give Me That Fillet of Fish

2009-04-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

...Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,
"Peace be with you."
They were startled and frightened,
thinking they saw a ghost...
he showed them his hands and feet.
And...they still did not believe it
because of their joy and amazement...
(Luke 24:36ff NIV)

It's only been a little while since Jesus' resurrection.

He physically shows up among his disciples.

He delivers a word of comfort.

He shows them his hands and feet.

"And...they still did not believe it"

Really??

Still?!

What else does Jesus have to do to get them to believe?

Shouldn't they become "superapostles" at this point, spurred on by the Resurrected Lord?

What's wrong, guys?!

And then I wonder...

Why do I still have battles in my own life.

Think about it. We've just passed through Easter, the most joyous, amazing time.

"He is risen! He is risen indeed!"

We said it to each other.

We said it. We believed it.

And yet...

...sometimes we still struggle with belief.

Sometimes we still wrestle with our will.

Sometimes we are not quite settled in our spirit.

Sometimes our obedience doesn't come so quickly or effortlessly as we think it should.

Am I alone here or can you identify with me?

But notice what Jesus does next:

He asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"
They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
and he took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24:41b-43 NIV)

I think he did that for several reasons.

One of those reasons was to prove that he was really alive: Ghosts don't eat!

In the midst of their unbelief, Jesus eats with them, and casually proves he is who he said he was.

I'm thankful God comes to us in our times when we're wrestling, struggling, or not quite believing.

May the Spirit patiently yet powerfully speak to you today.

He has done so again this morning in my life.

Grace & peace

Chelsea and Dexter, MI Holy Week Opportunities

2009-04-09T07:17:00.000-07:00

"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon,
that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers." (Luke 22:31-32)

We want to provide you with times to do as Jesus did:

pray that faith may not fail.

These times include:

Thursday, April 9 8AM & 7PM Service of Scripture, Prayer, & Silence

Friday, April 10 12:15 PM Community Good Friday Service
(at the United Methodist Church on Park St.)

Friday, April 10 6-8PM Come-And-Go Communion & Prayer at the Altar

Sunday, April 12 9:30 AM Easter Breakfast (bring a dish to pass)

Sunday, April 12 11AM Easter Worship: Musical & Dramatic Presentation

Who's faith is in danger of failing?

What will you do about it?

Which of these times might God have something special planned for you?

For those around you?

Please prayerfully consider joining us at any or all of these times.

Grace & peace

Maundy Thursday Prayer & Silence

2009-04-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

We just participated in our first Service of Scripture, Silence, and Prayer this morning.

We will be offering it again this evening.

Several had asked some questions about this new opportunity so here's a little more detail.

The intent is to be silent and allow God a time to speak.

It will begin at 7PM (and last for approximately 1 hour). The format is pretty basic:

- A scripture will be read out loud.

- A devotional thought will be read to provide some direction as we prepare to pray.

- A time of silence will be given, allowing you a few moments to pray in your seat.

This process will be repeated.

Not complicated...but very powerful stuff. I found it an effective tool in my own life today.

And I'd like to invite you to join us and anticipate the Spirit's work in your life.

If you are reading this but unable to be present physically, e-mail me at jcrwdr@juno.com and I'll send you a copy of the service we've put together.

"...for Zion's sake I will not keep silent
for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet..."
(Isaiah 62:1 NIV)

Grace & peace

The Forgotten "I AM"

2009-04-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard a sermon or series of sermons or read a book about the "I am's" of Jesus?

Famous "I am's" of Jesus include:

I am the bread from heaven (John 6:32)

I am the bread of life (John 6:53)

Much like God sustained the escaped, wandering ex-slaves through manna via Moses, God sustains us wandering, ex-slaves of sin via the body and blood of our Lord.

I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)

The religious people of the day couldn't "see". They missed who he was. But the man born blind was able to "get it".

I am the door (John 10:7, 9)

We are God's sheep. (I recently heard someone say, "You've never heard of 'trained sheep' have you? No 'cause sheep are dumb!") But Jesus is the gate through which even dumb sheep are able to enter!

I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)

How appropriate for the day we anticipate this Sunday!

I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)

"Doubting" Thomas doesn't understand where Jesus is getting ready to go or how he can follow. I understand those questions, don't you?

I am the (true) vine (John 15:1,5)

He calls us to "remain" or "abide" in him. Those who've come before us tell us that scripture, prayer, fasting, meditation, acts of mercy and gathering with others are some of the ways we stay close to Jesus.

I am he (John 18:5, 6, 8)

"I am he"?

What's that?

Not familiar with this one? Read on:

"Judas (had come) guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons."

A mob is coming for him. Jesus knows what is going on and he asks, "Who is it you want?"

"Jesus of Nazareth," they replied.

"I am he," Jesus said.

Actually, John mentions it three times. Jesus says it twice.

"I am he."

"I am the one you've come to take."

"I am the one who will let himself be taken."

"I am he."

How important is this aspect of Jesus' identity?

It is EVERYTHING.

If he were only The Light or The Vine, his task would be incomplete.

It wasn't until he would give his life away that his calling would be fulfilled.

It wasn't until he would give his life away that he would be The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

It was through laying down his life that he would become The Door.

I wonder sometimes if we'd like to forget about this last I AM.

It's exciting to think of the Lord as being our Bread; he feeds us and sustains us.

It's a privilege to remember Jesus is our Gate or Door; he allows us access to all the Father has for us.

But it is a little discouraging to think that Jesus lays his will down, gives his power away...and then calls us to do the same!

"I am he."

May you determine to follow him.

Grace & peace

House of Prayer

2009-04-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling.
"It is written," he said to them,
" 'My house will be a house of prayer'
but you have made it a 'den of robbers.' "
(Luke 19:45-46)

This is the first scene Luke reports after Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem.

This week we would like to give you a chance to make the church a house of prayer.

Thur. at 8AM and 7PM we will offer a Service of Scripture, Prayer, and Silence.

Fri. from 6PM - 8PM I will be serving Communion and praying at the altar for any who are interested.

Hope you can join us.

Grace & peace

What Does God Do When We Hurt?

2009-04-01T08:01:00.000-07:00

I walked into the funeral home one day before the funeral service. I went up to the casket to see the deceased. He looked like he was around 50. I found out a little bit later that he was actually nearly 20 years younger than that.

I had never met him before. He was the family member of a friend of mine.

During the visitation that day and the funeral the following day I heard the family and friends talk about this young man's life. Evidently he had a hard life. Some of the difficulty was thrust upon him. Some of it apparently came through self-inflicted choices he had made.

As part of the eulogy, his sister said something that struck me. "Hopefully he finds peace now because he was never able to find it here."

Romans 8:22 tells us that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Groaning.

The word connotes pain that can't be expressed with words.

And the Bible says the whole creation is groaning.

That's not hard to believe, is it?

Individuals. Marriages. Families. Communities. Nations. Industries. Economies. Nature.

All of it a part of our world.
All of it a part of creation.
And all of it groans.

For those two days at that funeral home "the whole creation" that was groaning had names faces and stories. It had birth dates and addresses. It had cell phone numbers and social security numbers.

And it was groaning.

The Gospel of John tells us another part of this story. In chapter 11 we have the account of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, who dies.

Jesus could have shown up sooner...but he didn't.

Jesus could have kept Lazarus from dying...but he didn't.

But Jesus does talk with the two, grieving sisters who remain. First he speaks with Martha. Then he speaks with Mary. Jesus sees her weeping along with (others) who had come along with her also weeping, and he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled (John 11:33).

I have a note in the margin of my Bible that I had written some time ago about this verse. I don't know where I got it from or who I quoted. But this is what it says about Jesus' being "deeply moved in spirit and troubled":

"He groaned and was troubled in spirit."

Jesus groaned.

The creation groans. And Jesus groans.

I find great comfort in this picture; a picture of a Savior who understands what it is like to groan down here. I don't know why I find such comfort in it. I'm not sure how to verbalize it. But I'm thankful that Jesus doesn't simply step into the tomb and call Lazarus back to life (which he does later in the chapter).

That would make him appear to be some type of caped, superhero who never bleeds, never weeps, never gets sick, never feels what we feel. That's not how Jesus is. He hurts. He weeps. He groans.

If you know what it is like to groan, if you are able to pinpoint places where the creation is groaning today, take heart.

You are not alone. Jesus has groaned with you. And through the Spirit, he still does (Romans 8:26).

Grace & peace

Lent: Time of Confusion?

2009-03-26T05:41:00.001-07:00

Have you ever watched trading on the floor of the commodities exchange?

A mob of traders yelling and screaming, flailing and waving, flashing signs and trying to communicate.

To the outsider it looks like a zoo: confusion, pandemonium, complete and utter chaos.

That was the picture that came to my mind as I was reading John chapter 7 this morning.

Everyone shouting their own thoughts, feelings, or locked in on their personal agenda.

Consider:

- When Jesus' brothers suggest he go to Jerusalem to advertise himself as the Messiah, he tells him he's not going yet...but then he does go in secret after they take off (vv3-10).

- The crowd in the city is talking about Jesus. But they couldn't agree. Some were saying, "He's a good man". But others insisted "He deceives people" or "he is demon-possessed" (vv12-20).

- People are trying to kill Jesus and he knows it (v 19), and many in the crowd know it (v25), but others think Jesus is paranoid (v20).

- One group tries to seize Jesus (v25 & v 30) but they are unable to "because his time had not yet come".

- When Jesus tells the crowd he is only going to be with them for a little while longer, his words create more confusion and questions than faith and belief: Where is he going? Is he going to another country? Is he going to teach people in another place? We don't get it!

- Some of his own people did confess him to be the Christ (v41) but others completely disagreed and couldn't possibly come to that conclusion (vv27, 41-42). Others opted for the "middle ground" and considered him to be the Prophet (v40).

- Fed up with all the disruption, guards were sent to grab Jesus...but came back empty-handed. When their authorities questioned them the guards admitted that they had been mesmerized by his words. "No one ever spoke the way this man does."

- Then the authorities started arguing among themselves about what they should do with Jesus. Should they grab him and punish him? Or should they give him a hearing? (vv45-52)

As you reflect upon Lent and Jesus' purposeful movement toward the cross, consider that his journey was a time of great confusion. People couldn't decide who he was. They couldn't decide what to do with him.

And we are no different today.

As John 7:43 tells us, "...the people were divided because of Jesus."

My prayer for you is that you will investigate for yourself who Jesus is and you will discover who he wants to be to you.

Grace & peace

Catching the Wind

2009-03-25T07:22:00.001-07:00

No one can see the Kingdom of God
unless he is born again. (John 3:2)

We often take that sentence to =

"we can't get to heaven unless we're born again".

But is eternal life the only point Jesus is making here?

Nicodemus, a religious leader, has come to see Jesus...at night.

Nicodemus, a religious leader, is not understanding what Jesus is talking about.

Nicodemus, a religious leader, does not comprehend God's Kingdom.

A little later in this chapter we hear John the Baptist tell us we can:

...only receive what is given...from heaven. (John 3:27)

We can only understand if God gives understanding.

We can only believe if God gives us faith.

We can only see where God is at work if God gives us eyes to see.

Nicodemus will only understand if he asks and God responds.

Jesus tells Nicodemus:

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sounds, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

God's kingdom is the place where God reigns.

It can be in your heart.

It can be in your home.

It can be in your church.

It can be in your relationship.

It can be in your finances.

Getting in on God's Kingdom can be a little like "catching the wind" or predicting where it is going blow next.

NO WONDER prayer, scripture, fasting, and other tools are so important.

How else will we be able to co-operate with God?

May the Spirit give you a passion for seeking His Spirit out today.

Grace & peace

Would God Entrust Himself to Me?

2009-03-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

I'm driving a car that isn't my own for the next few days.

We had a mechanical failure with the little stick shift I've been driving. And with three drivers in our family and only one vehicle, my mom and dad thought we could use a little help between now and the time we acquire another car.

So they loaned us something of theirs; something that has value. They let us borrow mom's car.

Driving a vehicle that isn't mine reminds me of the years I worked for a rental car company.

People would do the most repulsive things to and in a rental car. They would mistreat the vehicle because they knew it wasn't theirs.

They'd bang it.

They'd stain it.

They'd grind it.

All because they knew it belonged to someone else and they believed they wouldn't have to take responsibility for it in the long run.

My mom and dad trust us not to wreck her car or leave it damaged. They trust us to treat their car like it was our own.

Got me thinking:

What is the most valuable thing you own?

- home - car - family - pet

- reputation - savings - health - friends

To whom would you entrust it?

...Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. (John 2:24)

Jesus would not give himself fully or commit himself to the people in Jerusalem who saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name (John 2:23).

Were they "quick-decision" people who hadn't really counted the cost?

Would they turn on Jesus once the miracle stopped?

Were they only following because of what they could get from him?

This all makes me wonder: what keeps God from committing to me?

Is there anything I can do that would allow God to trust me?

In Micah 6 God speaks through the prophet about what He does not want.

Shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?

No. God doesn't want pomp and ceremony.

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

No. God doesn't simply want valuable sacrifices.

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with tens thousand rivers of oil?

No. God doesn't want me so He can get His hands on my stuff.

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? (Micah 6:6-7)

God's not seeking to cause pain and suffering and torment for the enjoyment of it.

So what does God want?

He has showed you...what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?

To act justly

to love mercy

and

to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

Think about that last one for a moment.

"Walking humbly with God".

- "Walking" means motion; going someplace. You are not standing still. You're moving. You're growing.
If you're in the same place now that you were in a minute ago, you're not walking (or you're walking in circles!)

Would you describe your life of faith and what you believe as a walk? Or a sit?

- Humility is often expressed by the posture of being on our knees or on our face before God.

It includes confession of sin.

It includes leaving sinful habits, selfish actions, thoughtless words, & destructive thought processes.

Those who are truly humble give themselves away to God and to others.

Would you like God to be able to entrust the Spirit to you?

He will if you will entrust yourself to Him.

Scripture, prayer, and fasting are avenues we do just that. I give myself to God as I read, pray, seek and listen.

I know a number of you have recently committed yourselves anew to God. May you fully entrust yourself to Him and find that He is willing to do the same to you.

Grace & peace

Praying: Hidden Things Revealed

2009-03-19T09:49:00.000-07:00

In Matthew 11 Jesus prays a prayer and we get to listen in on it. What do you hear?

I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned,
and revealed them to little children.
Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
All things have been committed to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:25-26)

Twice in these two verses Jesus talks about things that are revealed.

Once he says the Father has chosen to "reveal them to little children".

The second time he tells us the only people who know the Father or the Son are "those to whom the Son chooses to reveal" them.

This second "revealing" is a self-revelation: God shows people Who He is.

I've been praying this week for a number of people within our church family.

I've been praying that The Heavenly Father would reveal Himself to some fathers and mothers in our church.

I've been praying that the Son would reveal himself to some sons and daughters who are part of our congregation.

I'm reminded that if God doesn't reveal Himself to us, we won't know Who He is. Neither will our children. Nor our spouses. Nor our grandchildren. Nor our friends. Nor our neighbors.

Would you be willing to pray with me today that God would "choose to reveal" Himself wherever our people are?

Let's ask God to make Himself known in our midst, through Scripture, through prayer, through whatever means the Spirit chooses. But let's ask and let's agree to ask together.

Grace & peace

What WON'T Happen If We DON'T Pray?

2009-03-18T08:57:00.000-07:00

What WON'T Happen if we DON'T Pray?

I don't know the answer to that question. Prayer isn't a formula to be figured out or an equation to be solved. It is a relationship between God the Creator and us, God's creation.

But in my reading of Matthew and Mark over the past few weeks, something has become obvious to me:

The vast majority of people in the Gospels who were healed or had spirits driven out of them initiated their own healings or had friends who initiated their healings.

Some examples from Matthew (I just read Mark and it seems largely the same):

Matt. 8:2 (a man comes and kneels before Jesus)
Matt. 8:5 (a Centurion comes to Jesus and asks on behalf of his servant)
Matt. 9:2 (some men brought a paralytic to Jesus)
Matt. 9:18 (a ruler kneels before Jesus and asks for help on behalf of his dead daughter)
Matt. 9:20 (a women who had been bleeding for 12 yrs. touches Jesus)
Matt. 9:27 (2 men call out to Jesus)
Matt. 12:22 ("they" brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute)
Matt. 15:22 (a woman cries out to Jesus for her son)
Matt. 17:14 (a father approaches Jesus and asks on behalf of his son)

These are not all of the miracles, but they seem to be a majority. Check out the other Gospels and see if this holds true. I know there are several such as Peter's mother-in-law or others where Jesus seems to initiate. But that does NOT appear to be the rule. It seems to be the exception.

What would NOT have happened if those people did NOT seek out Jesus?

Now ask yourself this: "What will NOT happen today if I do NOT pray?"

May God give us a burden for praying and a determination and strength to pray!

Grace & peace

Prayer: Ask, Seek, & Knock

2009-03-17T06:54:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get discouraged when you pray?

Ever tempted to not pray?

Ever feel like nothing's happening?

You're in good company.

I wonder if those thoughts weren't on Jesus' mind when he said:

Ask
and it will be given to you;
seek
and you will find;
knock
and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives;
he who seeks finds;
and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matt. 7:7-8 NIV)

The past two Sundays we've talked about the discipline of prayer. We've been reminded that Christlike World-Changers pray.

Prayer is a two-part activity:
1.) It includes the praying person, or the PRAYer. That's you and me.

If we don't pray, prayer doesn't happen. If we don't knock, why would anyone open the door? If we don't seek, how will we find? If we don't ask, how can we expect anything to be given?

God intends for you and me to be key components in the prayer equation.

But prayer also includes...

2.) God (the Father, [to Whom we pray], the Son [in whose name, character, and will we pray] and the Spirit [who calls us, equips us, and intercedes in our prayers])

Listen to what Jesus says about the character of the Father:

Which of you,
if his son asks for bread,
will give him a stone?

Or if he asks for a fish,
will give him a snake?

We wouldn't do that. If our child is hungry, we'll give them something to eat. That's what a parent does. Well...

If you, then,
though you are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven
give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matt. 7:9-11 NIV)

Any inclination toward good that we have is because of God's DNA in our lives. He made us in His image.

And if we are inclined to do good towards our children when they ask us, think how much more God must want to do good to us when we ask!

Let's be at prayer today, Church! Let's be developing the power prayer habit of Matthew 6:5ff.

Let's be ready when God answers.

Grace & peace

Why I Pray

2009-03-12T05:21:00.001-07:00

"Ancient words, ever true
Changing me, changing you."

Asking, "Why do I need to pray?" is probably a little like asking, "Why do I need to breathe." Everything else depends upon it.

The disciples were with Jesus nearly every day for three years. They watched him heal the sick, feed five thousand, teach with power, feed another four thousand, and you'd think their faith would be SET.

But in Mark 8:17-18 Jesus is frustrated with them.

...Do you still not see or understand?
Are your hearts hardened?
Do you have eyes but fail to see,
and ears but fail to hear?
And don't you remember?...

My answer, if I am honest, is

"No, Lord, I do NOT remember. I'm HORRIBLE at remembering. I forget what You have done for me. I forget how You have proven yourself again and again. I am so easily distracted that this new challenge today seems overwhelming; unlike anything we've ever faced before...until I come into Your Presence and then in prayer, scripture, worship, or gathering with other believers, I'm reminded of Who You Are."

Then in a moment, the problem becomes diminished in the shadow of the One Who Was, the One Who Is, and the One Who Is to Come.

It is in activities such as prayer that I begin to understand.
It is in times of humble conversation with God that my heart becomes unhardened.
It is as I am still and interact with (or "know") God that scales fall down from my eyes so I can see and God graciously digs out ears into this block of wood I call my head so I can hear.

THAT is why I need to pray.

How 'bout you?

Grace & Peace

Jesus Called Her a Dog?

2009-03-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Ever think of Jesus calling people "dogs"?

Check out The Gospel of Mark 7:24-30.

What's worse, it's not a stuffy, egotistical hypocrite with whom he is speaking. It's the mother of a sick child who comes to see him and ask for her daughter's healing!

If it makes you feel any better, one commentator writes that in the culture of the New Testament, this particular word for "dog" means "little house pets" that would have had a relationship with the family in the home and garnered affection. This same commentator goes on to argue, as do many others, that Jesus' point is that he has come to the lost sheep of Israel, the Jewish people. This woman, a Gentile, is not part of the group to whom he has come to speak.

Jesus says, "First let the children eat all they want...for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." Essentially, I have come to speak to my people. And maybe even more specifically, on this journey, he was focusing upon his twelve disciples with whom he was hoping to get away for a little time of instruction and prayer.

But it is at that moment that this woman gives one of the great, all-time responses.

"Yes, Lord...but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

The commentator referenced above writes, "Her reply demonstrates humility and faith."

I don't often picture Jesus stunned. But if he ever was, if ever he was caught off guard, this could have been the time. I imagine him nearly laughing with thanksgiving to the Father becuase this woman gets it. He is clearly moved by her response. For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.

Humility and faith.

As we focus our attention this week on prayer, I wonder if those two adjectives would describe your prayer life?

Humility

Faith

Humility suggests we are not owed anything, by anyone. Not God. Not others. We're just seekers, askers, beggers. We come as children, as little dogs in the house, waiting for the good graces and generosity of our owner. If we don't get it, we go. And when we see him later, we'll come back and try again. That's humility.

Faith suggests we have a deep sense of faith in the One to whom we are speaking. We believe that God is moved by such a reply. That God is able to do exceedingly, and abundantly, more than we could ever ask for or imagine.

I want to invite you to cultivate the attitude of this woman TODAY.

Seek humility. There will be chances in nearly every day of your life to develop it. Chances to serve. Chances to put others before yourself. Chances to love rather than react. Chances to forgive rather than hold grudges. Chances to give someone else the benefit of the doubt rather than taking the opportunity to explain how they've messed us over again.

That's how we develop humility. Jesus LOVES it.

And seek faith. Scripture tells us it is a gift from God. Ask for it. And look for chances to exercise it.

Then let's be ready this week to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church about prayer.

Grace & peace

Lips or Life?

2009-03-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

"'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
They worship me in vain;
their teachings are but rules taught by men.'

You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."
(Mark 7:6-8 NIV)

You have let go...of God and are holding on to...men.

That's my summation of this passage.

Read in context, Jesus is being questioned about his disciples' behavior: they didn't wash their hands.

But Jesus is more concerned about those doing the questioning: he calls these guys "hypocrites".

How are you and I tempted to hold onto men and let go of God?

The list is endless. Here are just a few that came to my mind as I poured over this passage:

- Family can become more important than our Heavenly Father

- Political parties can become more important than God's will

- Money can become more important than God's work (serving God & Mammon? Not possible.)

- Teachers, preachers and evangelists can become idols ("I follow Paul. I follow Apollos.")

- Being in control can become more important than laying down our lives

- We might prefer having our own way to denying ourselves

- Our priority my be protecting our feelings instead of allowing the Spirit to use difficult words to produce Christ within us

- We may like being talkative and right, rather than quiet and humble

- We may choose to carry grudges instead of taking up our cross

I challenge you today to ask the Spirit, "Where is my talk not matching my walk?"

Wait...

...listen...

...obey

May we honor God with our lips AND our life!

Grace & Peace

2009-02-24T05:15:00.000-08:00

CORRECTION: Yesterday I sent the following question out in an e-mail.

2. Ash Wednesday began:
A.) When chimney sweeps were looking to make a few dollars with all that extra ash
B.) In the year 33 A.D.
C.) In Gaul in the 9th Century

I incorrectly said the answers were B & C. Wrong! The correct answer is C. Sorry. (Thanks Steve Mattison for serving my editor!)

Speaking of corrections, I feel like that's where I've been living recently. Longing for things to be different than they are.

Last week all three of our kids missed three days of school. Yesterday they were all back in school. Whew.

Except...

Today Noah is home again. This time with what we think might be pink eye. Which is bringing symptoms he did not have last week. Corrections. When will everyone get healthy?

Last week my aunt passed away. She was my Dad's last direct connection to his family of origin. His parents are gone. His siblings are gone. We head down to southern Indiana later this week where I will officiate the funeral and will hope to offer some comfort to Dad and my cousins. Corrections. When will people stop dying?

I've been thinking about some of my friends and family. There are marriages that are on life support. There are families with reduced income or no income at all. There are children who are suffering through situations that childish adults have put them in. Corrections. When will suffering and sorrow end?

It was with this set of life's circumstances that I came to Psalm 22 again today. (I've been reading and re-reading the Psalms this past month.)

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning? (v1)

A pretty useful prayer.

Sometimes the words come jumping out of our life and our own circumstances.

Sometimes they are the perfect words to pray for loved ones who don't have the words or the strength to pray themselves.

Sometimes it seems as if God is nowhere to be found. As if He changed his e-mail or phone number and let everyone but you and me know.

The Psalmist, however, is a person of faith and keeps calling:

Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help. (v11)

I was thinking of the old hymn that says,
The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide.
A Shelter in the time of storm.
Secure whatever ill betide.
A Shelter in the time of storm.

That's good news when, as the Psalmist writes,

...my strength has dried up...

Because he continues...

But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me. (vv15a, 19)

When your strength is gone, He will be your Strength.

May you be developing the habit of calling out to God today. May God bring corrections, even slowly, into your world.

Grace & peace

Passing the Faith Along

2009-02-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old -
what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children,
so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children. (Psalm 78:1-6)

Did you notice how many times the Psalmist speaks of "parents," "children," or "the next generation"?

He is making a statement: "Those who came before us told us. We will tell those who come after us."

It is an important idea in Hebrew and Christian teaching: passing the faith along.

Think about it: you know God because someone told you about God.

Maybe it was a parent or grandparent.

Maybe it was a Sunday school teacher or youth leader.

Maybe it was a neighbor or a friend.

Think about the people you have the opportunity to tell.

Are you being intentional in their lives?

Are you praying for them on a regular basis?

Why not thank God for those who have led you in the faith right now?

Why not take a moment and ask the Spirit to be at work in and through you today?

Grace & peace

What Are You Thirsting For?

2009-02-12T06:33:00.000-08:00

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I go and meet with God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

Sometimes we get cravings. We'll see a billboard or an ad for some delicious looking item. We just have to have it. Well, we don't really need it. We just want it.

In Psalm 42, the Psalmist is giving us a picture of a need not a want.

He needs time with God. He needs God to show up BIG in his life.

My tears have been my food day and night...as I pour out my soul...

Have you been there recently?

Messed up marriage.

Job loss.

Feeling disconnected from others.

Feeling disconnected from God?

The Psalmist understood.

...all your waves and breakers have swept over me (v7).

When is the last time you took some extra time to hear from the Lord?

Maybe go for a walk and listen for God.

Turn off the TV and sit quietly in the chair.

Spend a few minutes reading scripture until you get the sense the words are for you.

What keeps you from doing it today?

Too busy?

Not really interested?

Take a lesson from the Psalmist.

1.) he correctly identifies his need. His need isn't for more money or a better family. He is panting for God.

2.) the correctly prescribes the cure: A fresh outpouring of God's presence. A renewed sense of Who God is.

3.) he doesn't delay or ignore the cure. The Psalmist does what he needs to do. He begins to interact with God.

And as he works his way through this panting, an intense longing for God, "a word from the Lord" begins to well up inside him:

Why are you so downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (vv 5 & 11)

Twice these thoughts jump out off of the page.

Maybe you need to read that verse to yourself . Whisper it if you must. Say it out loud if you can.

Why are you so downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (vv 5 & 11)

Is it possible that the sense of apathy or anger or boredom that we occasionally feel could be answered by some good, quality time alone with The Spirit?

May you be given the gift of patiently carving that time out today in your life.

Grace & peace

Multiple Choice Bible Quiz

2009-02-10T05:40:00.000-08:00

Certain words become attached to particular people.

In our recent Presidential campaign, (whether you agree with their claims or not), one candidate became associated with the word "change" while another became associated with the word "maverick".

Certain words become attached to particular places.

If you hear Eiffel Tower you think Paris. If you hear Fenway Park you think Boston.

The Bible is no different, I suppose, in that way. You hear particular words and you think of Scripture. Below are six of the great words the people of Scripture have used.

See if you can match the number of times each word occurs in the King James Version On the left is the word. On the right is the number of times the word occurs in the O.T./N.T. Match the correct word in column A with the correct numbers in column B.

1. Creation A. 42/1

2. Covenant B. 257/23

3. Exodus C. 79/16

4. Fatherless D. 0/6

5. Idols E. 623/14

6. Offerings F. 0/0

The answers are below (according to www.bible.com).

- "Creation" D. Occurs 0 times in the O.T. and 6 times in the N.T. "Create" and "Created"however, occur with more frequency.

- "Covenant" B. Occurs 257 times in the O.T. and 23 times in the N.T. It was #2 on our short list. It is a key component to understanding the way God views us. A covenant is based upon a relationship between two parties. Our understanding of living as people of faith in the world includes our partnering and interacting with God based upon that Covenant.

- "Exodus" F. Occurs 0 times in the O.T. and 0 times in the N.T. The idea appears all over the place and the Exodus Event is referenced often. But the word itself does not appear in Scripture.

- "Fatherless" A. Occurs 42 times in the O.T. and 1 time in the N.T. Surprised how often this one shows up? What does it say about how God thinks about the defenseless, those who are in need, and the importance of a healthy, highly functioning family?

- "Idols" C. Occurs 79 times in the O.T. and 16 times in the N.T. Another key concept in the Judeo-Christian theology. The Scripture tells us The LORD our God, the LORD is one. There are not multiple gods. We often attempt to make God in our own image or conform God to our idea. But Scripture is clear that every other idea or interpretation, ultimately, is a poor copy of the The Real.

- "Offerings" E. Occurs 623 times in the O.T. and 14 times in the N.T. Surprised how often this one occurs? Even I was. Among other things, this tells that me giving back to God is a key component in our relationship with God.

But the one that caught my attention initially was "fatherless". I was reading Psalm 10. Twice the Psalmist mentions this word and these people within the space of five verses:

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are a helper of the fatherless (v14)

You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed...(v18a)

God is a "Helper of the Fatherless" and a "Defender of the Fatherless".

If those are descriptions of who God is, and we are God's people, then those should be descriptions of what we are like and what we do.

Who lives, sits, walks, laughs, yells, studies or works close to you? Do any of them fit in the categories of fatherless or oppressed?

What might you do today to carry God's help or defense to them?

Grace & peace

One Psalm, One God

2009-02-09T04:53:00.000-08:00

It is Monday morning. I just dropped the kids off at school. This morning I spent some time in Psalm 9.

First, I'm reflecting upon our day at church together yesterday. It was a very good day. A number of us enjoyed time together in worship. We read Scripture. We prayed. We welcomed friends. We met new folks. We sang. The sun was shining. The thermometer was up. People volunteered to be part of ongoing ministries. Two people recommended ideas for new ministries.

God was at work in us and through us. I thought of many of those things as I read Psalm 9:1-2:

I will praise you, O LORD,
with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you.
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Have you spent ANY time today thanking God, declaring God's wonders, rejoicing, or singing God's praise? If not, take 15 seconds right now. (Go ahead....I'll wait.)

However, as I mentioned a moment ago, today IS Monday. Which means there is a list of things that have to get done this week. Some look very daunting. Problems all seem to knock on the door on Mondays, don't they?

There is a funeral service tomorrow for a family outside the church.
We missed you who were away from us yesterday.
We are praying for some of our church family who have lost their job.
We are interceding for others who are fighting spiritual battles.
We are lifting you up to God if you are struggling within your family and your marriage.
Some are battling depression and strongholds in their lives.
There is are families with car problems.

I thought of many of you as I read Psalm 9:9-10:

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Maybe your life's circumstances draw you to one part of that Psalm or the other. I'm living in both of them today and this week.

I'm thankful to know our God is the God of BOTH parts of Psalm 9.

May the God of Psalm 9 reign in you today, and speak personally and powerfully into your life.

Grace & peace

Seen and Heard

2009-02-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

Agnosticism and atheism.

Agnostics are people who "don't know" whether God exists or not. Agnosticism contends such knowledge (gnosis) is not possible.

Atheism takes it a step further: God does not exist.

As Christians, we are convinced of something different. Sometimes when I'm feeling really convinced, I even wonder how such thoughts can be reasonable. In those moments I want to shout and sing with the Psalmist:

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory. (Psalm 63:2 NIV)

But...

...there are other times it is only reasonable that doubts and questions would creep into our minds.

Job loss.

Death of a loved one.

A dryness in my spirit.

Feeling cut off from things or people that deliver God's grace into my life.

I think it was to that person in this second category that Psalm 94:9 speaks so powerfully:

Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?

I love those questions.

Go back and read them slowly.

Does he who implanted the ear not hear?
Does he who formed the eye not see?

Now ask yourself, "What do I really enjoy hearing?"

A child's laughter.

A really good piece of music or a song with a catchy tune.

A can of ice cold cola popping on a summer's day.

The crack of a baseball bat.

The sound of the waves against the shore or a brook that gently laps against the stones.

The GPS when it says, "You have reached your destination" as I pull into my driveway after a long trip.

I wonder if those sounds might be insight into the One who implanted the ear.

Just as surely as I hear and enjoy those sounds, you just can't convince me Someone didn't know I'd appreciate them. Sometimes every fiber of my being has to say, "Thank you!" for these great sounds.

Even if I wasn't a Christian, I'd have to say "Thank you" to Someone. Do you ever feel like that?

Now ask yourself, "What do I really enjoy seeing?"

The welcoming arms of a loved one I haven't seen in awhile.

The Rocky Mountains as their peaks begin to peek over the front of the hood of the family minivan.

Blue skies and big fluffy white clouds.

A rising thermometer.

Dropping numbers on the bathroom scales.

Those are just some of the things I have enjoyed seeing at some point in my past. Things I'd like to see again.

I am reminded that if I can see them, then surely the One who so generously and creatively planned to give me eyes to see them and the ability to enjoy them, sees too. Is it conceivable that for he who formed the eye to not see?

Which must mean God sees the crummy things too. The lost job. The death. The illness. The isolation. When we have been horrible to each other. When we've been greedy or thoughtless.

Have you ever had someone come up to you in a horrible mood and they start spilling their guts to you? You sit there for a few moments without saying a thing. Then the other person ends by saying, "Thanks for listening. I feel so much better."

What did you do? Just listen.

Maybe that person only needed to know they were heard.

I think that is one function of Psalm 94:9. It is God's way of saying, "I hear you and I see you. You have not been forgotten."

If you'd allow me, I want to assure you that you have been seen and heard today.

Grace & peace

My Heritage

2009-02-02T07:56:00.000-08:00

Their names are like a roll call in my mind of God's saints:

Rev. & Mrs. E.K. Himes of western Pennsylvania.

Rev. & Mrs. Tracy Crowder from sourthern Indiana.

They were my grandparents. And I was thinking of them this morning as I read Psalm 61:5...

For you have heard my vows, O God;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. (italics added)

I was thinking of them because for me, they are the major part of the heritage that was passed on through my parents.

I was thinking of them because their faithfulness to Jesus calls me to be faithful too.

I was thinking of them because the heritage I have received now calls us to pass it along to children God has given me and Tammi.

I was thinking of them because who I am as a man, as a father, as a husband, and as a pastor is largely as a result of that heritage.

I was thinking of them because their modeling the Christlike life for me inspires me as I ask God to allow the Spirit to work through me.

I was thinking of them as I invite you to either live up to the heritage you have been given (if you have been shown faithful examples of what it means to live for God)

OR

...to start a Godly heritage of your own (if your family of origin didn't give you such a heritage).

The Psalmist's words at the end of this chapter are mine and I hope they are yours too:

...I will ever sing praise to your name
and fulfill my vows day after day (61:8).

May God help you TODAY to fulfill your vows to and live worthy of such a heritage.

Grace & peace

Psalm 89: Apathy or whatever

2009-01-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

Remember how fleeting is my life. For what futility you have created all people! (Psalm 89:47)

Ever feel like your life is futile? ("My life doesn't matter")

Ever get run over by the apathy bug? ("What difference does any of this really make?")

Ever become convinced nothing really matters? ("Who cares!?")

The Psalmist knew what this is like. And worse. He couldn't "find" God:

How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever? (Psalm 89:46)

We all come in contact with these thoughts on occasions.

So what do you do to combat them?

Our spiritual fathers and mothers have taught us that one of the ways to combat such enemies is through the consistent practice of disciplines. Regular times and schedules for prayer and scripture, worship and meditation.

Ask God to help you find some anchors to build into your spiritual life on a regular basis. Over the next couple of months we'll be talking about a variety of ways the people of God have found help to stay true, and be formed into the image of Christ.

And good news, listen to the way the Psalmist ends Psalm 89:

Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and amen (v52)

May God rekindle and awaken faith in us in times of doubt and struggle.

Grace & peace

Shaped By Psalm 27

2009-01-27T05:36:00.001-08:00

ou're in trouble.

Maybe it's with the boss.

Maybe it's with finances.

Maybe it's with a family member.

Whatever.

But you need help. What are you gonna do?

Panic?

Complain?

Throw a fit?

Self medicate?

Try to forget it and hope "it" goes away?

We are shaped by our past decisions to go with what has previously "worked" for us. We all have our "gods" we go to when times are rough; things, habits or thought patterns we turn to and look for deliverance.

It is in times like these that we need to have Scripture tucked away in our brains and in our hearts. Listen to what the Psalmist says:

The LORD is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?
When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall. (Psalm 27:1-2 NIV)

Did you notice the images that have shaped the writer's response?

God is my light and my salvation.
God is the stronghold of my life.

The Psalmist has been shaped by the truth of who God is. The mind has been trained to think of these pictures and find hope and confidence in them. The heart has been conditioned to go to them in order to recover strength and peace.

What is shaping your life today?

May you turn to God-given resources (Scripture, prayer, Godly friends, God-centered music, times of quiet and contemplation) in order to be shaped by Him.

Grace & peace

Be Careful the god You Choose

2009-01-26T05:31:00.000-08:00

You have heard the cliche, "You are what you eat."

But what do you think about, "You are what you worship"?

Listen to Psalm 115:

Our God is in heaven;
he who does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold, made by hands of men...
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them. (vv3-4,8)

Notice:

The Living God can't be controlled.
False gods can only do what we tell them to do.

Worshiping false gods will lead to our becoming like them.
Worshiping The Living God will lead to our becoming like Him.
(Romans 8:29 tells us God desires for us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son)

We talked about it yesterday. What is shaping you?

We can be shaped by the All-knowing, All-seeing, All-loving, All-powerful, Life-Giving God.

OR

We can become like the mute, dumb, deaf, blind, unresponsive gods of of this world.

Who do you want to become like?

Be careful which gods (or God) you choose.

Grace & peace

Psalm 22

2009-01-22T05:55:00.000-08:00

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Sound familiar? Your mind may go to Jesus on the cross. Those are words he said.

But long before he said them on the cross, the Psalmist penned them, in Psalm 22:1 (along with other words that connect to Jesus' sacrifice):

"All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." (Psalm 22:7-8)

"I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing." (Psalm 22:17-18)

"For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help." (Psalm 22:24)

We read this Psalm this morning before the kids took off for school. I read it slowly, quietly.

Then I asked them, "What did you hear?"

One mentioned, "I heard Jesus speaking."

Another said, "I heard sadness and suffering...at least the part I was thinking about."

Which is an insightful statement. Because those passages are not the very end of the Psalm.

Listen to the way the Psalm ends:

"I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the congregation I will praise you" (22:22)

"The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the LORD will praise him..." (22:26)

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him -
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the LORD.
They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn - for he has done it!" (22:27-31)

As you read those last verses, you get a reminder that God is in control. (Do you think that our Lord, while he was on the cross, quoting the 1st part of the Psalm, was also looking to the last part of the Psalm? I do!)

At Christmastime we sang, "The wrong shall fail, the right prevail" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow).

May God encourage your heart today through Christ's determined suffering and sacrifice for you.

May the Holy Spirit empower and equip you to be Christ to those around you.

May you be reminded that those who suffer for and with Christ are victorious today!

Grace & peace

Advent: God Comes in Our Compassion

2008-12-18T05:11:00.000-08:00

The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)

I have to confess, I've never really thought of that as an "Advent scripture" before. Not till I read the article in the Ann Arbor News the other day. The story, as best as I can remember it, goes like this:

A little girl has a birthday. She sends out invitations so her friends. However, she has a request. She would like them to bring presents that are unwrapped.

The reason: the presents are not for her!!

She plans to give the presents away to a Toys for Tots program in town. She ends up receiving 30+ presents, worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $400+. The reporter asks her what she thought about the presents. She responds, "There were a couple of really good ones I'd like to have kept for myself. But I know others needed it more."

I appreciated the honesty.

And I couldn't help but think this little girl was fulfilling Matthew 25:40, whether she realized it or not. She did it for "one of the least of these" who needed a little thoughtfulness and generosity.

And if it is true that we have done those acts, not only for others, but, ultimately, for Jesus, then isn't it safe to say that he comes to us in those acts of compassion? He arrives as we are being Jesus to others?

And what is Advent? Simply anticipating God's arrival.

May you and I find ways to usher in God's arrival into our lives and the lives of those around us.

Grace & Peace

Advent: But Are You Ready?

2008-12-17T09:25:00.000-08:00

Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." The angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." (Luke 1:18-20 NIV)

Zechariah, the priest, has been praying, (apparently for a child [see v13]). God's messenger comes to personally deliver the message that they will have a child.

And now the priest does not believe.

This challenges me to be ready for God to answer what I have requested.

Have I asked for God to make me more like Him, only to find the process is painful?

Have I asked God for patience, only to find it requires me to be patient?

Have I asked for God to make me more loving, but chaffed at the thought of having to love and forgive those who have offended me?

Have I testified that I want to be more like Jesus, only to discover being like Jesus can be hard work?

I can really empathize with this poor man. How 'bout you?

Grace & peace

Advent: Blessing for Children & Grandchildren &...?

2008-12-16T05:07:00.001-08:00

And he will go on before the Lord,
in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous -
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. (Luke 1:17 NIV)

This is the word about John the Baptist, prior to his birth. The angel speaks these words to John's father, Zechariah.

This must have been an amazing experience for Zechariah (who was a priest), for at least three reasons:

1. An angel shows up and gives you a message. Not an everday-sort-of-event, right?
("your prayer has been heard" he says to the elderly priest.)

2. A great future promised for your child.
("he will be a delight and joy to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth". What parent or grandparent wouldn't want to hear that about their offspring? Have you asked God if He would be willing to use your children in this way?)

3. And this one is kind of important...John had not been BORN YET!
Zechariah and his wife were well along in years, similar to Abraham and Sara. They had NO kids. We'll talk more about this one later.

But think about #2 for a minute.

What does God want to say about your child or children? For those of you who are parents or grandparents, you may know the child it is that is on your mind. What great promises and blessed futures does the Heavenly Father have in store for them?

May we take time to ask, seek, and knock on their behalf.

But for those of you who don't have children or grandchildren...

...this may seem to be a devotional that has NOTHING to do with you. Not so fast, my friend.

Zechariah thought the same thing. And God had something else in store.

Maybe it is a niece or nephew. Maybe it is a child at church who needs an adult to really show an interest in them. Maybe it is a neighbor who could use a "prayer warrior" interceding on their behalf.

May you ask, seek, and knock to find out how it is God wants to bless you and who it is God wants to bless through you.

Grace & peace

Advent Questions

2008-12-15T07:10:00.001-08:00

ADVENT QUESTIONS
We have been talking about anticipating God's arrivals in our lives the last few weeks.
However, anticipatin does not mean a passive waiting, twiddling our thumbs.

Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
(Matthew 7:7)

If you could ask God for any 1 thing, what would it be?
(Would it be to change others? Get things for ourself?)

What is it you seek this season?
(What does your answer to these first 2 questions say about you?)

What do you perceive to be behind the door on which you are knocking?
(Spiritual growth and depth? Physical healing? Financial help?)

What is the difference between asking and complaining?

How long might we need to seek in order to find?

May God grant us the perseverance, patience, and passion required to ask, seek and knock, and the discernment to do so wisely.

Grace & peace

Not Right for Me

2008-12-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

ightIt would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. (Acts 6:2 NIV)

The disciples were in the early days after Jesus' death and resurrection. They were sorting through what it meant to carry out the Great Commission. They were gathering a group of people who were becoming the Church. Some of those people were widows who needed food. Confusion and hurt feelings developed over who was receiving what they needed and who wasn't. It was a time of excitement and confusion.

In the midst of the chaos, the disciples made several decisions:

1.) The widows needed to be fed, it was an important job.
2.) The Gospel needed to be preached, it was an important job too.
3.) They couldn't do both important jobs.

I was recently reading someone who said something like this:

It wasn't right for the disciples to neglect preaching in order to feed the widows.
Others could have said the same thing in reverse. "It's not right for us to neglect the widows in order to preach."

Aren't you glad God's Kingdom has a place for both preaching and feeding?

I've spent my time today dealing with worship, scripture, and people who are hurting.

What task are you at today?

Do you think of it as holy?

If you do it "unto the Lord" then it becomes a part of God's work in our world, whether you are nursing, working at a computer, chopping wood, teaching, working on roads, cooking and cleaning, building a building, visiting the sick and needy, or studying for a test.

One task within the Kingdom may not be right for you today. But another one is.

Do what you are doing as best as you can, to the glory of God.

Think about it.

Grace & peace

10 Reasons to Come to the Christmas Musical

2008-12-10T07:52:00.001-08:00

"The Christmas Shoes"

A Dramatic Musical for Christmas

Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 6PM
(Refreshments to follow the performance)

Chelsea Church of the Nazarene
12126 Jackson Rd.
Dexter, MI 48130

TEN REASONS TO COME THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

10. This will be a one-time only presentation. You snooze, you lose!

9. There will be refreshments after the performance!

8. A chance to see the Crowders argue...live...on stage!

7. Where else can you hear "Silent Night," "The Grinch," and "Christmas Shoes" in the same evening?

6. It costs less than going to a concert, a play, or a movie
You can bring everyone you know and it won't cost you a dime...(It's FREE!!)

5. It's a non-threatening way to invite your friends and family to hear The Christmas Story.

4. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you won't leave the same

3. Have you ever seen the Pastor REALLY MAD?? You won't want to miss that scene!

2. Cute kids, energetic teens, and talented adults!!

AND THE #1 REASON TO COME SATURDAY NIGHT...

The word became flesh and lived for a while among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

Grace & peace

What Does God Want from Me?

2008-12-09T05:08:00.000-08:00

With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
He has told you, o mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6,8 NRSV)

What does God want from you?

It is a question the prophet Micah asks.

Does God want ritual? "Shall I come with burnt offerings?"

Does God want extravagant productions of sacrifice? "Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams and ten thousands of rivers of oil?"

Does God want us to suffer? "Shall I give my firstborn?"

No. God wants us to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him.

That's not an easy balance to strike, is it?

Some of us are good at calling for justice. Make it right. Make 'em pay. Wrongs must go away.

Some of us are good at mercy and kindness. You're forgiven. You are loved. No sin is too great to be overcome.

But how many of us can do both justice and mercy?

I am convinced humility is the key.

"Humility is a realistic way relating to self that counters...pride and shame." (Transforming Spirituality by Shults & Sandage)

Humility keeps me from thinking too highly of myself (pride).

But it also keeps me from beating myself up (shame).

Instead, humility is anchored in my relationship to a God, who created me, bought me again, and constantly resources me.

May God help us to strike the right balance as we give Him what He asks of us:

justice

mercy

humbly walking with Him

Grace & peace

The Grinch, The Christmas Shoes, and Silent Night

2008-12-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

Lead out those who have eyes but are blind
who have ears but are deaf." (Isaiah 43:8)

Does this logic make sense?

- Advent is about waking up to God's arrival
- As Christians, we are to be about what Jesus did
- Jesus went around "doing good" and preaching to open up the eyes of the blind and ears of the deaf
- We are called to do good, help the blind see and the deaf hear God's invitation.

Here's one opportunity to do just that.

On Saturday, December 13 at 6PM,
the Ensemble will be presenting

"Christmas Shoes"

The evening will feature

Drama

"The Grinch"

traditional carols

and much, much more!

Plan to come and invite four or five friends! It will be a unique presentation of the Gospel message and include an invitation to God's advent into our lives. We will have invitations at the church on Sunday. Be in prayer now about whose eyes and ears God might use you to help open.

Grace & peace

You Only Call When...

2008-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:00

I heard the following story from a friend of mine who is a Roman Catholic priest.

"I walked into a hospital room the other day to visit a parishioner. The moment I walked through the door, the guy says, 'Look what your God has done to me!' I responded, 'You're pretty quick to blame Him for bad stuff. When is the last time you thanked Him for the good stuff!?' Then I turned around and walked out of the room!"

Rather sheepishly, my friend, the priest explained that he went back to visit the man later in the day. He apologized to the parishioner. And the parishioner apologized too. Apparently his priest was right!

I thought of that story this morning after reading the following passage from Isaiah:

Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob,
you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.
You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,
nor honored me with your sacrifices. (Isaiah 43:22-23a NIV)

God begins to "grade" the Israelites, and this list includes stuff they were not doing to their own detriment. (Interesting this falls on the heels of the "new thing" God declared in v19.) These verses make it clear that God's work on their behalf is not because they have been so faithful.

But their lack of faithfulness does not cancel out God's absolute faithfulness.

As we think about God's advents into our lives, ask yourself:

- Do I regularly call on God? Not just when I'm in trouble, but when things are going well or simply to speak to Him regularly and intentionally?

- Do I "weary myself" for God? Or do I refuse to lift a finger for His work in the world?

- When is the last time I truly sacrificed my time, or my money, or my ability for His work?

- Will my day, today, honor God in every way? In any way?

May we humble ourselves so God doesn't have to.

May we make corrections in our lives rather than forcing God to.

Grace & peace

Advent & New Things

2008-12-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking about new things recently.

More specifically, God's new things in our lives.

More specifically still, God's new things in my life.

God has used a friend of mine to inspire me to dream about something more. And, not coincidentally, I have found myself in the following passage several times in the last week:

This is what the LORD says -
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick;

God gets the attention of the Hebrew people by doing a quick summary of His resume. And He gets ours too as we do a review of places He has worked in our lives.

It's as if He asks, "Remember me? I'm the One who freed you when you were slaves."

Can't you just hear the elderly Jews and those who knew their history, who had been told by mothers, fathers, grandparents, and priests:

"Yeah! We remember. You performed an awe-filled act on our behalf. That Egyptian army never had a chance with all their power and technology against us wandering, defenseless people...because YOU were on our side."

But listen to how quickly He goes onto the next point:

"Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past."

Really? Forget? Don't dwell?

But the good ol' days were so good. Why wouldn't we just sit around and dream of Christmases past and times when we were really close to God? Because...

"See, I am doing a new thing!"

Hmm. Maybe we should give this some thought.

"Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

Here is where God has caused me to pay close attention to my own life.

Too many times I have to answer, "No, Lord, I don't perceive or see or hear or sense or smell or taste a new thing from You...but I sure would like to."

I get the feeling God is doing "new things" all the time around you and me.
I get the feeling that I am only aware of the teeniest, tiniest fraction of them.
I get the feeling that there are other things God would let me in on if only I'd pay attention.

A little quiet time for reflection, meditation, and prayer.
A little intentional reading of scripture or Christian writers.
A little planned programming when it comes to my music or what I watch on TV.
A little forethought about the websites or blogs I'll choose to feed on.

Might it be possible that I would be better prepared to perceive His new thing?

Then He begins to describe what this "new thing" is like:

"I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise." (Isaiah 43:16-21 NIV)

God makes a way "where there seems to be no way".

God makes streams where there is nothing but dust and dryness.

God makes it possible for thirsty, parched people to gulp down as much cool water as they can take in.

And then He reminds us how special we are to Him. He tells us that we are:

"people I formed for Myself"

Wow....I wish you'd read that last line again.

"people I formed for Myself"

Read it slowly.

Read it quietly,

like a whisper.

Or go to an empty room or your car, all by yourself, and SHOUT IT OUT LOUD:

"I'VE BEEN MADE BY GOD...FOR HIS PLEASURE & PRAISE"

Do you realize that nothing in the world's version of Christmas can give you this sense of fulfillment, purpose, and joy? Not Black Monday. Not Cyber Monday (or whatever it is called)

Only He can bring you that "new thing" and the joy that comes along with it.

"Joy to the world, the LORD is come. Let earth receive her king!"

He comes again now, in my life...and yours...to do a new thing.

Do you perceive it?

What will you do today to get ready to receive His message and work?

Grace & peace

U-Turns, You-Turns, & I-Turns

2008-12-01T07:15:00.000-08:00

I drove into our parking lot this morning. There was still snow on the ground from last night. I noticed my vehicle was the second one to make tracks today. The first vehicle hadn't stayed, however. It simply drove into the lot, turned around, and left.

That's not uncommon for us. Because our building is located a short distance from an exit off of I-94, many people use our lot as a turn around.

That may bother some of our congregants, but I haven't heard any. And I kind of like the symbolism.

A place where people can turn their lives around and begin to head in a new direction.

Isn't that one picture of what The Church at its best is meant to be? I think so.

And this is the season for turnarounds. I know many in our culture will look for making changes January 1 with New Year's Resolutions. And that's great.

But on the Christian calendar we are in a time period called Advent. Advent means "a coming or arrival" (Webster's Concise Dictionary).

Advent is the season when we:

1. Remember God in Christ Jesus coming to earth as a little, helpless Baby

2. Anticipate God showing up into our regular, everyday lives

3. Anticipate Christ's return to earth again at the consummation of all things

Long before Jesus was born, the Prophet Isaiah called the people to, "Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming! Make a straight road for him!" (Isaiah 40:3 NLT)

Isaiah was trying to get people ready for an Advent.

Advent says that while God's arrival into our lives is a gift, there are preparations for us to make.

Advent says that while God is the main character, we have a part to play prior to God's arrival.

One way we play our part is making U-turns.

Or maybe a You-turn.

Of course, it is always easier to see where other people need to turn around, isn't it?

"You can a better parent."

"You should be a more supportive wife."

"You could be a more attentive husband."

"You ought to be a better friend."

But I don't think Advent is about correcting others. Our fixation upon others' faults is what Jesus refers to when he mentions getting the plank out of my own eye before I try to help you get the speck out of yours. Ouch.

No, advent is probably more about I-Turns. (To my knowledge, Apple has not coined the phrase yet. But if they do, would you be my witness that we thought of it first?)

Advent gives me a chance to ask, "What could I do to prepare for God's coming into my life?"

and

"What might my life look like if God really would show up in a brand new way?"

Think of the choices we have of things we could do to prepare:

- I could read the Christmas story

- I could find music or art that turns my attention to God's activity in the world

- I could seek out ways to help others who are in need

- I could attend a Christmas Eve service with candles or a Children's Pageant

- I could spend a few minutes in silent prayer and meditation

- I could set aside 10 minutes everyday between now and Christmas to anticipate God's arrival into my life and the lives of those I love

I don't want to simply remember Christmases past. I want to anticipate God's coming into our world today and participate in fresh, new things that might be in store for me if I'm simply fully present and open to them.

How 'bout you?

Grace & peace

Do You REALLY Want to Know God's Will?

2008-11-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I hear people ask, "What is God's will for my life?"

I've asked it. But I wonder...

Do we REALLY want to know what God's will is for our life?

Be careful. The answer may surprise you.

If I'm honest, sometimes I get suckered into the trap of thinking God's will is IDENTICAL to my will for my life: nice house, good kids, new car, lots of money in the bank, great health, the perfect marriage, being liked by everyone, a life of ease and luxury.

Unfortunately, if you take all of Scripture together, it becomes impossible to believe such things are always God's will for us. How did we come to believe such a ridiculous equation?

It's just not true. Not always. Maybe not even usually.

Henry Knight writes about John Wesley's view of God's will:

"Wesley...suggests that asking what is the will of God may be a misleading question; it would be better asked in each situation what will further one's improvement or growth in grace, and what would make one most useful to God?" (The Presence of God in the Christian Life: John Wesley and the Means of Grace)

Boiling it down and putting in everyday language, it reads like this: What would make me more like Jesus?

Think about that for a moment.

Is it possible that the very thing that will "improve (my) growth in grace" is not someone being nice to me, but their being thoughtless or mean to me?

Is it possible that the thing that makes me most useful to God is not having plenty of money, but being short on cash?

If I asked God what would make me most Christlike, am I ready for Him to say, "You know, I could really you when things stink in your life, when you lose your job, when you are sick, or when you're unjustly embarrassed"?

I have to confess to you that I hope He's NOT thinking that about me or any of you right now. But...

...I also have to confess that He just might be. Scripture tells us in our weakness, He is made strong.

So ask yourself again: how badly do I REALLY want to know God's will for my life.

And once I know it, am I willing to cooperate with God in it? Even if God calls for a path I wouldn't choose?

Isn't this what Jesus was saying when he prayed in the garden, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39b)

A friend of mine mentioned that a frequent theme in the Gospels is Jesus going away to pray, looking for some alone time with God. We might wonder, "What kind of prayer sessions did the Son of Man have with the Everlasting Father?"

We might get all starry-eyed thinking about the possibilities of being in on such a sacred conversation. We might be ready for goose-bump moments that make the hair on our neck stand up in a holy hush.

However, those moments might have been much more down to earth. Did you ever think, this might be it: "Not as I will, but as you will."
That might have been the recurring theme of those conversations.

God the Father says, "I need you to pour your life out and live as a servant of those around you."
Jesus replies, "I wish you'd take this path from me. But your will, not mine be done."

Maybe Christlikeness isn't as complicated as we make it. But that doesn't mean it's easy, does it?

Maybe loving God with the totality of our being and loving our neighbor as we want to be loved really is the sum of the Gospel.

I recently attended a presentation of the musical "Godspell". (Did you know "Godspell" is the archaic version of "Gospel". And did you know "Gospel" simply means "good news"?) At one point in the presentation, the Christ figure is wrestling with doing what he knows he has been called to do, or giving into demonic voices that call him to back away and take a different path.

Not so unlike the choices each of us face everyday.

Will I be kind and patient with the person who has been thoughtless and insensitive to me?
Will I exercise self-control in that area of my life that has been so out-of-control?

Someone once said, "When you come to the fork in the road, take it". I agree. Don't back away from the wrestling match or the difficult place in your life. In it you may find God's will for your life.

Grace & peace

The Art of Forgetting God

2008-11-19T06:13:00.000-08:00

Have trouble remembering?

Maybe you forget where you put the car keys.

Maybe you forget someone's birthday or anniversary.

But how 'bout forgetting God?!

Listen to what John Wesley had to say about such a habit.

"Forgetting God was talked about by Wesley under the term 'dissipation'. The term was commonly used to describe a person 'violently attached to women, gaming, drinking; to dances, balls, races' and fox hunting. But Wesley uses the term more broadly to include 'the serious fool who forgets about God by a close attention to any worldly employment'; indeed whoever is habitually inattentive to the presence and will of their Creator is a dissipated person. It is the art of forgetting God."

Now you may be thinking, "Who's caught up thinking about dances and balls?" Tell me, does our society get fixed on parties, feeling good, and getting drunk or high?

And how 'bout gaming? Where would we be without ESPN? ESPN2? ESPNU? ESPN360? ESPNClassic? Seriously.

But it is Wesley's "broad" use of the word that gets me: forget about God by a close attention to any worldly employment.

When God tells us via Moses, "Do not worship any god except me. Do not make any idols...Do not bow down and worship idols" (Exodus 20:3ff), I think He had in mind that same thought: any worldly activities, attitudes, or things that would distract us from him.

Anything that would hold too high a place in our lives.

Anyone that would gain too much of our affection.

Read on.

"Wesley equates dissipation with ungodliness, that is, living as if there was no God...A minimal piety and common moral respectability cannot stand up to the radical claims of the living God revealed in Christ."(The Presence of God in the Christian Life: John Wesley and the Means of Grace, Henry Knight III)

Did you catch that?

forgetting God = living as if there was no God = ungodliness

You don't have to be a math major OR a theologian to know forgetting God is trouble.

That's why we hammer the ideas of:

- regularly reading your Bible

- spending consistent time in prayer

- building your schedule around church and gathering with other believers

What steps are you taking TODAY to destroy the art of forgetting God in your life?

Grace & peace

Fan the Flame

2008-11-18T05:10:00.000-08:00

Someone believes in you.

They have invested in you.

They have walked with you as a friend.

They have walked ahead of you as an example.

You know their life is authentic.

You know their faith is real.

Such is the situation when the Apostle Paul writes these very personal, very powerful words to his friend Timothy.

For this reason
I remind you
to fan into flame
the gift of God,
which is in you
through the laying
on of my hands. (2 Tim. 1:6 NIV)

The old Apostle reminds the young pastor of others who have lived the life before him.

I have been reminded of your sincere faith
which first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and, I am persuaded,
now lives in you also. (2 Tim. 1:5 NIV)

Who has invested in you?

What did they do to bring you into God's story?

How are you fanning God's gift into a roaring flame within your life today?

Grace & peace

Making New Efforts

2008-11-13T05:12:00.000-08:00

But the fruit of the Spirit is...self-control...against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

One part of self-control is motivating yourself; doing what you know needs to be done.

Often that comes in the form of making new efforts.

Trying again.

Digging in and giving a new commitment to change and growth.

You see something that isn't quite right in your life.

Either you let it go or you decide to do something about it.

"We applaud the concept in most things. We know, for instance, that even people who were married years ago have to keep working at that marriage consciously and intently every year thereafter, or the marriage will fail no matter how established it seems."

"We know that people who own businesses take inventories and evaluations every business year or the business fails."

"We too often fail to realize, however, people who say they want to find God in life have to work everyday too to bring that Presence into focus, or the Presence will elude them no matter how present it is in theory." (The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages, Joan Chittister)

This Friday will be a special opportunity to give attention to bringing the Presence into focus; drawing closer to God; seeking the Spirit's reviving work in your life.

Join us at 6:30 for a potluck dinner. (You only need to bring food to share. The Church will provide table settings and drinks.)

Pastor Bob Moulding will be sharing about bringing God's presence into focus in his own life, particularly through difficult circumstances.

Hope to see you then.

Grace & peace

A New Thing

2008-11-12T05:15:00.000-08:00

...this is what the LORD says - he who created you...he who formed you...
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.

Read it again.

Read it s l o w l y.

And read it out loud, if you can. (Even at the volume of a whisper). But make your ears hear your voice.

Go ahead.

I'll wait.

Pretty amazing, huh? The God who formed YOU. The One who redeemed YOUR life. He is calling for YOU right now.

This is an intensely personal relationship from an intensely personal God who speaks an intensely personal message. Here it is:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

Interesting, isn't it? God doesn't promise that we won't go through water and fire. But God does promise that we don't have to be alone. We won't be forgotten. And we don't have to be unprotected.

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

Do you like new things?

Sometimes I do.

Sometimes new things are faster than old things.
Sometimes they are more efficient than old things.
Sometimes new things are bright and shiny and fun.

But...

...sometimes it can be painful to take on a new thing.

Because it means letting go of old things.

Think about these "new" things:

- Dropping your child off at their first day of school
- Going through a divorce
- Letting go of bitterness and anger
- Making a trip to the funeral home for someone who died too young

Taking on a "new thing" means giving up things we'd come accustomed to.
It means letting go of our usual ways of coping.
It means letting go of comfortable habits.
It means letting go of hurts.
It means letting go of attitudes
that have become a part of us.

That's the problem, really, isn't it? Letting go of a part of who we are?

And those things don't leave so easily, do they?

When God asks, "Do you not perceive the new thing?" I have two thoughts.

We may not see new things because we don't "have eyes to see or ears to hear". We just plain miss it. Much like we miss a turn or an exit. We didn't do it intentionally. We must "missed" it.

However, other times we don't see the possibility. We don't hear what could be. We're overwhelmed by what "it" would take to move in a new direction or be obedient to God's new thing. We see "it". But we don't see what "it" could become.

But listen to what He is talking about doing:

I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:1-3, 18-19 NIV)

That's pretty amazing, isn't it? A God who makes a way where there is no way; a path where there has been none. One who makes streams of water spring up in the middle of the desert; One who knows we're thirsty and there appears to be no possibility of quenching that thirst for miles and miles.

He knows.

And He's able to help.

If only we'll let Him.

Today, my prayer is that God would give you:

- Vision and hearing to be aware of the new thing He wants to do in your life

- A willingness to obey and do what God is calling you to do

Grace & peace

Broken Things

2008-11-11T05:39:00.000-08:00

But the fruit of the Spirit is...self-control...against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

"Things broken must be mended;
Things running away with us must be curbed;
Things awry in us must be set straight.
What we may have to face in a culture in which self-control is too often seen as self-destructive, is that none of that happens by accident. It requires discipline - conscious, honest, continuing discipline...in some way that is honest and real." (The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages, Joan Chittister)

A Jungle Doctor

2008-11-10T05:14:00.000-08:00

Are you familiar with this quote?

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
(Matthew 16:24b-25, NIV)

You might have heard some of those words before. You may have even read them before.

It's easy for those of us who deal in the currency of Scripture to become numb to them, however. So I was hearing them again with new ears this morning as I read the writing of Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

Born in 1875, Dr. Schweitzer was an organist, an organ-builder, philosopher, and theologian. But he sensed God's calling on his life to do something else.

So he went to medical school. And once completed, he moved to equatorial Africa and became a medical missionary.

Friends objected. Family scoffed. Why would such a gifted, bright individual waste his life in such a ridiculous way?

Dr. Schweitzer writes about his own life to that point:

"It struck me as inconceivable that I should be allowed to live such a happy life while I saw so many people around me struggling with sorrow and suffering. One brilliant summer morning in 1896, as I awoke, the thought came to me that I must not accept this good fortune as a matter of course, but must give something in return. While outside the birds sang and I reflected that until I was thirty, I could consider myself justified in devoting myself to scholarship and the arts, but after that I would devote myself directly to serving humanity. I had already tried many times to find the meaning that lay hidden in the words of Jesus: 'Whoever would save his life shall lose it, and whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the Gospel's shall save it.' Now I had found the answer." (From Out of My Life and Thought, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998)

That one sentence vibrates within me like a semi-truck going down my street rattles the windows in my house. "I must not accept this good fortune as a matter of course, but must give something in return."

It reminds me of why I do what I do. The reason I have agreed to many of my tasks and roles is because I am convinced there is something bigger than me for which to give my life. There is Someone who has generously given me my life and the only reasonable thing I can do is give it back in the way I live it each day. I am convinced Dr. Schweitzer and Jesus are right: such living, such "losing" of your life, is the path to "finding" life that overflows with meaning and joy.

Such a sense of satisfaction and gratitude can affect the way we choose our occupation and the course we choose for our education. It can direct the way we interact with the community. It will shape the organizations for which we volunteer our time. It will color the way we deal with family and other relationships. It will dictate to us how we spend our time, talents, money. Such an attitude begins to create a world in which we want to live. What we have is no longer simply for my enjoyment; it is meant to be shared and given away.

Imagine what our community would look like if we each became determined to "give something in return." It would transform our churches, our schools, our Chambers of Commerce, our shops, our offices, our factories, our homes, our marriages, and our children. My prayer for us is that we would each find such meaning, such a Reason for a sense of living out and giving away our lives.

Grace & peace

Vocation

2008-11-06T05:24:00.001-08:00

Last night I was talking with our teens about what jobs they wanted to do when they grow up.
I asked them rank a list of nine characteristics of jobs they might want or want to avoid. They included things like:

- Making lots of $

- Being your own boss

- Becoming famous

- Making a difference in the world

- Doing manual labor

- Finding a job I like

- Working with others

We talked about choosing your job. It was interesting to hear the various tasks people were thinking about. Some included:

- Farming

- Pediatric medicine

- Veterinarian medicine

- Coast Guard rescue

It was a great time to hear about their hopes and dreams. I heard them thinking through how they might want to spend their life. Pretty powerful stuff.

But today I read something that reminded me of this fact: sometimes we don't choose. Sometimes we are chosen.

Think about the word vocation. Webster's New Concise Dictionary gives two definitions for vocation:

2. occupation

1. calling

Think about that second definition for a moment. Is it possible that things you are doing in your life, things you enjoy doing, aren't simply a job (boring, monotonous, insignificant), but are actually a calling? Could it be the things that excite us most may be places where we are responding to something or Someone outside of ourselves?

If we are called in our vocation, then there is A Voice who vocalizes; One who calls us.

Think about Moses (Exodus 3:4). God called to him from within the bush.

Think about God speaking to Noah to get ready for the flood (Genesis 6). A little bit like Evan Almighty, with a few modifications.

Or think about my personal favorite, Samuel. God calls the boy, Samuel, three times before Eli (the priest and spiritual leader who was supposed to know this was The Voice), finally figures out what is going on. (For the whole story, read 1 Samuel 3.)

I am convinced God's calling is not just for a few. It's not just for the pastor or the priest. It's not just for huge tasks like leading a nation out of slavery or becoming President.

I am convinced the Voice calls us to many tasks, both great and small, short-term and long-term, some seemingly insignificant or others with obvious significance.

So my question is this: have you ever stopped to reflect upon what you do, why you do it, and why it makes a difference? Have you ever asked yourself if you chose your vocation or if Someone was calling you to choose that path?

If you're really willing to ask and wait quietly for an answer, there's no telling what the response might be.

Grace & peace

Why So Downcast?

2008-11-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

Why so downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you...

By day the LORD directs his love,
at night his song is with me -
a prayer to the God of my life.

Why are you so downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:5ff)

That's a great Psalm to commit to memory.

Don't we all have times when our soul is downcast?

When we can't help but look down.
When we're only seeing the negative.
When we can take a sunny, cloudless day, and still find something to complain about?

Did you notice the beginning of this Psalm? The Psalmist begins with familiar words,

"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God."

Are you like me?

Do you ever get confused between the gifts God has given and the God Who gives the gifts?

Sometimes I "pant" for things.

Sometimes I "pant" for gifts that used to be in my life but are no longer there.

Sometimes I think what I need most are the little blessings I've gotten used to living with.

But the Psalmist is determined NOT to let that happen.

"I pant for YOU, God" he reminds himself.

I need to do that too, from time to time. Remind myself Who I pant for.

How 'bout you?

Grace & peace

A Landslide

2008-11-04T05:05:00.000-08:00

Have you voted yet today?

I will take advantage of a relatively open morning schedule and hope to go when the line is shorter.

I was thinking: I'm a bit of a political geek. I will spend a significant amount of my evening watching election returns. I'll watch some states go red and others go blue. I'll here the phrases, "Too close to call" or "We're ready to call this race..."

I'll pay attention to the various proposals and excitedly watch to see what passes and what goes down in defeat. I anticipate some results will make me happy. Some won't.

But I stumbled across some reminders that put things in perspective. The Psalmist writes:

My heart is stirred by a noble theme (it's not healthcare or tax breaks)

as I recite my verses for the king (when is the last time you read God's Word back to Him?)

Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever (no worries about term limits here!)

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom (a leader who is all He appears to be...AND SO MUCH MORE!)

I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever (victory is guaranteed!) (Psalm 45:1, 6, 17 NIV)

How will you "perpetuate" God's name today?

Sometimes the early election results look good. Sometimes they look devastating. But God's promise is sure: He has no equal and He WILL reign forever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever, amen.

No polls needed. No fear of filibuster (though it seems like it, doesn't it?).

So cast your vote today:

- prayerfully

- and with the confidence that our God reigns.

May Your Kingdom come. May Your will be done.

Grace & peace

Election: What Christians Are NOT Saying

2008-11-03T05:36:00.000-08:00

nI'm writing the day before the 2008 Election. Tomorrow we will elect national officials (a new president and vice president), state officials, county officials, and local officials. We will vote on several proposals (such as stem cell research, medical marijuana, and a millage regarding our county community college.)

We have been inundated with ads. Some partially true. Some mostly false. We dread picking up the phone or the mail because we know "they" will get at us in every conceivable form.

In those ads we've heard a variety of reasons to vote for this person or not vote for that person. We've been told how this proposal will devastate this area of our life or that proposal will be the "game changer" (one of the pundits favorite phrases this election cycle).

Running in the circles I do, I hear a lot from Christians about how to vote. In some cases we refer to the what the Bible says about a certain topic. In other cases, we infer what would be the proper vote to cast for the issues on the ballot.

That's fine. It's appropriate. Our democracy needs vigorous debate and expects us to vote our conscience. Certainly our religious teachings and experiences help shape us, for better or worse. I trust that people of faith who vote do so prayerfully and thoughtfully.

But there are parts of Holy Writ that I don't hear the faithful quoting. Parts that are relevant not only on Election Eve, but every day, every year. Here's one:

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, interecession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

I'm curious. How many of us regularly make prayers and thanksgiving for our current President or Governor? (Notice, one is a Republican and one is a Democrat. And Scripture instructs Christians to be praying for both; for "all those in authority".)

I wonder. How many of us are willing to make that pledge, right now? Will you, regardless of how tomorrow goes, pray for our President and Vice-President on a regular basis? (Notice, I did not say pray "against" them.)

Now I can hear some of you already. "That was fine back then. But have you seen our leaders today?" Right. I forgot. Jesus and Paul had a great relationship with their government, right?

No. They were passionate about living the life of godliness, holiness, and self-sacrifice. If only we were as passionate about living lives that look like Jesus as we are about getting our people elected. If only we were passionate each of the next four years, not once every four years.

I recently heard from a pastor of another congregation who said something like this: "I wish my people were as concerned about the people who live around them as they were who gets elected and which proposals would be passed. I wish I would receive as many e-mails from my parishoners about helping their neighbor whose in a faltering marriage, working with someone facing eviction from their home, or their friend whose battling addiction as I do about how to vote on November 4."

Ain't it the truth?

Am I saying we shouldn't be passionate about candidates and issues? No. But if you're not willing to obey scripture that obviously instructs us to pray for our leaders, don't expect anyone to take you seriously about your candidate or your proposal.

And if you're not too keen on promising to pray for one of the presidential tickets, consider what the Apostle Paul writes to young pastor Titus.

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men. (Titus 3:1, NIV)

Did you catch that? "Be subject...and...obedient". Really? It gets worse.

"(B)e considerate and show true humility." Ugh.

Now I get a good laugh from political pundits and satirists like you. But can we also recognize that there is a fine line between good-natured humor and disrespectful slander? There is a difference between honest, respectful disagreement and toxic, name-calling animosity.

Sometimes in the Church we like to be prophetic about particular issues. "Thus saith the Lord."
There are times we should do that. But let us "be the Church" in season and out of season. Let us live out scripture (be subject to authorities, peaceable and considerate, praying for all those in authority), when we're in power and when we're out.

Grace & peace

What Causes Fights & Quarrels

2008-10-29T07:11:00.001-07:00

What causes fights and quarrels among you?
Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?
You want something but don't get it.
You kill and covet but you cannot have what you want.
You quarrel and fight.
You do not have, because you do not ask God.
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,
that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
(James 4:1-3, NIV italics added)

Does this hit you like a splash of cold water in the face?

It would be bad enough if James was writing to non-believers.

But he's writing to The Church.

May we allow the Spirit to check our attitude and motives.

May we beg Him to remove anything He finds in us that is anti-Christ, opposite of Jesus.

May we follow His word in verses 7:

Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners,
and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Grieve, mourn and wail...
Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up. (James 4:7ff)

Grace & peace

2008-10-29T07:10:00.000-07:00

1 in 6 Billion

2008-10-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather, think of yourself with sober judgment
in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. (Romans 12:3, NIV)

I read it today and it struck me.
It is probably not a new thought.
But I wanted to share it with you.

Paraphrasing Dr. John Bowling, "You are the only person in the universe. All of the other people are someone else."

Now this not might strike you as profound, but think about it for a moment.

If I am 6 in a billion, isn't it absurd to live my life SOLELY focused on ME?

If I go through today thinking only of myself, think of all the others I have ignored.

May God help you today to "think of yourself with sober judgment".

Not thinking too much...

or too little....

of myself.

But in the proper perspective of a created being for whom Jesus Christ died.

Grace & Peace

A Hand Up & Hinds' Feet

2008-10-20T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you are facing an insurmountable task?

Maybe it is debt that has gotten out of control.

Maybe it is a habit that has begun to master your life.

Maybe it is relationship that seems irreparable.

I came across an account of a someone who was literally facing an obstacle he couldn't get over. In Making the Climb: What a Novice Climber Learned About Life on Mt. Kilimanjaro, Dr. John C. Bowling writes the following as he is several days into his journey.

"(T)he long climb straight up turns out to be even more difficult that I had imagined. As I start the climb, I tell myself, 'If they' (the group of people he was climbing with) 'can do it, I can do it.' But about a third up the face of the wall, I can barely take one step after the next, pulling myself upward, stretching to get a handhold,and leaning into the face of the rock to keep my balance. 'Just take the next step,' I keep telling myself."

He continues, "I do my best to forget about the height of the wall and concentrate on what is just before me. Often I need both hands to pull myself where I can get a narrow foothold. I dare not look down."

"Freddie, (one of the guides) calls to me from just above, 'How are you doing John?'
'Not well, this is really tough.'
'Take a minute to catch your breath. You can make it.'"

Bowling goes onto describe climbing through "thick vegetation" and "sharp volcanic edges". He writes, "Each time this happens, my strength dissipates all the more. Finally, I stop. I just cannot go on."

About that time another climber passes him and asks if he is OK. Bowling responds, "I don't think I can make it."

It is that moment the guide begins to take charge. "Give me your pack."

Bowling writes, "That hits me hard. For to give my pack to someone else to carry is to admit my weakness in a very open and obvious way. Part of the code of the climb is that everyone must carry his or her own weight; yet here I am unable to go on. But after a few moments I slowly slip off my backpack and Freddie slings it over his shoulder. He must now carry his pack and mine. He pats me on the arm as he says quietly, 'It's all right, John, we'll do this together. Just put your foot right here.' With his encouragement giving me strength, I take a step, then another, and another. Without the weight of the pack, climbing seems a little easier.'"

Eventually, John and Freddie make it to the flat where the rest of the party is waiting. Dr. John Bowling, college president writes, "They had to wait on me. My whole life is about leadership, but now I can barely follow. My ego now aches more than my legs and shoulders. However no one is smug as I struggle to find a place to sit down. It has been hard for everyone."

As I read those words, I think of what the Psalmist wrote:

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet and setteth me upon high places. (Psalm 18:33, KJV)

If you're not used to King James' English, a modern translation makes it easier to understand:

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights (NIV).

Notice several things about this story:

First, the journey is hard for everyone at some point. Some swim well. Others climb well. Eventually we will all hit a rough patch. As often as we say it and much as we know it to be true, we still get surprised when the tough times come. But a well-phrased reminder can help us find our bearings again.

Second, as someone once said, "The help helps." When we come to that difficult place, being open to others who are experienced or strong or simply helpful can make our journey at best, enjoyable, and at worst, tolerable. May you find friends for the journey and be open to their hand when they offer it.

Third, there is an Unseen Guide who offers to enable us to scale the face of the mountain in order for us to stand on the heights. May you allow The Guide to take charge, not only of the difficult places, but throughout the journey. He knows the way.

Grace & peace

Why Does God Think of Me?

2008-10-14T04:56:00.001-07:00

In his book "Making the Climb: Thoughts of a Novice Climber on Mt. Kilimanjaro", Dr. John Bowling talks about his first night on the climb. After a first day of strenuous physical activity, he pauses at the camp. As he looks up he writes that it was if he had noticed the stars for the first time at that very moment. Then, he says, his mind went to the passage of scripture he had memorized for his epic journey.

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the sea.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8, NIV)

You may not be under the stars in Africa right now. But may you be struck with the sense of awe and wonder when you think about this fact: The Creator of the Universe cares for you!

Grace & Peace

Children of the Burning Hearts

2008-10-07T09:08:00.000-07:00

They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened up the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32)

"To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul's paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily-satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart." (A.W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God)

Would you describe your relationship with God as one of "the burning heart"?

If not, what are you willing to do about it?

Are you willing to ask God and keep asking until He brings about such a condition in your life?

Grace & peace

What Sin Feels Like

2008-09-24T06:16:00.000-07:00

I was in a meeting yesterday and heard two descriptions of people battling ailments and disease.

The first person, a friend of mine, had been stung by a wasp...3 times!!

One of the stings occurred near her eye. (An interesting note, my friend is a beekeeper. And though she has been stung by bees, she has never had the type of reaction to bee stings as she did with the wasp.)

She said at first she couldn't see what the foreign object was and she simply tried to brush it off her face. But as she clued into what was happening, she noticed the wasp.

"It was angry!" she told us. It stung her two more times before she was able to finally kill it.

And then she said this:

"I could feel the venom spreading through my face. My eye started to swell. My lips started to go numb. My throat began to close."

Thankfully my friend made the wise choice to go to a neighbor's house and ask for a ride to the emergency room of the Chelsea Hospital. (In another interesting, even Providential note, the neighbor, who wasn't planning on being home that day, changed her plans and was available to help my friend.)

The second story I heard was different but equally problematic. I heard a mother share about her daughter's acquiring Hepatitis C. This mother has now become a fanatical fundraiser to help find a cure for this currently, uncurable disease.

She shared that a person who acquires Hepatitis can take up to 20 years to show the symptoms.

Think about it. Something that happens when you are 6 (like a blood transfusion), may not show up till you have graduated from high school AND college, become married, and started a family!

Or, something that happened to you as as a young person in your early 20s might not reveal itself until 2 decades have past and you're in your 40s.

As different as these situations are, they BOTH have the same potential deadly results.

I was reading Romans 6 this morning. If 1 Corinthians 13 is "The Love Chapter", Romans 6 could be called "The Sin Chapter". "Sin" is mentioned seventeen times.

And in the middle of the chapter we read this:

The death (Christ) died, he died to sin once for all, but the life he lives, he lives for God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus...do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. (Romans 6:10-12, NIV)

Sometimes we feel the sin rising in us like my friend's venom. We can "feel it spreading". Sometimes that fast-acting symptom comes from lust.

Or anger.

Or bitterness.

Or gossip.

Or greed.

And the moment we begin to give into it, we feel something in our life get pulled out of joint.

At that moment, we have a choice.

1. Continue on and let the venom keep spreading.

2. Fall on our knees and ask God to help us stop the action or attitude or the words. Change directions. Get to God's ER room immediately. (See Joseph's response in Genesis 39:12 when confronted with temptation. He ran!)

Other times it takes a little while for the effects or symptoms of our sin to become obvious to us. But our choices are the same.

1. Ignore it, hope it will go away

2. Get to the Great Physician ASAP.

Is there a place in your life today that symptoms are making themselves known?

Don't ignore it.

May we have the courage and the passion and the sense to ask for Help to deal with it right away.

Grace & peace

Americans' Idols

2008-09-18T05:31:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently shared that she was in a group where the topic of The 10 Commandments came up. Another person brought a challenge, "I bet no one here can come up with all 10!"

My friend took and shot and didn't do too badly. She named seven of the ten. (Check out Exodus 20:1-17 for yourself and see the whole list.)

This morning as I was reading them, verse 4 halted me. It reads,

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything...

If you're like me, you're wondering how such statements apply today. And our initial thought might scream, "Nobody around here makes idols. Nobody I know does any smelting of gold, silver, or other precious ores. Nobody carves the image of a deity with the intent of living their life for that hand-crafted god. Nobody around here makes idols."

But the next verse reads,

You shall not bow down to them or worship them...

That got me thinking.

While we don't "bow down" physically to hardly anything or anyone, we do bow to lots of things and ideas.

- We bow down to the idea of being famous (What other culture could make a cliché out of "fifteen minutes of fame"?)

- We bow down to pay for the new vehicle or new clothes. And we feel the pain every time we make a sacrifice (known as a payment) to our credit card company.

- We bow down to the promise of having our wants met immediately. (How many cell phone calls and text messages really are emergencies that just can't wait? Yet how often are we perturbed that "they aren't answering!"?)

- We sacrifice our lives to things that will keep pain or difficulty far away from us.

- We bow down to being entertained. We sacrifice time with friends or family so we can sit in front of a screen and watch people who've never heard of us and don't care at all about us, catch a touchdown or pretend in a movie, while we neglect spouses or children or parents who want a little time with us.

The other morning my wife and I sat down and talked. Spontaneously.

Shouldn't be a big deal. But I felt stabbed with the conviction that too often there is an electronic device on somewhere that has my attention instead of the person most important in all the world to me. Too often I'm running here or there putting out fires or working on projects, rather than looking into the eyes of one individual I've committed to spend the rest of my life with. Sitting down to talk for no real reason ought to be the rule, not the exception.

Yeah, I'm afraid we have our idols as much as any people who've ever lived. We're just not as good at seeing them as other people are. Or maybe we're less honest about it.

We look for gods that will help us escape boredom or allow us to avoid dealing with the real issues of our lives: lack of self-control, below-the-surface-anger, past disappointments, broken relationships.

In his book Living Simply through the Day, Tilden Edwards writes, "Maybe TV will help settle us down - or the newspaper - or some work - or sex - or a big snack. Less seems to gnaw at us then. Life stays put for a moment. We feel in control again - we're 'doing something' - anything."

He goes on to tell us that while the "aftereffect of the doing leaves us less anxious" he also tells us those sorts of outlets leave us "more drugged. We've exchanged a gnawing anxiety for a dulled sensibility."

Our "idols and gods" don't really provide the solutions for which we were looking.

Where do we look for freedom from our idols?

The opening words of Exodus 20 were a reminder to the Hebrew people. They used to be slaves to a foreign king. They were now liberated to serve God.

I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

May we remember that we were once slaves but God freed us.

May we remember that we are always tempted to go back to serving other gods.

May we remember that there is One who speaks living, liberating words into our lives if we will "have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying".

May we ask Him to free us from our idols and gods.

Grace & peace

Hurricane Ike & the Epistle of James

2008-09-11T07:05:00.001-07:00

I received the following from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. It describes difficult circumstances for our brothers and sisters who have been in the path of Hurricane Ike.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

Grace & peace

Hurricane Ike Raking Cuba, Leaves Trail of Destruction
At this moment, Hurricane Ike is raking across Cuba. This category-3 storm has challenged forecasters earlier in the week as it was predicted to make a turn to the north and directly hit South Florida. However, what may seem good news for the U.S. is bad news for the people of the Caribbean. After smashing into the Turks and Caicos islands this weekend, Ike swept across the southeastern Bahama islands.

The storm system also dumped its deadly rains on an already devastated Haiti, where it is being blamed for the deaths of an additional 61 people there (in addition to the hundreds who died as a result of Hanna). Then hurricane then continued west Sunday night, straight into Cuba. The Miami Herald reports, “Hurricane Ike continued on its destructive journey Monday morning, ripping through Cuba. Winds, a massive storm surge and heavy rains have destroyed hundreds of homes and toppled trees in the island nation. … There, it could possibly cause up to 20 inches of rain in some areas, flash floods and mudslides. Ike could also cause a storm surge of up to 12 feet, the National Hurricane Center advised."

Today is the day to pray and act on behalf of the people in the Caribbean.Follow-up on Gustav, Hanna and Ike Haiti- Bill Dawson, French Field Director, reports, "Hurricane Gustav dumped major amounts of rain on the South, affecting three districts heavily. The Southeast, South (Jacmel) and South Districts [we have 11 Nazarene districts in Haiti] all received major amounts of rain and wind. Heavy crop damage, loss of gardens and animals were sustained. A few days later Hanna struck from the north, passing north of the Dominican Republic coast and then stalling and turning south and tarrying a couple of days, then moving north again. Hanna's intensity caused additional storm cells to develop over the already saturated southern portion of the island. Hanna also put huge amounts of rainfall onto the already water-soaked island.

Now, major flooding has washed out roadways and bridges making it impossible for our workers to even go northward to check on our people. Gonaive has lost some 500 people, only found after the flood water is receding a bit. It is a really sad situation. The district superintendent on the North Central District reports some of our people have been on a mountainside trying to wait the flood and rain out without food and water for four days now. We are trying to get emergency funds to him to assist our Nazarene family in Gonaive."

"On behalf of the 108,000 Nazarenes in Haiti I want to ask you to call your people across the districts in prayer for the family of Nazarenes in Haiti. These storms have affected some 8 percent of our worldwide membership. Eight percent of our family is waiting and praying that someone will remember them in this hour of need. I cannot even imagine what that is going to mean to our people." Bahamas - Rev. Antoine St. Louis of Nassau, himself in the path of the storm, called for prayer and assistance for the Palmetto Point Church of the Nazarene on a different Bahama island.

Palmetto Point, on the island of Eleuthera, was hit hard. Pray for your brothers and sisters who are enduring the storm at this moment. We won't know for a few days the extent of the damage in the Bahamas.Dominican Republic - Devastating loss of crops, livestock and property have hurt the people of the Dominican Republic. Click here to view and download a video that shows the aftermath.

Paquita Bido de Balbuena reports, "The Parsonage in Lecheria, Central district (Pastor Jose Luis) was damaged when a tree fell on it yesterday. The DR South district superintendent lost his plantain crops for the third year in a row due to the heavy rains. There are lots of roof damages in churches and parsonages. There is still much rain and damages, and due to the devastation many people have lost their source of income. The people are deeply affected emotionally and are very afraid when more rain in announced.”

Cuba - Because the storm is occurring now, news from Nazarenes is not yet available. Please check back at www.caribnaz.org/hurricane for regular updates.Resources - The Caribbean Communications Office wants to offer a video from this week. Click here to view and download this video. Please feel free to use it in your services and to promote prayer for Caribbean Nazarenes. www.caribnaz.org/hurricane is the official website for news and updates about Nazarenes affected by this round of storms. You can help: Pray for the safety of our Nazarene brothers and sisters, as well as people the local churches can help through this trial.
Persons and churches wishing to contribute to the relief efforts can mark their checks

“International Hurricane Relief ACM2006” and send them to Global Treasury Services, 17001 Prairie Star Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66220. In Canada, checks should be made payable and sent to the Church of the Nazarene Canada, 20 Regan Road, Unit 9, Brampton, Ontario L7A 1C3.

Wasting Away or Renewed Day by Day?

2008-09-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

I've been thinking about "wasting away" recently. The one-car accident that put one Chelsea youth in the hospital and took the life of another is one ingredient.. I noticed too high a percentage of people filing into Cole Funeral Chapel yesterday were under the age of 25.

Getting older is another ingredient. I had several friends wag their fingers at me and warn, "Once you hit 40, physical problems start popping up." Metabolism slows. Sight troubles often make their appearance. Joints begin to ache. Injuries take longer to recover from.

We can't help "wasting away".

We try and slow it. We eat right. We exercise regularly. We get the amount of sleep we need. We reduce the level of stress. We drink plenty of water.

We may waste away slower, but we're still "wasting away".

But what about the other part of the equation?

"(Y)et inwardly we are being renewed day by day."

That's the "power" of God at work in these "jars of clay" (v7).

Think about it.

Renewed strength to complete long, difficult tasks.
Renewed vision for a dream that doesn't come quickly.
Renewed faith for a life that is floundering or floating along.
Renewed passion for a family that needs a fresh jolt of the Spirit.
Renewed sense of purpose for a person that feels unwanted or unneeded.

God longs to renew us. Let's ask Him to help us cooperate with Him today. Let's ask Him to give our church a longing for that renewal.

Grace & peace

Music Man & Born Again

2008-09-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

Born again.

The phrase brings all kinds of images to mind. I'm guessing both Christians and non-Christians alike have strong reactions to the phrase.

Some non-Christians (or non-church folk) may react violently against the words. Possibly because they have come in contact with people who wore the "born again" label with great pride, but lived in a way that was anything but Christlike.

Some followers of Christ cling to the phrase because it describes an awakening or breakthrough in their life. A promise of what can be for everyone. Many can only compare event to becoming a brand new person.

Where does "born again" come from?

Like many of the great truths in life, there's a story behind it. This story occurs in the third chapter of the Gospel of John.

A man comes to see Jesus. The man's name is Nicodemus. Nicodemus, which means "conqueror of the people", is a member of the Pharisees, a religious and political party in New Testament times.

According to commentators, the Pharisees were known for "insisting that the law of God be observed as the scribes interpreted it". They were also known for "their special commitment to keeping the laws of tithing and ritual purity".

Sounds like a real fun group, right? They've developed a reputation as being "holier than thou".

So this "conqueror of the people" comes to see Jesus...at night. He appears to be inquiring about what makes Jesus tick.

Jesus' response is: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."

Nicodemus finds that phrase as strange as many of us do. "How can I be born when I am old?"

Good question. Ever wonder how your life can be knew when you're half-way through it?

Ever wonder how you can be reborn when you're closer to death than birth?

Ever long for life to be radically different?

Is this even possible?

Is it too late?

Jesus says we can't "see the kingdom" without it. The Kingdom, as I understand it, is anywhere that God is in charge; anywhere life is being lived as He intended it to be lived. The places where the Spirit is at work are places where the Kingdom is breaking in.

Think about it. Our poets, artists, and theologians have known there must be something more "out there".

Reminds me of the musical, "The Music Man". In one scene, after a long battle between the upstanding Marian the Librarian, and the scamming traveling salesman "Professor" Harold Hill, they fall in love. They sing that there were "birds" and "love all around". But "I never heard them at all...till there was you."

I recently read an author who mentioned we don't need to go somewhere we've never been before in order to see things new things. We only need new eyes.

Is it possible that new possibilities are right in front of our eyes? That a new song is playing all around our ears?

If there is something in you that wonders about all of this, my hope is that you pursue it with all your being until you find what (or Who) it is you are looking for.

Grace & peace

Mindfulness of God

2008-09-08T04:57:00.000-07:00

"Mindfulness of God arises slowly, a thought at a time. Suddenly, we are there." (Man's Quest for God, by Abraham Joshua Heschel)

That may not always be true. The Bible gives some pictures of people who are JOLTED by an immediate awareness of the Immanent God. (Saul on the Road to Damascus and Moses at the burning bush are two that come to mind.)

But much of human experience and Scripture suggest "mindfulness of God" often does "arise slowly" and need continual nurturing on our part as we cooperate with the Spirit.

In Psalm 139 the Psalmist reminds himself (and us):

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down...
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (139:1-3, 8 NIV)

He asks "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?" (v7)

Of course the implied answer is "NOWHERE!"

Yesterday we talked about the commitment our church wants to make to the growth of people in our congregation. At the end of the service, several people made commitments to their own growth and to the growth of those within their sphere of influence.

If you were one of those, I want to encourage you to make today the first day of fulfilling your commitment. You were in my prayers this morning. I asked God to send His Spirit to you and help you carry out your promise to Him.

May God continually bombard us with thoughts that make us "mindful" of Him.

May we nurture those mindful thoughts through faithfully setting aside time for windows and doors where we welcome God into our lives. Windows like

- reading scripture
- spending time in prayer
- getting together with other believers
- giving ourselves to God in times of worship
- blocking out all noise and distractions in times of silence
- filling our ears and hearts with music that draws us to Him
- giving up for God things that we value through fasting
- journaling our thoughts and impressions

These are a few of the "means of grace" that saints who have come before us have found to be valuable as they draw closer to Him.

Let us commit this Fall to times and acts that help us be "mindful of God".

Grace & peace

Why Wait?

2008-09-04T06:21:00.000-07:00

"I know Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:25-26)

Waiting can be OK.

We want our kids to wait to cross the street until they have looked both ways and determined it is clear.

We want our cars to wait to move until everyone is buckled in.

We want people to wait to get face to face with us until they have brushed their teeth in the morning or popped that after dinner breath mint into their mouth to cover up the garlic and onion.

Sometimes waiting is OK.

.But sometimes waiting is procrastinating. Putting off until later what would be better done immediately.

Jesus met a woman at the well of Sychar in Samaria. He started a conversation with her that would change her life and the lives of many in that little town.

Several times in the conversation she was wanting to put off a real, meaningful, life-changing interaction with him. She had already tried to point to the differences between her people (the Samaritans) and Jesus' people (the Jews) as a reason not to find agreement. "We worship in different places," she proptested. Jesus knocks down the protest.

Then in verse 25 she throws up her last attempt to put off a decision. "I'll wait for the Messiah. We'll know for sure when he arrives on the scene." Seems reasonable. Except....Jesus is the One.

"I who speak to you am he."

We read the passage, shake our heads, chuckle to ourselves, and think, "Silly gal. He was right there in front of you and you wanted to wait."

However, we often leave the story and think to ourselves, "If only God were that real and close right now."
At my workplace. At my school. In my family. In my relationships. In the midst of my difficulty.

And all the while the Spirit of God whispers to us, "I who speak to you am he."

I wonder...

What great work does God want to begin today in or around us?

Where is He trying to WAKE US UP to the fact that He is already miraculously on the move?

May we have our eyes opened to His movement and our ears unstopped to His voice today.

May we confess, "You ARE here. I AM ready to respond."

Grace & peace

What's the Missing Word?

2008-09-03T05:17:00.000-07:00

What word is missing in the verses below?

But whatever was to my profit I now consider ___________ for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a __________ compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have ___________ all things.
(Philippians 3:7-8a, NIV)

See the answer below.

Over the weekend the news coverage was all about Hurricane Gustav and how New Orleans would fair in its path. Many people wondered if once they returned home everything they owned might be lost.

During that same weekend, we were repairing the drywall in our basement. We had covered up a crack in one of the walls. We hoped not to lose any more items, such as carpet or furniture in the future.

Have you ever owned an automobile that was in a wreck? Sometimes when the car is beyond repair, when the cost of fixing it is more than the value of the vehicle, the insurance company considers it a total loss.

We will do nearly anything to keep from losing things, losing face, losing our dignity, losing a game, or losing items we've paid for and worked hard to acquire.

So how countercultural is the passage above, where the Apostle Paul is telling us that he considers EVERYTHING a loss for the sake of being in relationship with Jesus. Nothing else matters. Not his comfort. Not his safety. Not what would make life pleasant for him.

He intentionally loses everything!

His words are a wake-up call to those of us looking for the me-first, easy road of Christian faith. Ultimately, this passage tells us, everything in my life needs to be laid down, set aside, lost for His sake.

Can't you hear His call? "Nothing else matters. Lose your life for my sake and you'll save it. Try to save it and you'll lose it."

I'm mulling that one over today because the words are so challenging and difficult.

I hope you give some thought to that one too.

ANSWER: The word is "loss" (the first two times and "lost" in the third space).

Grace & peace

Church: Visiting a Foreign Land

2008-08-19T05:06:00.000-07:00

I think I'm weird. Last week we were on vacation. And on Sunday morning, I do what I always do: I went to church.

I'm a pastor and going to church is something I do every week. So maybe you'd think I would NOT go to church when I'm on vacation. But I did.

We were vacationing out of town. We were visiting a lakeside city, a few feet off of one of the great lakes. The sunrises were beautiful. The waves were awe-inspiring. The whole family fell in love with the location, and we're not what I would describe as "beach people". The time away and the specific place were just perfect for us.

And when Sunday rolled around, I got up and went to church...twice...at two different churches.

The first church started at 8:30 a.m. (I told you I'm weird.) And apparently I've infected the next generation.

One of my teenage daughters had been asking about a particular denomination and what their worship was like. So she got up with me. (The irony is not lost on me. A teenager I have trouble getting up each and every Sunday morning to go to our church is willing, [eager?] to get up and go with me to a strange one on vacation!)

As I walked out of my room that morning, my daughter looks at my jeans and says, "That's what you're wearing?!" I assured her that the dress she chose, and the jeans I was wearing would both be within the continuum of acceptable where we were going. (I was pretty sure I was right. But not 100%.)

And from that moment on, I got a whole new perspective on how scary it can be to go somewhere you're not sure you belong, and a whole new appreciation for how much weekly attenders take for granted, that visitors may find new or strange.

We arrived a few minutes late. The parking lot was packed. And it was raining. Do we wimp out and head home? No. We're going to do this.

We park, dash into the church, trying to avoid the rain drops.

We arrive at the back of the "big room" (we call it a sanctuary in our tradition), and peer through the windows asking ourselves, "Is there any room for us at the back...preferably on an aisle?"

I think there may be room for the 2 of us to squeeze in, next to that family.

So we did. The 10-year-old at the end of the line seemed a little uncomfortable, but he accommodated us.

From there it was a strange combination of standing up and sitting down (we had to watch everyone else to know what to do), finding the right page in the song book, listening as the group recited words we didn't know, and occasionally hitting a few familiar words that we were able to join in on (The Lord's Prayer was comforting).

One particular song started out with a familiar musical phrase that we knew. But just about the time we started to sing along, the melody everyone else was singing changed.

It reminds me of when we're in the family van, singing a song to the radio, and the person up front decides to turn off the volume and catch one or two other family members still singing along at the top of their lungs, without the music.

After we left, my daughter had lots of questions and lots of opinions. The scripture story about Jesus walking on the water was something we could identify with. (I will never forget the combination of hearing the story and looking out the window at Lake Huron.)

We would have left without talking to anyone or anyone talking to us except for the informality of the formal moment in the service when people "passed the peace" (something we don't normally do in our tradition).

We headed back to our home base for the week, picked up the rest of the family, and headed off to church number two for the morning.

It was a denomination different from ours too.

Again the parking lot was packed. But this time we arrived early enough to find a seat comfortably. (Although I must admit I kept asking myself, "Did we take anyone's seat? Does another family normally sit here?")

The most uncomfortable moment came when the person up front asked visitors to stand up and introduce themselves, a daunting task in front of 200 people you don't know. (We had hoped to sneak in, unnoticed, worship, and head out covertly.) As other visitors popped up and down, we sat nervously, hoping they wouldn't point to us and say, "And who are you?!"

They didn't. And we never offered.

Finally the moment passed, we were able to join in worship and go on like we were part of the group.

It was a different ritual or liturgy. No passing the peace or Lord's Prayer. But the songs were familiar. The style of the sermon was comforting to my teenagers. When I asked what they liked about the service "the pastor was funny" seemed to rank high on their list.

I came home to my church with a new appreciation for those of you who don't go to church regularly, but are thinking about it.

So if you don't normally attend church and aren't sure what to expect if you did darken the door, I invite you to visit us. I'm not saying you'll know everything that happens in advance or be familiar with it all ahead of time. But you will find people who are sympathetic to the risk you're taking. I know. I've been there. Twice in one day.

Jars of Clay

2008-08-05T08:15:00.000-07:00

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 4:7, NIV)

I've been thinking about believers I know and work with. I've been thinking about how imperfect we are ("jars of clay") and yet how perfectly God is able to use us anyway.
I'm thinking of an older couple who is providing snacks for kids this week at Vacation Bible School, even though they don't have any children or grandchildren at our church.

I'm thinking of a grandmother who spent time in the kitchen at VBS last night, even though she didn't have to, just because "there's always extra work to do".

I'm thinking of a business professional who spent all day yesterday at work, then came to church to teach kids the story of creation, and did it with passion.

I'm thinking of a woman whose children are grown, but who made sure children from two other families were able to be at church last night. She went and brought them to VBS.

The list can go on and on.

People who are cooking and providing food, at their own expense, even though they don't have kids in the group.

People who are giving time and energy they could be spending a thousand other ways, because they know the importance of investing in kids for the Kingdom's sake.

They are living, breathing, walking, talking examples to me of God's "jars of clay".

They're ordinary.

They're regular, run-of-the-mill, salt-of-the-earth people.

But they have something spectacular going on in and around them.

And I thank God for them.

Grace & peace

God When I'm Tired

2008-07-28T07:54:00.000-07:00

...and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down... (John 4:6)

I hate being tired. I remember as a kid, sitting in the back seat of automobiles my parents owned. We'd be traveling, which I didn't mind.

But occasionally we'd travel at night which I HATED. And it wasn't the traveling. It was being tired while traveling.

Nighttime was for sleeping. And sleeping was supposed to happen in a BED, not the backseat of a Ford Pinto.

Being tired changes me, if I let it. I place a high priority on a good night's sleep. I hate being tired.

And I wonder, "Can anything good happen when we're bone-tired?"

Of course.

I've never run a marathon, but I can only imagine how exhilarating and exhausting it must be. When you cross the finish line, the mix of life and death, celebration and mourning must be unique.

I've never given birth, but I've watched my wife over twenty-seven months of her life, share her energy and her body with a little, growing person inside. Talk about tiring.

I have been a part of tiring work experiences. Lifting and moving bundles of back-breaking shingles on a blazing, sticky roof, comes to mind. So does digging a trench or a ditch.

I know how cranky I can become when the blood, bruises, sunburn and sweat increase, in opposite proportions to my patience, joy, and wisdom. Ever say or do dumb things when you're tired?

We can snap with a cruel word, a thoughtless act, or a mean-spirited attitude.

We're only human, after all, right?

How many times have you said, "He's just tired" or "She's short on sleep" to excuse some bad behavior?

Mondays are usually a low-energy day for pastors. A lot of my friends take Monday off. It makes sense. The best of Sundays can leave you drained. And the worst...well, leave you feeling like a squashed bug on a windshield, expected to get up and keep moving with a happy face.

So it was with interest that the phrase ...and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down... caught my attention.

Jesus? Tired?

Yes. There are actually a number of occasions in the Bible where he is tired and he tries to get away from the crowds.

(Usually there is someone in a particularly acute situation. They track him down, cut short his time off, and bring him back to help with their need.)

In this instance, a tired Jesus sits down next to a well...the water hose of his day.

You could get water for your camels or other animals from the well.

You could get water to cook.

You could get water to clean.

But here on his journey, Jesus might have been thinking about sitting down and getting something to drink. Who could blame him?

However, the account doesn't end with Jesus filling up his water bottle and moving along. He wasn't only thinking about his own thirst and how tired he was.

Instead, when a woman comes to the well, Jesus has one of the most amazing conversations recorded in scripture. He ignores all kinds of cultural rules (including gender and ethnic), and leaves a town and a woman with a questionable past, changed forever. "He told me everything I've ever done!" the woman exclaims.

She runs back to town and brings all who are willing, to come and meet Jesus. They urge him to stay for awhile and he does stay for a couple of days.

The disciples, who, like all of us, have more questions than answers, need a quick tutorial. Jesus gives it to them. And years later, John is still talking about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

All this comes after ...Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down...

The account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness ends with, "...the devil...left him until an opportune time (Luke 4:13)."

I don't know when those times occured. I don't know if those times might have been when he was particularly tired, like this time. I don't know if this was one of those times he was tempted.

Tempted to just get something to drink and then move on. Tempted to ignore her, tempted to not ask about her story, tempted to leave well enough alone. Was he? I don't know.

But I do know that ...Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down...and amazing things took place. A conversation. A changed life. A changed village. An enlightened group of disciples.

And I know when I get tired, that might be the exact moment God wants to do something amazing through me.

May we be in tune with the Spirit and not let our weariness cause us to miss out on God's unique opportunities.

Please Go into Debt

2008-07-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Debt.

A lot of people are diving deeper into debt via credit cards. Some may be voluntary. Some may be by necessity.

"People are having to charge basic items like food because it is the only way they can afford them."
It was a quote given by a person testifying in front of a government committee.

The news story went on to splash $8,247 (or some similar number) as the amount of money the average American household has accumulated in credit card debt.

I haven't researched the veracity of the number. And my memory may have moved the numbers around. But the point was clear: Americans have too much debt.

I thought of that story as I read Romans 8:8.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for the one who loves their neighbor has fulfilled the law.

My initial reaction was that the debt of love is different than financial debt.

I thought, "We like to pay off credit card debt. But we like to be loved."

Therefore, credit card debt = bad.

Debt of love = good.

And I suppose that's true. But ...

...do we enjoy being "in debt" for love?

Think about it:

When you've been wronged, do you want to act lovingly toward the other person?

When you've been wounded, do you want to make yourself vulnerable again?

When you've been burned, do you want to give that person another chance to burn you?

When you've been clear about your desire are you really ready to be ignored another time?

No. Such thoughts are foolishness. We have probably all heard Jesus' admonition to turn the other cheek or go the second mile. But really. C'mon. He didn't actually mean it, did he?!

Paul tells us he did. Paul tells us to let the debt of loving one another remain outstanding. Continue to owe love to other people. Always be acting, talking, and thinking lovingly towards people.

Then I had this crazy idea.

What if we did the opposite of trying to get out of debt? What if we intentionally went deeper into the debt of love? What if we decided that we'd never be out of the debt of love to other people?

What if we were so determined to love each other that love really did cover a multitude of sins?

What would our community look like if we forgave as we have been forgiven?

I'm guessing that the Chamber of Commerce wouldn't have to do any advertising. People would flock to the area. And not just for the Purple Rose, the Common Grill, or Jiffy Mix. But because there's a place where people would be patient, joyful, and forgiving.

I'm guessing the realtors in town would always have buyers and very few sellers. The value of your home and mine would go up. Who wouldn't want to live in a place where people were always seeking to pay forward the kindness and generosity of others?

Paul writes, "love is the fulfillment of the law" in Romans 8:10b. If everybody is being like Christ, what else would there be to say? Pastors and priests would spend a lot less time talking, teaching, and preaching. We would spend a lot more time doing, working side-by-side with parishioners and congregants who made paying the debt of love a way of life.

I wonder...

Does such a community exist?

Is there a place where people are actually going deeper into this kind of debt?

If you find it, let me know. I want to be a part of such a place.

Grace & peace

Psalm 143

2008-07-22T08:22:00.000-07:00

Ever living in the midst of confusion and pain? I recently came across this passage and thought it might be helpful to you next time your facing similar circumstances.

O LORD, hear my prayer,
listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness
come to my relief.

Don't you appreciate the honesty of the Psalmist? I get the feeling he is yelling the preceding verses ("hear my cry"). Or at least he's voicing them with great intensity and emotion.

Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one is righteous before you.

Good to be reminded that God is the only One who is truly righteous. Before Him, the best you and I bring are like filthy rags. We sometimes want to paint ourselves as 100% innocent and others as 100% guilty. Usually not the case, is it?

I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.

Good habits to get into, aren't they?

"Remember" times in the past when God has been close to you.

"Consider" all the ways God has blessed your life. Things He has done just for you. Take a minute and list 3 of them right now. See if it doesn't change your disposition.

1.____________
2.____________
3.____________

Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit

"Answer me quickly!"

Good luck.

Sometimes He chooses to answer quickly.

Sometimes He decides s-l-o-w-l-y is better.

But I like that you and I aren't the only ones who pray this. (You've prayed it too, haven't you?) The Psalmist does too!

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.

Don't you appreciate that David believes in better days? God may or may not have provided the answer we were looking for today. But David now looks ahead to tomorrow. May "the morning" be the place you meet me, if not today or tonight. What a great statement of faith. He continues to look ahead and believe.

Show me the way I should go;
for to you I lift up my soul.

Always a good prayer to pray. David continues to look for guidance, in the midst of the confusion and trouble. May you and I do the same.

Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD,
for I hide myself in you. (Ps. 143:1-2ff)

This is not the 1st time David has mentioned "enemies". He mentions them in verses 3,9, and 12.

David's enemies were easy to spot. People were trying to kill him! They were probably pretty easy to spot.

But I wonder, how often we "mislabel" our enemies. How often do we name our enemies as people when really our fight is against depression, fear of rejection, a power struggle to have our own way, impatience, or a host of other "enemies"?

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies, destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

May God help us to trust in His unfailing love, to wait until He reveals it, and continue to form and shape us into the servants He has called us to be.

Grace & peace

Accidents in Your Life?

2008-07-17T07:37:00.000-07:00

"Classical Christian discernment involves certain underlying assumptions: human life is not accidental; it is a gift from a mysterious, loving Source. The purpose of this gift is twofold:

- an end in itself, loving/enjoying/creating, reflecting the nature of our Source

- and a directed loving/bearing/creating, aimed at unfolding that essential lovingness wherever it is closed off in a wounded, partially blind, and hostile nature." (Spiritual Friend by Tilden H. Edwards)

One way to think of it is this:

So God desires to reveal Himself to you.

And

God desires to reveal Himself through you.

Think about how intense His desire is for you and how great His joy is when He is successful. Jesus puts it this way:

"...suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (John 15:8-10)

If there are no accidents, if God is actively seeking lost people, then a couple of things are true.

1.) God is at work in the circumstances of your life to bring you to Himself.
2.) God is at work through you to bring people around you to Himself.

What are ways God might want to reveal Himself to you or others today?

Through a card, a note, an e-mail, or a phone call?

Through a walk in the park or a drive in nature?

Through a song, a book, or a movie?

Through a conversation over lunch or coffee?

May He wake us up to His reaching, seeking Spirit. And may He use us to seek for lost people around us.

Grace & peace

Compassion & Gratitude

2008-07-15T03:54:00.000-07:00

Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;
the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;
he will bless him in the land
and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. (Psalm 41:1-2)

"The Word tells us that often Jesus was moved with compassion for the people with whom he came into contact. Our high-tech, fast-paced society forces us to pass hundreds of people each day without ever asking ourselves, much less God, if they could use a compassionate touch." (from Disciplines for the Inner Life by Bob Benson, Sr. & Michael Benson)

We tend to think favorably about the idea of compassion. We know "the weak" need help and we want them to get it. We know those "in trouble" need to be delivered and protected and we like to help in some way. But...

...when we have to pay the price to show compassion, sometimes we take a step back. Showing compassion might mean:

- Getting up at 4:00 in the morning

- Getting ourselves dirty

- Smelling odors that aren't pleasant

- Being hurt by people who are hurting

- Working in places that are scary

- Sleeping in places that are hot and uncomfortable

I recently spoke with some friends of mine who spent time in the Cass Corridor of Detroit. The stories they brought back were like something out of Hollywood movie scripts. If you came across the characters they met in a 2-hour movie, you'd think the screenwriters were going over the top trying to squeeze in all of the drama they could.

But my friends actually met a cast of characters in their several-day-stay. They met people who had been stabbed. They met people who had been arrested. They met people who had been raped. They met people who had lived on the streets. They met people who had faced the worst of addictions and substance abuse. They met people living on the streets with nothing more than the clothes on their backs.

My friends were amazed how thankful these people were for the small amounts they were receiving; furniture you or I would throw away, these folks were grateful to be able to use; carpet you or I would burn, these folks were giddily installing and treating as brand new.

"Blessed is he who has regard for the weak". I'm taking another look at how God expresses compassion through me this week.

I'm taking another look at how God helps me express gratitude for what I do have (instead of focusing upon what I don't have).

May He help you take second looks at those things too.

Grace & peace

Lighting Up Your Life

2008-07-09T12:05:00.001-07:00

Years ago there was a song entitled, "You Light Up My Life" sung by Debby Boone. (Her dad was Pat Boone for those of you gobble up music trivia.)

Part of the song talks about how the singer's life is filled with hope and light by the person to whom she is singing. She finds "hope to carry on" because of the one she loves.

And this question came to my mind: What lights up my life?

- Seeing my children do well in a concert or an athletic competition lights up my life

- Seeing my wife after I've been away from home for a time lights up my life

- Hearing the punchline to a good joke lights up my life

- Knowing that someone is connecting with God, even in some, small way, really lights up my life

You "light up my life". And you can see it in my face. You can see it in my smile. You can see it my eyes.

I thought of that song this morning as I read Matthew 6:22-23.

The eye is the lamp of the body.
If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.
If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Sometimes we're tempted to look to other people and at other places to "light up our life".

We look to promising careers.

We look to anticipated vacations.

We look to friends or family to make us happy.

But ultimately, there is only One who deserves our full gaze because He is the only One who can truly light up our life.

Our life will be full of light if our eyes are "good", if they are on The Good.

"Good eyes" tells me I should be focusing on what matters.

A "good eye" is not simply one that possesses strong muscles or has the best vision. A "good eye" is one that looks at the best things. Desires, believes, hopes for the best. (See 1 Cor. 13 and Philippians 4:8)

In the opposite way, a "bad eye" spends its time looking at the wrong things, or the right things with the wrong intentions. It becomes "green with envy". It becomes so angry that we can't "see straight". Our eyes can really mess us up by what they look at.

And have you ever tried to look at two things at once?? You end up cross-eyed. You end up dizzy. You end up looking weird. (You can't serve 2 masters [Matthew 6:24]).

So look only at One. Look only at The Good.

Jesus said, "There is no one good but God." He is the only One that deserves our undivided staring. If He is the Object of our constant look, our regular glance, our eyes won't be able to help but be "good".

However, if our eyes are habitually looking to things or people other than God to provide safety, security, predictability, "then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

Then we're in trouble. Our eyes are "bad".

I want my eyes to be "good", don't you?

May He be the Object of your affections and the One to whom you constantly are glancing.

He'll light up your life.

Grace & peace

Lighting Up Your Life

2008-07-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

2008-07-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

Today is garbage day in the City of Chelsea.

If you drive through town you'll see bright orange bags lining the streets. (You have to purchase them or the garbage collectors won't take your garbage.)

In the winter when trash freezes outside, missing garbage day isn't that big of a deal. But in the summer, the stench of food, diapers, and other odors sitting in the garage compels us to faithfully remember garbage day and those bright, orange bags.

Now imagine going along the street and noticing that people were throwing away perfectly good items.

Furniture. Appliances. CD's. Things recently purchased. Or precious mementos like pictures of their children or wedding albums. Brand new books.

If you saw all that in the trash, you'd wonder what was going on.

We expect people to throw away garbage. But items recently acquired on E-Bay or Amazon.com?

Or how 'bout a vehicle that still has a lease you are paying?! You'd have to be nuts!!

I imagine word would get out around town pretty quickly. Neighbors would start to gather, selecting items they thought they could use.

I wonder if that is a little like what Paul was going through in Philippians 3. He writes:

(W)hatever was my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things.
I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him...

All things once with great worth....now worthless.

Everything....now rubbish.

What is profitable in you life?

What has great worth to you?

What do you treasure?

Think about the list for a moment:

computer friends car, house, or boat

music dreams children or grandchildren

reputation getting your own way

Would you really be willing to haul it out to the street today in an orange garbage bag?

There is only one reason to consider everything in that light:

the surpassing greatness of know Christ Jesus my Lord

I want to see everything else in my life through the light of how great following Jesus is.

Somedays I think I'm really headed that direction.

Let's encourage each other down that path.

Grace & peace

Sex & The Lord's Prayer

2008-07-07T08:22:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a couple of things that got me thinking. The first one was about The Lord's Prayer.

"When we say 'Hallowed be Thy name,' we are praying,

'May the whole of my life be a source of delight to You and may it be an honor to the name which I bear, which is Your name. Hallowed be your name.'

The trouble is that we so frequently know there are great areas of our lives that are not hallowed." (Jesus Teaches on Prayer by Ray C. Stedman)

Throughout the Bible, you will notice that every area of life becomes eligible for being lived God's way, for being hallowed: Work, family, recreation, time, talents, power, government, entertainment, stressful, creative areas, money,...and sex. All of life finds its fulfillment within the intended purposes of the God who created us.

After I read Stedman's words, my mind went back to another thing I had read recently.

In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes extensively about marriage.

Now, we often use 1 Corinthians 13 at weddings ("Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.")

You've probably heard it. It is a great passage, a poetic passage; a passage I've used at many ceremonies. But it's not the passage I'm talking about.

If you turn back just six chapters in that same letter, you see a very different type of instruction on marriage.

I Corinthians 7 is apparently in response to a letter the Corinthians sent Paul. "Now for the matters you wrote about," is the way Paul begins. And what follows may surprise you. Take a look. Paul's going to talk to us about the birds and the bees.

"The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband." (v4)

Did you hear that? The Apostle is telling the husband and wife that they need to be together. That intimacy is a part of our "marital duty" to our spouse.

Does that shock you? When's the last time you heard the Church instructing people to have sex?

The Church often gets the reputation that we're trying to keep people from being intimate and enjoying each other. Not necessarily. Read on:

"Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer." (v8a)

Think about that for a moment. The only reason Paul lists for not being with our husband or wife on a regular basis is to PRAY. How many couples have been so committed to prayer that they fail to take time to "fulfill their marital duty"?!

I know praying is important but I don't know too many people who want to pray THAT badly!

No, I'm guessing that most of us have other reasons we're not spending time together.

Maybe he's thoughtless.
Maybe she nags.
Maybe we think the other is only interested in selfish desires.

Those problems and a truckload of others keeps us from fulfilling our marital responsibility.

And I don't simply mean the animal, physical act.

I mean the emotional acts of playing, laughing, or hugging.

The social acts of talking and listening.

The affectionate, creative act of finding ways to let your husband or wife know they are THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE WORLD TO YOU.

I think all of that is wrapped up in Paul's instructions to "fulfill our marital duty".

How often could we avoid extra-marital affairs if we faithfully, tenderly fulfilled our marital duty?

How many TV's would be turned off or internet sites have to go out of business if there was a healthy, mutually-enjoyed relationship in the marriage?

Ask yourself, "How am I doing at hallowing my marriage?"

You may never say The Lord's Prayer the same way again. I hope you don't.

Grace & peace

You've Got it All

2008-07-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

Did you hear that?

We have everything we need for life and godliness.

Staggering, isn't it?

Do you feel ill-equipped?

You have "everything you need".

Do you think the idea of living a Christ-like life is WAY OUT OF YOUR REACH? Only for others?

You have "everything you need".

Do you feel overwhelmed and unable to face the tasks & challenges of the day?

You have "everything you need".

Say that verse again. But this time, put yourself in there.

His divine power has given ME everything I need for life and godliness through MY knowledge of him who called ME by his own glory and goodness.

Maybe you're like me. I need to pause in the midst of the day-to-day struggles in life and be reminded that He has provided all I need.

I have to take a deep breath, step back and be reminded of the gifts He has made available.

I need to "be still and know that He is God" because life can really mess with me. And if I'm not careful, I forget that I have everything I need for life and godliness.

Instead, I live like I've got nothin'.

So next time you or I feel like life's got us in a chokehold, and we're about to go down for the count, let's remind each other that we've got everything we need because of him who called us.

Grace & peace

Psalm 101

2008-07-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

I've been living in Psalm 101 this week. It is one of the readings assigned in the book I'm currently using.

A couple of passages have captured my attention.

I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life -
when will you come to me? (101:1-2)

These verses just seemed to "sing" to me as I read them out loud this morning at the piano in the sanctuary. So much so that a melody came to my mind.

(We're going to learn these verses in a new song together Sunday for those of you who will be in church.)

Another phrase that caught my attention was, I will set before my eyes no vile thing (v3).

If the Psalmist needed to say that in his day, how much more do we need to be vigilant about what we set before our eyes today?

Isn't this a great prayer for us to pray for our children or our spouses?
"God, help them to set no vile thing before their eyes."

"Vile things" are everywhere.

- Images and thoughts that would twist the good God has created. (Money, sex, power. All can be healthy and God-pleasing. But all can be used to destroy too.)

- Systems and sets of priorities in the world that tell us WE are the center, the beginning, the end, the most important thing; and cause us to neglect God and those around us.

Think about our entertainment, our relationships, our talents, our time. They can be used in "vile" ways. (One synonym for "vile" is "worthless". There are lots of things that are worthless. There are things that tempt us to live worthless lives and spend our energies in worthless ways.

OR we can live in ways that ADD value to life.

Here's another phrase I'm contemplating:
Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land (v8a).

"Every morning".

If the Psalmist had to work hard, consistently, daily, to set his mind right, do I need to do any less?

When we talk about a daily devotional time, this is why.

"Every morning....PUT TO SILENCE..."

Another great prayer starter:
"Every morning put to silence voices that compete for my attention"
"Every morning put to silence noises that would cause me to fear or worry instead of trust"
"God, put to silence things that really aren't that important so I can concentrate on the most important issues"
"Father, put to silence voices that tell me I'm alone or forgotten by You.

What is the Spirit impressing upon you right now that you need to "put to silence"?

My prayer for you today is that the Spirit will use Psalm 101 to help you sing God's praise through the way you live.

Grace & peace

Joyful Noise

2008-06-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to do my part for Vacation Bible School (August 4-8) here at the church.
I work with the kids on the music for the week.

Last night I received the CD and the book of songs. This weekend I'll begin to learn it.

Yesterday I was praying for VBS. And I was dreaming:

- Dreaming of a room full of loud kids who are excited about God

- Dreaming about adults who are learning the stories and songs with the passion of a child

- Dreaming about a God who enjoys people learning about Him

This scripture came to my mind:

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:1)

That's from the New International Version.

The old King James Version I remember reading as a child translates that first phrase this way:

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD...

A "joyful noise".

What are joyful noises you hear?

A baby cooing.

A group of friends laughing.

An engine starting. (If it didn't start before, that would be joyful, wouldn't it?)

The "SMACK" of the baseball off of a wood bat.

Your favorite song.

A babbling brook or waves against the shore.

Apparently God enjoys our praise of Him in that same way we enjoy our favorite noises.

So I invite you today to make a "joyful noise" in your car, or your shower, or your favorite chair. Use your ipod or your voice. Do it in silence or at full voice.

But either way, make a joyful noise.

Grace & peace

God on the Move

2008-06-18T05:36:00.000-07:00

Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. (1 John 2:8)

Sometimes it feels like the light is passing and the darkness is dominating.

But this passage tells us just the opposite: the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

Are you looking for those places?

Here's one.

I have a friend named Todd. We lived in the same area for a short time. While he was here, Todd shared his story and mentioned he had cancer. The prognosis wasn't particularly good. The cancer was difficult. It wouldn't be easy to operate on because of its structure. In fact, Todd was told it might not ever be possible to operate at all.

Todd and his family moved away last year. But he recently sent an e-mail updating us on his story.

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Dear Pastor Jeff,

In your recent email you asked for testimonies of what God is doing in our lives. Please share with your church my testimony. The chemo that I have been taking for the past year has greatly reduced my cancer. My oncologist says that it is time for the surgeon to take a look and see if they can remove surgically what was before inoperable! This is a tremendous answer to prayer. I will let you know when I have a date for surgery and of course let you know what the results are. PTL!

Todd

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I wonder how many of us are tempted to think, "God's not doing anything like that where I live. I don't see Him working."?

Is it possible that He IS working, we're just not seeing Him? Is it possible He IS speaking, we're just not listening?

There are several ways we discipline ourselves to see Him and hear Him: prayer, scripture, meditation, worship, fasting, and meeting with other seekers are just a few.

Have you built these disciplines into your life?

Maybe you feel overwhelmed at the prospect of adding all of them.

Why not pick one of these areas and begin to build it into your routine.

Not sure which one? Ask God to make it plain to you.

If the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining I want to be a part of it, don't you?

As a matter of fact, God's promise is that we will be: its truth is seen in him and you!! God will make the light shine in and through us if we're willing to cooperate with Him.

Grace & peace