All of my growing up years in rural west Ky were with filled adventures and challenges that were common to life in the country. Hog killing was some of both and lots of hard work. My Pa Sutherland always wanted to kill hogs on Thanksgiving Day if the weather was right. Most years we would butcher at least six hogs sometimes more. When I turned 14, Pa presented me with a special butcher knife he had made and informed me that he and I would be the official butchers for hog killing from then on. I was so excited because one of Pa's neighbors had always helped with that chore. But he had aged to the point Pa was not comfortable with his skills. So, I got the job until I left home to go to college and later the US Navy. Pa taught me how to cut the meat and cure it for the winter.
Country ham has been a Christmas morning staple for our family until we moved to Texas in 1977 because finding real cured COUNTRY ham in Texas is a rarity. And of course none of it came even close to Pa Sutherland's carefully cured ham. I loved just sitting in his smoke house as a kid and watching him pack the hams, bacon sides and ribs in his big salt box. He was very protective of his meat and rarely agreed to part with it except to his family.
The Rose and I have some really special friends/family who live just across the Ky/Tn state line near Paris, Tn. We passed through Ky on our way home from NC just after Thanksgiving and met our friends for dinner in Murray, Ky. As we were leaving Scott Owens said, "Hold on a second I have something for you." He went to his car and came back carrying a whole Tennessee country ham. My eyes lit up and I said, "Oh wow. I haven't had one of these in a long time. My Dad always sent me one for Christmas when we moved to Texas." Actually the delivery guy always wanted to know what that was when he brought it to my home because of the aroma it radiated.
Yeah, I love country ham and this year we have just now enjoyed a really special Christmas Country Ham breakfast thanks to the Owens family of Buchanan, Tn. We waited until this morning to cut it but I'm sure we will enjoy it for many breakfasts to come.
Country ham is an acquired taste because it is very salty compared to sugar cured ham, but once you get that second taste there is nothing like it in the whole world. This morning I had to explain the real history of country ham to my grandson, who is the age I was when Pa Sutherland tapped me for a very special challenge. Hog killing will always be a ritual that I will never duplicate but will always appreciate. It usually lasted well into the night with the very last job - cooking out the pork fat in a huge iron kettle over a wood fire in the back yard to make "cracklins".
Today my family is scattered and we were weren't able to all be together this Christmas but that country ham breakfast with our son Michael, his wife Annette and his son Gabe, coupled with that beautiful Tennessee Country Ham has put my heart right again and taken me back to my Old Kentucky Home for some very special memories.
God has blessed the Rose and I over our 50 years together. We stay connected daily with all of our family of 14 thanks to computers, the internet and social media - and Country Ham! I am a very blessed husband, father and grandfather. I'm also grateful that my doctor told me last week when I went for my annual check-up that he will see me again in a year. Now that I'm knocking on the door of 74, I take nothing for granted in life. Even small blessings like breakfast with family this morning and memories that keep me connected to who I am. HALLELUJAH!
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
"Tidings of Comfort and Joy"
Many good people struggle with sadness during this holiday season. If you are among those please give yourself some grace and realize that you can't help how you "feel". I've never been one given to depression and dark thoughts but have walked with many through some dark days and learned to not judge them for how they feel because that is their reality. I may not understand it nor identify with it but my responsibility is to be a voice of hope. Case in point -
Jesus was challenged by a group of Sadducees (Jewish lawyers) who posed a question to him that they probably thought would paint him into a corner. Their question turned on a point of their interpretation of the Law regarding a widow who married seven brothers in succession as each previous one died. They wanted to know which of the seven would be her husband at the resurrection of the dead. In his characteristic way, Jesus ignored their legalistic question and left us a word of absolute hope:
"The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered
worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry
nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They
are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the
bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord, 'the God of Abraham,
and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the
living, for to him all are alive." Luke 20:27-38 NIV
Grieving isn't a bad thing, it's a healthy way of absorbing and ultimately dissipating sadness over the death of a loved one. Those Sadducees were too educated and intelligent to believe that dead folks can come back to life. I so appreciate Jesus' final comment in the above account and have shared it with thousands of grieving believers over the years - "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
Please don't allow the enemy to rob you of the comfort and joy of the holiday season - celebrate the Son of God for the gift he has given to all who believe. We are "children of the resurrection" because through Jesus we are part of God's eternal family. AND to him "all are alive"! And that isn't just for this Christmas season alone but for every hour of every day of every year. HALLELUJAH!
Jesus was challenged by a group of Sadducees (Jewish lawyers) who posed a question to him that they probably thought would paint him into a corner. Their question turned on a point of their interpretation of the Law regarding a widow who married seven brothers in succession as each previous one died. They wanted to know which of the seven would be her husband at the resurrection of the dead. In his characteristic way, Jesus ignored their legalistic question and left us a word of absolute hope:
"The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered
worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry
nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They
are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the
bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord, 'the God of Abraham,
and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' He is not the God of the dead, but of the
living, for to him all are alive." Luke 20:27-38 NIV
Grieving isn't a bad thing, it's a healthy way of absorbing and ultimately dissipating sadness over the death of a loved one. Those Sadducees were too educated and intelligent to believe that dead folks can come back to life. I so appreciate Jesus' final comment in the above account and have shared it with thousands of grieving believers over the years - "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
Please don't allow the enemy to rob you of the comfort and joy of the holiday season - celebrate the Son of God for the gift he has given to all who believe. We are "children of the resurrection" because through Jesus we are part of God's eternal family. AND to him "all are alive"! And that isn't just for this Christmas season alone but for every hour of every day of every year. HALLELUJAH!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
"On Veteran's Day 2014"
On this day all freedom loving Americans pause to honor our military men and women for their bravery and heroism in service to our country. Having served four years in the US Navy, I consider myself to be one of those freedom loving Americans, but have never thought of myself as any kind of hero. To me those men and women who are in the thick of the battle right now and those who have returned from battle with life-long physical and mental wounds are the heroes. And they more than deserve all the ways a grateful nation can honor their service and sacrifice.
After spending the first year of my enlistment aboard ship, the Navy sent me to an electronics training center near Washington, D.C. Those eight months were a wonderful education for this country boy from rural west Kentucky. I was fortunate to spend many weekends wandering around the monuments and museums of our nation's capitol and feel the power of that great city and all that has gone on there since the Civil War. As much as I truly was awed by the Capitol Rotunda, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute etc. nothing was more inspiring to me than Arlington National Cemetery. Since I was a young teen I have been interested in visiting old cemeteries just to ponder what I learned about people I never knew. In fact, I have visited most of the Civil War battlefields and cemeteries to try and get a sense of the enormity of that senseless struggle where thousands of men lined up facing each other at close range and shot their own countrymen.
The war continues except today there is no mandatory draft or involuntary conscription into service but all kinds of brave men and women actually willingly put their lives on the line to preserve what has been won at great cost. The last time I stood in the midst of those many thousands of reminders at Arlington National Cemetery I felt a sense of the presence that permeates much of Washington, D.C. Our nation's capitol is much, much more than the politicians who fight each other to win another election and the huge army of political lobbyists who go to great lengths to achieve often selfish goals for some special interest group. That's all part of the risk and process of democracy. And, it's never been very pretty, not even as our Constitution was being hammered out by a small group of men who fought over what they felt was right and good for the national future. But it all worked out!
Here is where my faith lies - "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Ps 115:3
Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office or in the Congress, the one constant presence is what pleases our real Father who is still and always committed to seeing HIS will done for the good of the human family.
So my prayer is this - God be with our military men and women who fight to keep freedom a possibility for all Americans and the entire human family. Be with our nations leaders and policy makers to see beyond personal ideals and realize that ultimately YOU control it all and the day will come when they must answer to YOU. HALLELUJAH!
After spending the first year of my enlistment aboard ship, the Navy sent me to an electronics training center near Washington, D.C. Those eight months were a wonderful education for this country boy from rural west Kentucky. I was fortunate to spend many weekends wandering around the monuments and museums of our nation's capitol and feel the power of that great city and all that has gone on there since the Civil War. As much as I truly was awed by the Capitol Rotunda, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute etc. nothing was more inspiring to me than Arlington National Cemetery. Since I was a young teen I have been interested in visiting old cemeteries just to ponder what I learned about people I never knew. In fact, I have visited most of the Civil War battlefields and cemeteries to try and get a sense of the enormity of that senseless struggle where thousands of men lined up facing each other at close range and shot their own countrymen.
The war continues except today there is no mandatory draft or involuntary conscription into service but all kinds of brave men and women actually willingly put their lives on the line to preserve what has been won at great cost. The last time I stood in the midst of those many thousands of reminders at Arlington National Cemetery I felt a sense of the presence that permeates much of Washington, D.C. Our nation's capitol is much, much more than the politicians who fight each other to win another election and the huge army of political lobbyists who go to great lengths to achieve often selfish goals for some special interest group. That's all part of the risk and process of democracy. And, it's never been very pretty, not even as our Constitution was being hammered out by a small group of men who fought over what they felt was right and good for the national future. But it all worked out!
Here is where my faith lies - "Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Ps 115:3
Regardless of who sits in the Oval Office or in the Congress, the one constant presence is what pleases our real Father who is still and always committed to seeing HIS will done for the good of the human family.
So my prayer is this - God be with our military men and women who fight to keep freedom a possibility for all Americans and the entire human family. Be with our nations leaders and policy makers to see beyond personal ideals and realize that ultimately YOU control it all and the day will come when they must answer to YOU. HALLELUJAH!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
"Nearing The End ?"
From his depressing second imprisonment in Rome, Paul wrote these words to Timothy -
"Mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV
Who are these "people" he is describing? Take a moment to re-read what he wrote, carefully!
Are they Jews? If you look at the last statement, the Jews certainly professed faith in God and his written revelation in their Holy Scriptures. But their rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah in the face of prophetic and miraculous evidence, would identify them as the "people" Paul describes.
Are they Greeks/Romans? Even though modern American society owes much to the Greco/Roman world for a lot of the ideas and principles that became true democracy, you don't have to do much critical research to see how aptly Paul described those ancient societies. Although their philosophers and teachers talked much about deity that discussion was always tied to some non-existent entity that had been invented by those philosophers to attempt to explain what they couldn't explain.
Actually we could probably profile every nation of people that existed then and find apt parallels to Paul's description of "people". Maybe we could even go further and simply affirm that all of the human family, even believers in God and especially many professed followers in Jesus, fit Paul's description from then to now!
Disagree if you wish but to me Paul uses that word "people" to generally describe human society at large. There is no way we can get inside his head here, but I get a sense that he is also warning Timothy about false followers of Jesus who mouth the right words at the right times but their actions proved false to the core.
Today every newspaper and TV newscast is filled the ugliness of human ignorance about God and his truth, but it's been that way a very long time. If Paul could foresee all that he describes about human behavior and every ugly thing he details confronts us today, what should we conclude?
THE END IS NEAR!
Well maybe not. I doubt there has been a millennium or decade since Jesus ascended back into heaven that some people somewhere weren't looking at the same circumstances of human society and predicted the end. We're still here and still in the same moral quicksand that was evident in first century Rome. People are people in every generation and geography. That's why we need God's grace poured out on us through the blood of his Son.
I could bore you with the Biblical evidence that even though we truly are living in "the last days" the end isn't something any human, any angel, not even Jesus himself could ever predict. That event is at the sole discretion of our Father in heaven and only he knows. (Matthew 24:36)
So pay attention and don't get caught up in the hysteria of the modern day "prophets" who keep trying to get Jesus to come on back and end all this madness. Hear Paul's encouragement to Timothy -
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15
That's good enough for Paul, for Timothy and for me too! HALLELUJAH!
"Mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV
Who are these "people" he is describing? Take a moment to re-read what he wrote, carefully!
Are they Jews? If you look at the last statement, the Jews certainly professed faith in God and his written revelation in their Holy Scriptures. But their rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah in the face of prophetic and miraculous evidence, would identify them as the "people" Paul describes.
Are they Greeks/Romans? Even though modern American society owes much to the Greco/Roman world for a lot of the ideas and principles that became true democracy, you don't have to do much critical research to see how aptly Paul described those ancient societies. Although their philosophers and teachers talked much about deity that discussion was always tied to some non-existent entity that had been invented by those philosophers to attempt to explain what they couldn't explain.
Actually we could probably profile every nation of people that existed then and find apt parallels to Paul's description of "people". Maybe we could even go further and simply affirm that all of the human family, even believers in God and especially many professed followers in Jesus, fit Paul's description from then to now!
Disagree if you wish but to me Paul uses that word "people" to generally describe human society at large. There is no way we can get inside his head here, but I get a sense that he is also warning Timothy about false followers of Jesus who mouth the right words at the right times but their actions proved false to the core.
Today every newspaper and TV newscast is filled the ugliness of human ignorance about God and his truth, but it's been that way a very long time. If Paul could foresee all that he describes about human behavior and every ugly thing he details confronts us today, what should we conclude?
THE END IS NEAR!
Well maybe not. I doubt there has been a millennium or decade since Jesus ascended back into heaven that some people somewhere weren't looking at the same circumstances of human society and predicted the end. We're still here and still in the same moral quicksand that was evident in first century Rome. People are people in every generation and geography. That's why we need God's grace poured out on us through the blood of his Son.
I could bore you with the Biblical evidence that even though we truly are living in "the last days" the end isn't something any human, any angel, not even Jesus himself could ever predict. That event is at the sole discretion of our Father in heaven and only he knows. (Matthew 24:36)
So pay attention and don't get caught up in the hysteria of the modern day "prophets" who keep trying to get Jesus to come on back and end all this madness. Hear Paul's encouragement to Timothy -
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 3:14-15
That's good enough for Paul, for Timothy and for me too! HALLELUJAH!
Monday, August 11, 2014
"Arguing Never Works"
Every Sunday morning we begin our Bible class by reading in unison these words of Paul -
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV
Although our studies are currently centered in the book of James, quite often we never get past the words of Paul and spend the entire time talking about how this passage has spoken to various class member in the past week. Personally, I like doing that every week. This intentionally brief discussion usually lasts only about 8 to 10 minutes, but sometimes one of us will open up about a specific incident during the week that ignites a discussion that just has to happen. Maybe that is exactly what the Holy Spirit intended to happen when he inspired the weary Apostle to write these words.
Paul's words spotlight four players - (1) "the servant of the Lord" (2) "the devil" (3) "God" (4) "those who oppose him". Obviously Timothy had encountered some stiff opposition to his ministry, maybe even to the point, like Paul, of incarceration or worse. Paul's wise words should instruct all of us who see ourselves as God's servants to view opposition through God's eyes.
Over the years I have had to step back, take some time to reflect and approach a specific situation with Paul's instructions in my heart. Learning to see God as the major player in this scene has been eye opening for me. I am a debater by nature and have quickly risen to the occasion when opposition has shown itself in my ministry.
Quarreling never achieves the will of God. Gentle instruction is sometimes really hard to get to, but it is ultimately the only way to defeat the devil. He has no defense against kindness, gentleness and a refusal to resent another's opposition. Overcoming the instinct to react defensively and prove my own superior knowledge or position or whatever, has been a pretty long journey for me. Timothy seems to have been struggling with that too, just as Paul had in his early years of ministry.
Maybe this will help -
"God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." MSG
People all around you need the good news of God but most of them either don't know it or have some specific reason why it's just not for them. Pick out just one of those people in your life and begin to pray for the guidance of God's Spirit to give you better words than ever before. Prepare your heart for battle because that is exactly what it is but use the weapons of kindness and gentleness without even a hint of resentment. Then allow God to do the rest. He's really good at it!
"Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:23-26 NIV
Although our studies are currently centered in the book of James, quite often we never get past the words of Paul and spend the entire time talking about how this passage has spoken to various class member in the past week. Personally, I like doing that every week. This intentionally brief discussion usually lasts only about 8 to 10 minutes, but sometimes one of us will open up about a specific incident during the week that ignites a discussion that just has to happen. Maybe that is exactly what the Holy Spirit intended to happen when he inspired the weary Apostle to write these words.
Paul's words spotlight four players - (1) "the servant of the Lord" (2) "the devil" (3) "God" (4) "those who oppose him". Obviously Timothy had encountered some stiff opposition to his ministry, maybe even to the point, like Paul, of incarceration or worse. Paul's wise words should instruct all of us who see ourselves as God's servants to view opposition through God's eyes.
Over the years I have had to step back, take some time to reflect and approach a specific situation with Paul's instructions in my heart. Learning to see God as the major player in this scene has been eye opening for me. I am a debater by nature and have quickly risen to the occasion when opposition has shown itself in my ministry.
Quarreling never achieves the will of God. Gentle instruction is sometimes really hard to get to, but it is ultimately the only way to defeat the devil. He has no defense against kindness, gentleness and a refusal to resent another's opposition. Overcoming the instinct to react defensively and prove my own superior knowledge or position or whatever, has been a pretty long journey for me. Timothy seems to have been struggling with that too, just as Paul had in his early years of ministry.
Maybe this will help -
"God's servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil's trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands." MSG
People all around you need the good news of God but most of them either don't know it or have some specific reason why it's just not for them. Pick out just one of those people in your life and begin to pray for the guidance of God's Spirit to give you better words than ever before. Prepare your heart for battle because that is exactly what it is but use the weapons of kindness and gentleness without even a hint of resentment. Then allow God to do the rest. He's really good at it!
Thursday, August 7, 2014
"Silver Platters and Trash Cans"
As the prisoner Paul continues to encourage and instruct his son in the faith, he urges Timothy to keep teaching the brothers and sisters to hang on to their faith and live it out in a very obvious manner. At that time, doing so was not only risky but often a death sentence as in Paul's case and the tens of thousands of other Christians who were summarily executed for doing the very thing Paul is urging Timothy to do and teach. The vicious campaign by the Romans and the Jews to obliterate the words and life of Jesus from the earth was focused on the church all over the Empire. This caused many to turn away from following Jesus and the teaching of the Apostles. Hear Paul again -
"God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription, 'The Lord knows who are his', and 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.' In a large house there are articles of wood and clay; some for noble purposes and some ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:19-21 NIV
Which type of vessel/bowl am I? God knows! Am I honest enough with myself to actually know? I love the way this same thing is stated at Hebrews 2:1 -
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."
Drifting away is never an intentional result of faith. I've met a few people who went away from Jesus and his church by intention, they just became angry or disillusioned or whatever, and walked away. Maybe they never really were people of faith or maybe their lifestyle would not allow such a drastic shift as Jesus demands and they saw no reason to pretend. However, most of those I have met who went away from Jesus did so gradually. They drifted off a little at a time. Satan is really skilled at distracting us away from the life of faith. I cannot recall one person I ever talked with who is away from Jesus and his church who planned to be in that place from the beginning.
Maybe Peterson's interpretation will be helpful -
"In a well furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets - some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing." MSG
God's obvious intention for me is to use me to present his pure love, shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to his human family wherever I go in life. He wants to make me into a silver platter on which to serve his feast.
I realize there are those who have interpreted Paul's statement to mean that you and I become either a silver platter (acceptable to God) or a trash can (rejected by God) by God's own purpose and design and we have no option either way. If someone chooses to believe that God creates both vessels and neither has a choice in the matter, that is their business and God will deal with it in his own way. But, to me that violates everything the gospel is designed to do. I believe we all are sinners in need of forgiveness and that is exactly what God offers to all of us through Jesus Christ. Paul is simply using common household items as an illustration of who God is and how he accomplishes his will in us.
So, am I functioning in God's kitchen as a beautiful serving platter or a trash can to hold the garbage?
Kinda makes you think don't it!
"God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription, 'The Lord knows who are his', and 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.' In a large house there are articles of wood and clay; some for noble purposes and some ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:19-21 NIV
Which type of vessel/bowl am I? God knows! Am I honest enough with myself to actually know? I love the way this same thing is stated at Hebrews 2:1 -
"We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."
Drifting away is never an intentional result of faith. I've met a few people who went away from Jesus and his church by intention, they just became angry or disillusioned or whatever, and walked away. Maybe they never really were people of faith or maybe their lifestyle would not allow such a drastic shift as Jesus demands and they saw no reason to pretend. However, most of those I have met who went away from Jesus did so gradually. They drifted off a little at a time. Satan is really skilled at distracting us away from the life of faith. I cannot recall one person I ever talked with who is away from Jesus and his church who planned to be in that place from the beginning.
Maybe Peterson's interpretation will be helpful -
"In a well furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets - some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing." MSG
God's obvious intention for me is to use me to present his pure love, shown in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, to his human family wherever I go in life. He wants to make me into a silver platter on which to serve his feast.
I realize there are those who have interpreted Paul's statement to mean that you and I become either a silver platter (acceptable to God) or a trash can (rejected by God) by God's own purpose and design and we have no option either way. If someone chooses to believe that God creates both vessels and neither has a choice in the matter, that is their business and God will deal with it in his own way. But, to me that violates everything the gospel is designed to do. I believe we all are sinners in need of forgiveness and that is exactly what God offers to all of us through Jesus Christ. Paul is simply using common household items as an illustration of who God is and how he accomplishes his will in us.
So, am I functioning in God's kitchen as a beautiful serving platter or a trash can to hold the garbage?
Kinda makes you think don't it!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
"Guarding The Treasure"
In his final effort to urge Timothy to overcome his fear/timidity as a disciple of Christ Jesus, Paul affirms his own determination to hold fast, even in the face of a violent death. His words here have been immortalized in song, prayers and teaching in every succeeding age, since Christians have struggled to maintain vibrant and dynamic faith when faced with Satan's threats. Hear Paul -
"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.....Guard the good deposit (treasure) that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:12-14 NIV
"You then my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV
That word "know" means see, understand and ultimately - TRUST. Can you see yourself in these stirring words? Go back and read them again! Standing guard over a treasure (the gospel of Jesus Christ) begins at the point of truly understanding the seriousness of Jesus' mission and his inclusion of me as one of his foot soldiers in the daily fight to accomplish that mission. "I know whom I have believed" is much more than going to a church building on Sunday, a few songs and planning the next "fellowship" with my friends. There is nothing wrong or bad in any of those things unless our "church" experience becomes about us and what we want, like or expect.
Think of it like this - is your Christian life like being on a cruise ship or a warship? I've been on both and both sail on the sea but what happens on board is very different. Everything about a cruise ship is designed to cater to the comfort, expectations, needs and entertainment of the passengers. A cruise is all about food and games with options to just relax and enjoy the ride. On a warship, every minute of every day and night is organized to either go into battle or prepare for it. Believe me, it's not a pleasure cruise with food and games and relaxing entertainment.
Paul reminds his son in the faith and me, we are at war every day and night. Our enemy is totally committed to destroying us because of our faith in Jesus and our love for others who don't know what we know. You and I are included in the succession of entrusting Jesus' treasure to others who will entrust it to others who will entrust it to others on and on and on. It isn't a pleasure cruise. It requires enduring hardship because we "know" something eternally and absolutely crucial that Jesus died to give to the entire human family. But, if they don't know about it, they can't be blessed by it.
Feeling a little guilty? I surely hope not. Guilt is a poor motivation to serve Jesus because it won't last past the exit door of your church building. And I didn't mean for the title of this post to give the sense of a sentry who, like the guards at Buckingham Palace, merely march back and forth to guard the gate. Our "Guarding The Treasure" of the gospel means living it, growing into it, talking about it, being excited about it, praying for it, hungering to always know more about it. In short, guarding Jesus' treasure means being passionate about the mission. Don't go to sleep! Don't become lazy! Don't allow Satan to distract you into thinking this is a pleasure cruise that is designed to cater to YOU.
Speak to us once more brother Paul -
"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
Here is a trustworthy saying - (so pay very close attention!)
If we died with him
we will also live with him;
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
If we are faithless;
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown
himself," 2 Timothy 2:8-13 NIV
"I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.....Guard the good deposit (treasure) that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:12-14 NIV
"You then my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV
That word "know" means see, understand and ultimately - TRUST. Can you see yourself in these stirring words? Go back and read them again! Standing guard over a treasure (the gospel of Jesus Christ) begins at the point of truly understanding the seriousness of Jesus' mission and his inclusion of me as one of his foot soldiers in the daily fight to accomplish that mission. "I know whom I have believed" is much more than going to a church building on Sunday, a few songs and planning the next "fellowship" with my friends. There is nothing wrong or bad in any of those things unless our "church" experience becomes about us and what we want, like or expect.
Think of it like this - is your Christian life like being on a cruise ship or a warship? I've been on both and both sail on the sea but what happens on board is very different. Everything about a cruise ship is designed to cater to the comfort, expectations, needs and entertainment of the passengers. A cruise is all about food and games with options to just relax and enjoy the ride. On a warship, every minute of every day and night is organized to either go into battle or prepare for it. Believe me, it's not a pleasure cruise with food and games and relaxing entertainment.
Paul reminds his son in the faith and me, we are at war every day and night. Our enemy is totally committed to destroying us because of our faith in Jesus and our love for others who don't know what we know. You and I are included in the succession of entrusting Jesus' treasure to others who will entrust it to others who will entrust it to others on and on and on. It isn't a pleasure cruise. It requires enduring hardship because we "know" something eternally and absolutely crucial that Jesus died to give to the entire human family. But, if they don't know about it, they can't be blessed by it.
Feeling a little guilty? I surely hope not. Guilt is a poor motivation to serve Jesus because it won't last past the exit door of your church building. And I didn't mean for the title of this post to give the sense of a sentry who, like the guards at Buckingham Palace, merely march back and forth to guard the gate. Our "Guarding The Treasure" of the gospel means living it, growing into it, talking about it, being excited about it, praying for it, hungering to always know more about it. In short, guarding Jesus' treasure means being passionate about the mission. Don't go to sleep! Don't become lazy! Don't allow Satan to distract you into thinking this is a pleasure cruise that is designed to cater to YOU.
Speak to us once more brother Paul -
"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.
Here is a trustworthy saying - (so pay very close attention!)
If we died with him
we will also live with him;
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
If we are faithless;
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown
himself," 2 Timothy 2:8-13 NIV
Saturday, August 2, 2014
"The Truly Proud Life In Jesus"
Learning To Follow Jesus is an adventure into a life that always makes a difference somewhere, in someone virtually every day. I've noted that not a few churches and other spiritual organizations use as their motto "Making A Difference" or some similar variation on their websites and other promo materials. But how does that actually happen? How does your church 'make a difference' in the ministry field where it is located? Some powerful words to challenge all of us -
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:8-10 NIV
About ten years earlier Paul had written the thesis statement of his life -
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew , then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 NIV
If I affirm this same conviction for my life, "Not ashamed of the gospel", is there enough evidence to confirm that? Please take a moment or several minutes or an hour to seriously weigh your own faith in the balance. Does the evidence affirm your pride in the gospel?
Years ago I was confronted by a well meaning brother following a sermon I preached on this general theme who, with a red face and neck muscles bulging said, " I COME TO CHURCH DON'T I!" I put my arm around his shoulder and said, "Yes you do. For what purpose?" That seemed to confuse him. Years later, he shared the gospel every day of his life as the leader of a state supported group home for men working to re-start their lives after years of drug addiction. He decided that he could do more than sit in a church pew on Sunday morning. He took the necessary steps to become a qualified drug and alcohol counselor and was certified by the state to work in that program. He may not appreciate me doing this but you need to know - his name is James Anthamatten and he has given most his adult life to proving his pride in the gospel of Jesus Christ - and I am very proud to call him brother.
If you are someone whose pride in the gospel may not be evident (other than the fact that you 'go to church') maybe you should read Paul's encouragement to Timothy over and over until you can put your NAME there as though Paul addressed it to YOU. Through his Spirit our Father has gifted all of us to make a difference in our family, at our job, in our neighborhood and in Jesus' body the church. Use his gift to actually make a difference. Then your pride in the gospel is real.
"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:8-10 NIV
About ten years earlier Paul had written the thesis statement of his life -
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew , then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 NIV
If I affirm this same conviction for my life, "Not ashamed of the gospel", is there enough evidence to confirm that? Please take a moment or several minutes or an hour to seriously weigh your own faith in the balance. Does the evidence affirm your pride in the gospel?
Years ago I was confronted by a well meaning brother following a sermon I preached on this general theme who, with a red face and neck muscles bulging said, " I COME TO CHURCH DON'T I!" I put my arm around his shoulder and said, "Yes you do. For what purpose?" That seemed to confuse him. Years later, he shared the gospel every day of his life as the leader of a state supported group home for men working to re-start their lives after years of drug addiction. He decided that he could do more than sit in a church pew on Sunday morning. He took the necessary steps to become a qualified drug and alcohol counselor and was certified by the state to work in that program. He may not appreciate me doing this but you need to know - his name is James Anthamatten and he has given most his adult life to proving his pride in the gospel of Jesus Christ - and I am very proud to call him brother.
If you are someone whose pride in the gospel may not be evident (other than the fact that you 'go to church') maybe you should read Paul's encouragement to Timothy over and over until you can put your NAME there as though Paul addressed it to YOU. Through his Spirit our Father has gifted all of us to make a difference in our family, at our job, in our neighborhood and in Jesus' body the church. Use his gift to actually make a difference. Then your pride in the gospel is real.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
"Fan The Flame"
"I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 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, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control." 2 Timothy 1:3-7 ESV
Paul wrote this letter to "Timothy my beloved son" while literally staring a violent death in the face. Although he seems to have been released from his earlier imprisonment in Rome, he had been arrested again as the persecution of Christians revived under a new emperor. Now he sits in a the worst conditions he had ever faced in a small, square cell possibly underground in Rome awaiting his execution for the crime of preaching Jesus Christ. With very convincing evidence, most historians believe these to be his last written words.
Lots of Christians have related to me over many years that they just cant seem to get excited about this letter because it seems too morbid for their sensitivities. Probably we have that common expectation that bad things shouldn't happen to good people, so we expect God to ensure that all of our choices and the way our life flows should produce a life of comfort and ease. No surprises!
Maybe Timothy had taken a truly realistic look at how his life might end up like his mentor and father in the faith. There is even some strong indication that he had experienced much the same type of persecution that Paul and all the Apostles and untold thousands of Christians were enduring for the cause of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons I am strongly leaning toward Paul being the author of the book of Hebrews is this statement at the end of that book -
"I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you." Hebrews 13:23 NIV
Obviously this could have been written long after Paul was executed in Rome, and I am aware of all the scholarly reasons for assigning authorship to someone other than Paul, but somehow it just speaks to my spirit much like 2 Timothy 1:7 (above). Maybe Timothy had begun to rethink following in Paul's footsteps because of how and where he (Paul) ended up.
Do we have a right to expect God to shield us from even violent death at the hands of evil people who hate everything Jesus came to do for us? All Christians live a "risky" existence at best because the world is NOT controlled by Jesus. The world of the first century and the fifth century and every century right down to today and beyond is under the domination of Satan, which is why Jesus called him the "prince of this world".
As Paul has now reached the end of his opportunity for ministry he writes this very strong letter to his spiritual son to urge him to quit being fearful, timid because that definitely isn't from God. Although I cannot know exactly what "the gift" is that Paul gave Timothy through the laying on of his hands, I do know that it was intended to give him the power, love and self discipline that are required for the disciples of Jesus to stand firmly against the devil. I am also certain Timothy had begun to sort of back away from what he had been commissioned to be and do in the kingdom of Christ.
I've been there. Maybe you have too or maybe you're in that state of hesitancy or indecision now because you can't see a favorable outcome. I have one suggestion for you -
TAKE A DEEP BREATH, STAND UP STRAIGHT AND PROUD AND FIRMLY TELL SATAN "NO! I WILL NOT BACK UP, I WILL NOT GIVE UP AND I WILL NOT SHUT UP! THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL DEFEAT ME IS TO KILL ME - AND EVEN THEN I WIN, YOU LOSE!"
Hallelujah and Praise God forever!
Paul wrote this letter to "Timothy my beloved son" while literally staring a violent death in the face. Although he seems to have been released from his earlier imprisonment in Rome, he had been arrested again as the persecution of Christians revived under a new emperor. Now he sits in a the worst conditions he had ever faced in a small, square cell possibly underground in Rome awaiting his execution for the crime of preaching Jesus Christ. With very convincing evidence, most historians believe these to be his last written words.
Lots of Christians have related to me over many years that they just cant seem to get excited about this letter because it seems too morbid for their sensitivities. Probably we have that common expectation that bad things shouldn't happen to good people, so we expect God to ensure that all of our choices and the way our life flows should produce a life of comfort and ease. No surprises!
Maybe Timothy had taken a truly realistic look at how his life might end up like his mentor and father in the faith. There is even some strong indication that he had experienced much the same type of persecution that Paul and all the Apostles and untold thousands of Christians were enduring for the cause of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons I am strongly leaning toward Paul being the author of the book of Hebrews is this statement at the end of that book -
"I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you." Hebrews 13:23 NIV
Obviously this could have been written long after Paul was executed in Rome, and I am aware of all the scholarly reasons for assigning authorship to someone other than Paul, but somehow it just speaks to my spirit much like 2 Timothy 1:7 (above). Maybe Timothy had begun to rethink following in Paul's footsteps because of how and where he (Paul) ended up.
Do we have a right to expect God to shield us from even violent death at the hands of evil people who hate everything Jesus came to do for us? All Christians live a "risky" existence at best because the world is NOT controlled by Jesus. The world of the first century and the fifth century and every century right down to today and beyond is under the domination of Satan, which is why Jesus called him the "prince of this world".
As Paul has now reached the end of his opportunity for ministry he writes this very strong letter to his spiritual son to urge him to quit being fearful, timid because that definitely isn't from God. Although I cannot know exactly what "the gift" is that Paul gave Timothy through the laying on of his hands, I do know that it was intended to give him the power, love and self discipline that are required for the disciples of Jesus to stand firmly against the devil. I am also certain Timothy had begun to sort of back away from what he had been commissioned to be and do in the kingdom of Christ.
I've been there. Maybe you have too or maybe you're in that state of hesitancy or indecision now because you can't see a favorable outcome. I have one suggestion for you -
TAKE A DEEP BREATH, STAND UP STRAIGHT AND PROUD AND FIRMLY TELL SATAN "NO! I WILL NOT BACK UP, I WILL NOT GIVE UP AND I WILL NOT SHUT UP! THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL DEFEAT ME IS TO KILL ME - AND EVEN THEN I WIN, YOU LOSE!"
Hallelujah and Praise God forever!
Friday, May 16, 2014
"The GOLD Marriage" (How To Stay Married Fifty Years)
Since the Rose and I are celebrating our 50th year of marriage this month, we have heard this question from a lot of people - "How did you do it?" We have just returned from a week of celebrating this event at the same place we actually went on our first honeymoon, South Padre Island, Texas, in May 1977 when we first moved to Texas. We probably heard that question from total strangers more than 20 times. So I decided to write about it in the hope that our experience can encourage and help some of our friends who may be struggling with their own marriage.
We met January 10, 1964 at the Naval Station San Juan, PR and married May 9 that year. Yeah it was a short courtship but we knew there was something really special that first night. I was scheduled to leave PR in September and after we had gotten to know each other a little better I told her I wanted her to come with me as my wife. She agreed and the rest is history. At the time I worked for the Admiral who commanded all Caribbean operations and couldn't just ask for time off for our honeymoon. So, we didn't have one until we moved to Texas more than a decade later. Now we are celebrating a life together that was half a century in the making.
After spending most of our married life in ministry of one kind or another we have seen, heard and even experienced probably every kind of crisis that can end a marriage. We have walked through the process of fighting to save a marriage with many good people, some of whom actually learned how to make their marriage work. But most probably didn't. When one partner has emotionally disconnected there seems to be little or no hope for long term reconciliation. I have prayed, cried and counseled with lots of good folks who just saw no future in their present situation.
I'm not saying or even implying that ending a marriage is always the wrong option. Sometimes divorce is inevitable. Sometimes it may be even best for all involved. I have NEVER counseled any woman or man to remain in a marriage that put them in danger of serious harm. There have even been a few times I have assisted some women in escaping a dangerous relationship after exhausting every possible alternative. But this post isn't really about divorce. That's a different subject.
HOW TO STAY MARRIED FIFTY YEARS
1. Make that commitment from the very beginning. The night I proposed to the Rose I told her that I just don't believe in divorce so we would work out our challenges and stay married. We agreed to allow Jesus to be our common ground where we would come together and then work from there. I know it sounds a bit simplistic because life can really get complicated but we're still here together in large part because we made that commitment at the beginning. If you're already married and living in a kind of hell on earth, try to make a new start with the commitment to bring it all to Jesus.
2. Pray for your spouse and pray together if possible. One of the first things I have consistently done in marriage counseling is ask the question, "How much have you prayed about your situation?" That question has produced a variety of answers, but usually I could tell not much praying had occurred. I recall one Christian lady who came to me with a notebook filled with all the wrong things her husband of 20+ years had done. At that point I simply told her that I couldn't continue with our sessions unless her husband were present. She said he wouldn't come. So I asked for the phone number at the car dealership he owned. When he came on the line I identified myself and briefly informed him why I had called. He was hesitant at first but when he realized my motive was not to beat him up he agreed to come. Before he arrived I asked the wife to destroy the notebook if she truly wanted to save her marriage. Love never keeps score.
3. It will be a hard challenge but learn to give the same measure of grace to your spouse that God has freely given to you. You might respond to that with "Yeah but I'm not God. I'm just me!" Maybe so. One man told me "I'm just like my dad. He was a hard man and so am I." My response was, "Your dad had three failed marriages and ultimately died alone because none of his kids wanted anything to do with him, you included. Why would you want to be like your dad?" Grace overlooks and forgives and refuses to pick a fight out of purely selfish motives. When you learn to do that, you come to realize that what you most often refuse to overlook and forgive in your spouse is the very same things God has forgiven in you. Grace simply means giving your spouse what he/she needs rather than what they deserve.
4. Find a way to communicate, not with texting, phone messages or emails, eyeball to eyeball. Agree on a time and place to sit down together and just talk and listen and pay attention without distractions. A good brother told me once, "We must seek to understand if we want to be understood". All good communication begins with listening. Over the years I have walked a lot people through a simple course in communication because I fear we are rapidly losing that ability. Usually that was preceded by a personality evaluation to help them understand why people react to them the way they do.
5. Keep the faith! Always know that God is working to bring both of you to a new place. Learn to turn loose of some stuff that keeps you stuck in the past. One dear sister told me that as a young teenager she was molested repeatedly by someone in her family and it had always created problems in her marriage. So I asked her, "Why does your husband have to pay for something he didn't do that happened decades ago?" I urged her to seek some professional counseling if her faith wasn't such that she could put the past in the past and leave it there. Faith always keeps pointing us forward to get to that new place our Father wants to take us.
Well folks, I could say much more but I have thought about this a lot over the last week and pray some of my words will resonate with your spirit. If your marriage needs serious help, by all means reach out to someone you trust who can point you in the right direction. You can build a 50 year marriage but it only happens one day at a time, moment-to-moment. It's worth the effort.
We met January 10, 1964 at the Naval Station San Juan, PR and married May 9 that year. Yeah it was a short courtship but we knew there was something really special that first night. I was scheduled to leave PR in September and after we had gotten to know each other a little better I told her I wanted her to come with me as my wife. She agreed and the rest is history. At the time I worked for the Admiral who commanded all Caribbean operations and couldn't just ask for time off for our honeymoon. So, we didn't have one until we moved to Texas more than a decade later. Now we are celebrating a life together that was half a century in the making.
After spending most of our married life in ministry of one kind or another we have seen, heard and even experienced probably every kind of crisis that can end a marriage. We have walked through the process of fighting to save a marriage with many good people, some of whom actually learned how to make their marriage work. But most probably didn't. When one partner has emotionally disconnected there seems to be little or no hope for long term reconciliation. I have prayed, cried and counseled with lots of good folks who just saw no future in their present situation.
I'm not saying or even implying that ending a marriage is always the wrong option. Sometimes divorce is inevitable. Sometimes it may be even best for all involved. I have NEVER counseled any woman or man to remain in a marriage that put them in danger of serious harm. There have even been a few times I have assisted some women in escaping a dangerous relationship after exhausting every possible alternative. But this post isn't really about divorce. That's a different subject.
HOW TO STAY MARRIED FIFTY YEARS
1. Make that commitment from the very beginning. The night I proposed to the Rose I told her that I just don't believe in divorce so we would work out our challenges and stay married. We agreed to allow Jesus to be our common ground where we would come together and then work from there. I know it sounds a bit simplistic because life can really get complicated but we're still here together in large part because we made that commitment at the beginning. If you're already married and living in a kind of hell on earth, try to make a new start with the commitment to bring it all to Jesus.
2. Pray for your spouse and pray together if possible. One of the first things I have consistently done in marriage counseling is ask the question, "How much have you prayed about your situation?" That question has produced a variety of answers, but usually I could tell not much praying had occurred. I recall one Christian lady who came to me with a notebook filled with all the wrong things her husband of 20+ years had done. At that point I simply told her that I couldn't continue with our sessions unless her husband were present. She said he wouldn't come. So I asked for the phone number at the car dealership he owned. When he came on the line I identified myself and briefly informed him why I had called. He was hesitant at first but when he realized my motive was not to beat him up he agreed to come. Before he arrived I asked the wife to destroy the notebook if she truly wanted to save her marriage. Love never keeps score.
3. It will be a hard challenge but learn to give the same measure of grace to your spouse that God has freely given to you. You might respond to that with "Yeah but I'm not God. I'm just me!" Maybe so. One man told me "I'm just like my dad. He was a hard man and so am I." My response was, "Your dad had three failed marriages and ultimately died alone because none of his kids wanted anything to do with him, you included. Why would you want to be like your dad?" Grace overlooks and forgives and refuses to pick a fight out of purely selfish motives. When you learn to do that, you come to realize that what you most often refuse to overlook and forgive in your spouse is the very same things God has forgiven in you. Grace simply means giving your spouse what he/she needs rather than what they deserve.
4. Find a way to communicate, not with texting, phone messages or emails, eyeball to eyeball. Agree on a time and place to sit down together and just talk and listen and pay attention without distractions. A good brother told me once, "We must seek to understand if we want to be understood". All good communication begins with listening. Over the years I have walked a lot people through a simple course in communication because I fear we are rapidly losing that ability. Usually that was preceded by a personality evaluation to help them understand why people react to them the way they do.
5. Keep the faith! Always know that God is working to bring both of you to a new place. Learn to turn loose of some stuff that keeps you stuck in the past. One dear sister told me that as a young teenager she was molested repeatedly by someone in her family and it had always created problems in her marriage. So I asked her, "Why does your husband have to pay for something he didn't do that happened decades ago?" I urged her to seek some professional counseling if her faith wasn't such that she could put the past in the past and leave it there. Faith always keeps pointing us forward to get to that new place our Father wants to take us.
Well folks, I could say much more but I have thought about this a lot over the last week and pray some of my words will resonate with your spirit. If your marriage needs serious help, by all means reach out to someone you trust who can point you in the right direction. You can build a 50 year marriage but it only happens one day at a time, moment-to-moment. It's worth the effort.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
"Tattoo Or Not To?"
Yeah, I realize that is a strange title coming from an old guy who writes a blog about learning to follow Jesus. Actually, I need some help here. Here's why and what. This week I was at the health club to workout and in the men's locker room after my workout I overheard a conversation between two younger guys about tattoos. One was debating whether to get a tattoo and the other guy was trying to convince him that God has forbidden his people to have tattoos. Their debate went back and forth for nearly a half hour and as they walked out they were still heavily involved.
Now I am quite familiar with what God had to say on this subject at Leviticus 19:28 because one of the last conversations I had with my mother before I left for the Navy was, "Don't you come home with those ugly tattoos on your body". Then she read me that verse from Leviticus. Back then tattoos were very common among military guys, especially sailors, and my mom impressed on me that God would not be pleased with me if I followed that common practice. Honestly, tattoos were not even on my radar at that time and I never even considered putting something on my body that would be there in the distant future when they put me in a grave. But I saw a lot of my shipmates come back from liberty with various body art that they were proud to show off. Many of them had beautiful tattoos from several parts of the world they had visited.
Me? I just have never been the least motivated to subject myself to the pain and potential health risk that tattooing seems to impose. I truly don't think my mom reading that verse to me from Leviticus had any bearing on my refraining from getting tattoos during my military service because even at 19 years old I could read the Bible for myself and the context of that verse is very clearly not intended for the followers of Jesus. And to the best of my knowledge, Jesus nor his Apostles had anything at all to say specifically about tattoos. However, I am absolutely certain that some of the Christian tattoo "police" can and do make what they consider an ironclad, scriptural case against the practice with a lot of questionable interpretation. I could make that same case by using many Bible passages that condemn obviously sinful practices, however a blanket condemnation of tattooing is way beyond my level of faith and understanding.
So here is my question - why would a follower of Jesus make that decision to get a tattoo? I'm not condemning the practice or even being critical, I'm just curious about their motivation. I realize that some folks proudly wear "body art" to honor Jesus and proclaim their faith, but those are probably in a slim minority. Most of the tattoos I see today seem to have some special, personal significance or make some sort of social statement. One guy I saw a few years ago had a large tattoo of a naked woman on his left, outer bicep engaged in something that you can maybe imagine. He also had a young girl by the hand and was leading her out of the store. My immediate thought was, "Wow dude, what kind of message are you sending to that little girl and the rest of us who have to look at your offensive tattoo?!" Is that kind of message really necessary to tell the world? Is that really the spirit of "freedom of speech"?
Look, I don't have many answers to life's hard questions and maybe this discussion doesn't fall into that category, but I plan to have a discussion with those two young men if and when I see them again just to give them some perspective other than that of naïve men and women, young and not so young that I see in our world today. Much that is acceptable in human society will fail to pass the test we are told to use to measure the acceptability of every practice around us. Here are just a two to consider:
"Everything is permissible for me", but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me", but I will not be mastered by anything."
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1Corinthians 6:12, 19-20 NIV
Seems to me Paul is saying, "Look brothers, I realize that your world is telling you there are no rules about how you live your life. It's all good. But stop and think for yourself. Is that really true for you?" Following Jesus should give us a perspective that is single minded and focused on who we really are and what we're about in an environment that is hostile or indifferent to what we believe.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything that is in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has or does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of the Father lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17 NIV
So, To Tattoo Or Not To? You decide for yourself. But if you decide to, consider the long term and can you live with it.
Until next time, let me know your thoughts about this. I do want to understand.
Now I am quite familiar with what God had to say on this subject at Leviticus 19:28 because one of the last conversations I had with my mother before I left for the Navy was, "Don't you come home with those ugly tattoos on your body". Then she read me that verse from Leviticus. Back then tattoos were very common among military guys, especially sailors, and my mom impressed on me that God would not be pleased with me if I followed that common practice. Honestly, tattoos were not even on my radar at that time and I never even considered putting something on my body that would be there in the distant future when they put me in a grave. But I saw a lot of my shipmates come back from liberty with various body art that they were proud to show off. Many of them had beautiful tattoos from several parts of the world they had visited.
Me? I just have never been the least motivated to subject myself to the pain and potential health risk that tattooing seems to impose. I truly don't think my mom reading that verse to me from Leviticus had any bearing on my refraining from getting tattoos during my military service because even at 19 years old I could read the Bible for myself and the context of that verse is very clearly not intended for the followers of Jesus. And to the best of my knowledge, Jesus nor his Apostles had anything at all to say specifically about tattoos. However, I am absolutely certain that some of the Christian tattoo "police" can and do make what they consider an ironclad, scriptural case against the practice with a lot of questionable interpretation. I could make that same case by using many Bible passages that condemn obviously sinful practices, however a blanket condemnation of tattooing is way beyond my level of faith and understanding.
So here is my question - why would a follower of Jesus make that decision to get a tattoo? I'm not condemning the practice or even being critical, I'm just curious about their motivation. I realize that some folks proudly wear "body art" to honor Jesus and proclaim their faith, but those are probably in a slim minority. Most of the tattoos I see today seem to have some special, personal significance or make some sort of social statement. One guy I saw a few years ago had a large tattoo of a naked woman on his left, outer bicep engaged in something that you can maybe imagine. He also had a young girl by the hand and was leading her out of the store. My immediate thought was, "Wow dude, what kind of message are you sending to that little girl and the rest of us who have to look at your offensive tattoo?!" Is that kind of message really necessary to tell the world? Is that really the spirit of "freedom of speech"?
Look, I don't have many answers to life's hard questions and maybe this discussion doesn't fall into that category, but I plan to have a discussion with those two young men if and when I see them again just to give them some perspective other than that of naïve men and women, young and not so young that I see in our world today. Much that is acceptable in human society will fail to pass the test we are told to use to measure the acceptability of every practice around us. Here are just a two to consider:
"Everything is permissible for me", but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me", but I will not be mastered by anything."
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1Corinthians 6:12, 19-20 NIV
Seems to me Paul is saying, "Look brothers, I realize that your world is telling you there are no rules about how you live your life. It's all good. But stop and think for yourself. Is that really true for you?" Following Jesus should give us a perspective that is single minded and focused on who we really are and what we're about in an environment that is hostile or indifferent to what we believe.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything that is in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has or does - comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of the Father lives forever." 1 John 2:15-17 NIV
So, To Tattoo Or Not To? You decide for yourself. But if you decide to, consider the long term and can you live with it.
Until next time, let me know your thoughts about this. I do want to understand.
Friday, April 25, 2014
"Confession of a Believer Who Knows Better"
"One Sunday, after another week of performing my best for God, I stood to preach His life-changing Word. As I approached the pulpit, the truth hit me squarely between the eyes. I hadn't prayed at all. Not that day. Not the day before. Not the day before that. To the best of my knowledge, I hadn't prayed all week. And I called myself a pastor. That's when it dawned on me: I had become a full-time minister and a part-time follower of Christ. From the outside, I looked the part. "God bless you," I'd say, followed by the promise, "I'll be praying for you." But that was usually a lie."
Craig Groeschel "Confessions Of A Pastor"
Learning to follow Jesus is absolutely a life-long quest for genuineness. There is always the presence of a common enemy whose only intent is to draw disciples of Jesus into a phony, if unintentional, way of practicing what we profess to believe. Even people who know better, people who know they are sliding down a slippery slope toward the spiritual lie but choose to ignore the reality. I too have been there and struggled with just admitting to myself and my Father that I was very negligent in my relationship with him in prayer.
Where are you right now in your skill development in this area of your spiritual life? Take a moment to think about this. Prayer is a learned skill that we are taught by the Holy Spirit to practice to perfection. But that perfection isn't at all about repeating traditional prayers or phrases or even using words we may have heard someone else pray during worship on Sunday. None of those are wrong unless they become a habit that gets stuck in a meaningless ritual. Just pray. It's a conversation with your Father who is anxious to hear your voice speaking only to and for him.
In all my years of church leadership, I have heard thousands of good men and women, young and old, confess just about every kind of sin you can imagine. But I cannot recall even one instance of someone confessing the sin of prayerlessness. To hear that come from the mouth of a mega church pastor really shocked me. Of course he goes on to other confessions in his book but to make this confession before his church family really cuts to the heart of his calling. I respect that.
Many years ago, these words of David stood me straight up and got my attention -
"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3 NIV
"Listen God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help. Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend." Psalm 5:1-3 MSG
David has challenged me to pray with absolute expectation. Doing so isn't always easy. It wasn't for him either. I've learned to not try to explain what God does or doesn't do. He does what he pleases because he is God and I wont always understand or even agree with his actions. He is my Father and I fully trust him to hear my heart and act in my best interest, even though I may not see it immediately. These words of Paul have also helped me learn to pray with expectation:
"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:26-27 NIV
That "weakness" is common to all of us, which is one of the reasons God has given us the Spirit as a gift. He instructs and trains us in the critical spiritual disciplines, but through that process, he also takes our prayers to the Father and puts them in a language we are incapable of learning, while God reads our hearts. Wow, that truly inspires me in ways I can't even put into words.
Until next time, spend some time wrestling with 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Craig Groeschel "Confessions Of A Pastor"
Learning to follow Jesus is absolutely a life-long quest for genuineness. There is always the presence of a common enemy whose only intent is to draw disciples of Jesus into a phony, if unintentional, way of practicing what we profess to believe. Even people who know better, people who know they are sliding down a slippery slope toward the spiritual lie but choose to ignore the reality. I too have been there and struggled with just admitting to myself and my Father that I was very negligent in my relationship with him in prayer.
Where are you right now in your skill development in this area of your spiritual life? Take a moment to think about this. Prayer is a learned skill that we are taught by the Holy Spirit to practice to perfection. But that perfection isn't at all about repeating traditional prayers or phrases or even using words we may have heard someone else pray during worship on Sunday. None of those are wrong unless they become a habit that gets stuck in a meaningless ritual. Just pray. It's a conversation with your Father who is anxious to hear your voice speaking only to and for him.
In all my years of church leadership, I have heard thousands of good men and women, young and old, confess just about every kind of sin you can imagine. But I cannot recall even one instance of someone confessing the sin of prayerlessness. To hear that come from the mouth of a mega church pastor really shocked me. Of course he goes on to other confessions in his book but to make this confession before his church family really cuts to the heart of his calling. I respect that.
Many years ago, these words of David stood me straight up and got my attention -
"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3 NIV
"Listen God! Please, pay attention! Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries? King-God, I need your help. Every morning you'll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend." Psalm 5:1-3 MSG
David has challenged me to pray with absolute expectation. Doing so isn't always easy. It wasn't for him either. I've learned to not try to explain what God does or doesn't do. He does what he pleases because he is God and I wont always understand or even agree with his actions. He is my Father and I fully trust him to hear my heart and act in my best interest, even though I may not see it immediately. These words of Paul have also helped me learn to pray with expectation:
"The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." Romans 8:26-27 NIV
That "weakness" is common to all of us, which is one of the reasons God has given us the Spirit as a gift. He instructs and trains us in the critical spiritual disciplines, but through that process, he also takes our prayers to the Father and puts them in a language we are incapable of learning, while God reads our hearts. Wow, that truly inspires me in ways I can't even put into words.
Until next time, spend some time wrestling with 1 Thessalonians 5:17.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
"Lord, Teach Us To Pray"
When we lived in south Georgia a man called one night and asked if I could come to a local hotel to speak with him. He said he was from out of town and was really depressed and just needed to talk with someone. He had gotten my name and phone number from a directory in the lobby of that hotel. I went to the hotel and found his room only to be totally shocked to find this man so drunk he could barely sit up. I discovered he was an airline pilot who was in town for a layover and flying out the next day. As we talked he shared with me that his wife had filed for divorce and was taking their two children to live in another state. In short, his life was a depressing failure. He asked if I would pray for him.
Normally I would not hesitate to honor such a request. This situation was different. I told him I was unsure if that was his true heart talking or the contents of the nearly empty whiskey bottle on the nightstand. Over the years I learned to be cautious about even sharing the gospel with someone was high or drunk and usually asked them to contact me when they sobered up. This man began to weep uncontrollably. I was very uneasy about what he might do if I just left him alone. I was also a bit uncomfortable with what might happen to his passengers the next day. So, I went down to the lobby and filled four cups with hot, black coffee.
To cut to the chase, I sat with this sad man for several hours and after four cups of coffee and a cold shower I felt that he was ready to land this plane, pun intended.
He said, "I've never prayed because I don't know how. That's why I called you." I opened my Bible and read these words of Jesus to him -
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father,
hallowed be you name
your kingdom come.
Give us each day or daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who
sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation." Luke 11:1-4 NIV
We also read the same instruction Jesus gave in Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 6 because he kind of expands it beyond what Luke recalled.
My point is this, with the pilot and with my current blog readers - there really is no specific formula for HOW to pray, we just need to pray. Repeating those words Jesus spoke is a good place to begin but there is no magical quality about them. Seems to me Jesus isn't saying that we should memorize and repeat his words verbatim as some sort of spiritual good luck charm that will open God's ears. However, if you are not a person of consistent prayer or are new to following Jesus, by all means start with this prayer.
Praying is simple, just talk to your Father. Study the prayers of Jesus and you can learn much about how the heart sees, hears and feels the presence of God when we pray. Begin a planned time of quiet solitude when you can meet God and bear your heart. He already knows what's in your heart, but he really wants to hear you speak it just like any father with his children.
These words of David really stir my spirit -
"I love the house where you live O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8 NIV
I'm not sure of all that David meant with these tender words but for me, I have come to think of that "house" as a place within my spirit where I meet with God. I love that place and go there often. Think about it and give it a trial run. It might work for you too.
I have often wondered what happened to the pilot. He did finally pray for his wife, his kids and himself in a broken, sincere way. I talked with him about Jesus and gave him a list of scriptures to study. I urged him to make contact with someone in his town to help him get to a better spiritual place and he promised to contact me again if I could be of further assistance. He gave me phone a number to call him but when I tried a few days later it was disconnected. Maybe we can reconnect in heaven.
Your takeaway is this - don't get hung up on "how" to pray. JUST PRAY! Pick up that phone and dial God up. He's always waiting to hear from his kids.
Until next time, think of just one way you can increase your prayer time, and DO IT!
Normally I would not hesitate to honor such a request. This situation was different. I told him I was unsure if that was his true heart talking or the contents of the nearly empty whiskey bottle on the nightstand. Over the years I learned to be cautious about even sharing the gospel with someone was high or drunk and usually asked them to contact me when they sobered up. This man began to weep uncontrollably. I was very uneasy about what he might do if I just left him alone. I was also a bit uncomfortable with what might happen to his passengers the next day. So, I went down to the lobby and filled four cups with hot, black coffee.
To cut to the chase, I sat with this sad man for several hours and after four cups of coffee and a cold shower I felt that he was ready to land this plane, pun intended.
He said, "I've never prayed because I don't know how. That's why I called you." I opened my Bible and read these words of Jesus to him -
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father,
hallowed be you name
your kingdom come.
Give us each day or daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who
sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation." Luke 11:1-4 NIV
We also read the same instruction Jesus gave in Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount at Matthew 6 because he kind of expands it beyond what Luke recalled.
My point is this, with the pilot and with my current blog readers - there really is no specific formula for HOW to pray, we just need to pray. Repeating those words Jesus spoke is a good place to begin but there is no magical quality about them. Seems to me Jesus isn't saying that we should memorize and repeat his words verbatim as some sort of spiritual good luck charm that will open God's ears. However, if you are not a person of consistent prayer or are new to following Jesus, by all means start with this prayer.
Praying is simple, just talk to your Father. Study the prayers of Jesus and you can learn much about how the heart sees, hears and feels the presence of God when we pray. Begin a planned time of quiet solitude when you can meet God and bear your heart. He already knows what's in your heart, but he really wants to hear you speak it just like any father with his children.
These words of David really stir my spirit -
"I love the house where you live O Lord, the place where your glory dwells." Psalm 26:8 NIV
I'm not sure of all that David meant with these tender words but for me, I have come to think of that "house" as a place within my spirit where I meet with God. I love that place and go there often. Think about it and give it a trial run. It might work for you too.
I have often wondered what happened to the pilot. He did finally pray for his wife, his kids and himself in a broken, sincere way. I talked with him about Jesus and gave him a list of scriptures to study. I urged him to make contact with someone in his town to help him get to a better spiritual place and he promised to contact me again if I could be of further assistance. He gave me phone a number to call him but when I tried a few days later it was disconnected. Maybe we can reconnect in heaven.
Your takeaway is this - don't get hung up on "how" to pray. JUST PRAY! Pick up that phone and dial God up. He's always waiting to hear from his kids.
Until next time, think of just one way you can increase your prayer time, and DO IT!
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
"For Your Refrigerator Door"
Because of Jesus I can now absolutely affirm -
FAITH IS MY LIFE because:
Until next time:
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 7:1 NIV
"With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God." 7:1 MSG
FAITH IS MY LIFE because:
- I have hope, a real expectation of the future that God built with his own hands
- I am free of the law that would have been my death sentence
- I am being transformed into a replica of Jesus by the ever increasing glory of the Spirit
- I have the courage to endure life's material realities because I can look beyond them
- I no longer live with any fear of anything at any time for any reason
- My Father has reached out and drawn me to himself and given me a new life!
Until next time:
"Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." 7:1 NIV
"With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let's make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let's make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God." 7:1 MSG
Monday, April 14, 2014
"Faith is My Life" Final Installment
I could go on and on through 2 Corinthians but my goal here has been to simply excite some holy curiosity in the hearts of good people who may "skip over" Paul's letter and miss out on some Spirit teaching that can rock your world......in a good way. I'm not nearly smart enough to exhaust all that is in it anyway. So, here's the final post.
Learning to follow Jesus is not a crash course in church stuff but a painstaking, every day journey of discovery of self and personal potential as a functioning part of Jesus' sacred body on earth today. No, I'm not putting down theology or doctrine or even church traditions, although I wont endorse all of that either. I'm simply saying if you really want to follow Jesus, you MUST begin there, with him and let him teach you how a real relationship with God the Father looks and sounds. He alone knows exactly what our Father is looking for in all of us.
As Paul wrote his second letter to the Christians at Corinth, that church was an absolute mess, just like some churches today. They seem to have turned their swords (so-to-speak) on each other rather than on the one who creates ALL that division and strife. People are never the enemy. Satan is the enemy and because he rules in the world, too often he also rules the church. And, he knows exactly how to create that sense of outrage in us when things don't match up with MY expectations.
So here is some of Paul's instruction to them and to us:
"Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience."
For, Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer for themselves but for him who died and was raised again. So, from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view." 5:11, 14-16 NIV
When Jesus died on the cross, in prospect, we all died with him. When he was raised from the dead, in prospect, we all were raised with him. What does that mean? We have a new life because we died to self and now live to serve God as our Father and Jesus as Lord! What that translates into is this in very plain words, "COME ON PEOPLE. GET OVER YOURSELF. WE HAVE A MISSION TO FULFILL HERE AND WE NEED TO QUIT THIS PETTY, SELFISH FUSSING AND FIGHTING OVER ALL THIS CHURCH STUFF AND GET ON WITH GOD'S BUSINESS!"
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 5:17-19
Here is presented a trio of new realities of this life of faith:
"Finally brothers, aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 13:11-14
Now those are some sweet words to live by. Until next time, may God give you greater faith and love than all of your challenges.
Learning to follow Jesus is not a crash course in church stuff but a painstaking, every day journey of discovery of self and personal potential as a functioning part of Jesus' sacred body on earth today. No, I'm not putting down theology or doctrine or even church traditions, although I wont endorse all of that either. I'm simply saying if you really want to follow Jesus, you MUST begin there, with him and let him teach you how a real relationship with God the Father looks and sounds. He alone knows exactly what our Father is looking for in all of us.
As Paul wrote his second letter to the Christians at Corinth, that church was an absolute mess, just like some churches today. They seem to have turned their swords (so-to-speak) on each other rather than on the one who creates ALL that division and strife. People are never the enemy. Satan is the enemy and because he rules in the world, too often he also rules the church. And, he knows exactly how to create that sense of outrage in us when things don't match up with MY expectations.
So here is some of Paul's instruction to them and to us:
"Since then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience."
For, Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. And he died for all that those who live should no longer for themselves but for him who died and was raised again. So, from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view." 5:11, 14-16 NIV
When Jesus died on the cross, in prospect, we all died with him. When he was raised from the dead, in prospect, we all were raised with him. What does that mean? We have a new life because we died to self and now live to serve God as our Father and Jesus as Lord! What that translates into is this in very plain words, "COME ON PEOPLE. GET OVER YOURSELF. WE HAVE A MISSION TO FULFILL HERE AND WE NEED TO QUIT THIS PETTY, SELFISH FUSSING AND FIGHTING OVER ALL THIS CHURCH STUFF AND GET ON WITH GOD'S BUSINESS!"
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." 5:17-19
Here is presented a trio of new realities of this life of faith:
- I No Longer Live For Me. You should sit down in a quiet place and come to grips with that new reality for how you think, speak and live it out because it will impact every relationship in your life. If you're married, it has to start right there then spread out to others in your family and your broader sphere of influence.
- I No Longer See Others With Old Eyes. Now that's a mountain to climb. Every new creation in Christ has battled with that one, including all of Jesus' Apostles and Paul.
- Now, life for me is more spiritually than materially defined. Again, that's a journey, a tedious learning process but it's also a beautiful blessing. Just ask someone who has been out there trying to "persuade men" for a long time. Jesus is there every step of the way, in good times and in the worst of times.
"Finally brothers, aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 13:11-14
Now those are some sweet words to live by. Until next time, may God give you greater faith and love than all of your challenges.
Friday, April 11, 2014
"Faith is My Life - But One Day I Must Die"
One of the priceless privileges I have been granted numerous times over the years is the opportunity of sitting beside a fellow traveler on this road of faith as they breathed their final breaths. The faces and words of some of those special men and women flood my mind right now. You would expect to hear words of anxiety or anger or sadness. But, here's the really big blessing I have witnessed over and over - NEVER have I seen a person of true faith die in fear. Here is one sister's story that she would definitely want me to share with you.
I was called to her home late one afternoon by her sister who had come to her bedside from a small town in Tennessee. She had been battling cancer for months and her doctor finally sent her home, at her insistence, when they had exhausted every avenue of a possible cure. The experience had literally exhausted her physically and emotionally. She had lived alone for many years following the death of her husband, and neither of her two estranged children wanted anything to do with her. Her very sweet, loving sister came to be with her.
I sat down by her bed, took her hand and she opened her eyes and weakly smiled. She said "Thank you for coming. I'm sure you know I am dying and I just need to hear some words of reassurance from God. I'm not really afraid but I don't really want to die. But I am excited about seeing Jesus."
I opened my Bible and read these words to her:
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:1-7 NIV
This dear sister began to breathe easier as I prayed for her with gentle tears running down both our cheeks. She let out a very long sigh. Her sister had sat down with us on the other side of the bed and reached out to hug her. They began to quietly whisper their love for each other so after having been there more than an hour, I excused myself and left with instructions to call my office if she needed me further. She died that day in the early evening. Her sister told me later it was a blessing from God to have been there with her.
Three key words should reverberate in your spirit:
Now please don't derail your life by obsessing about dying. Think about it, yes, but not to the point that you fail to, as Paul said later, "So we make it our goal to please him whether we are at home in the body or away from it." 5:9 Death is merely a function of life, but there is much more after that event which our Father will only make known to us at that time.
Why have I NEVER seen a person of real faith die in fear? I really don't know how to answer that, but I suspect there may be a point in there somewhere when Jesus shows up and holds out his nail scarred hands and gently says, "Come on, it's okay I've already walked this road. You'll be fine."
Until next time keep shouting HALLELUJAH!
I was called to her home late one afternoon by her sister who had come to her bedside from a small town in Tennessee. She had been battling cancer for months and her doctor finally sent her home, at her insistence, when they had exhausted every avenue of a possible cure. The experience had literally exhausted her physically and emotionally. She had lived alone for many years following the death of her husband, and neither of her two estranged children wanted anything to do with her. Her very sweet, loving sister came to be with her.
I sat down by her bed, took her hand and she opened her eyes and weakly smiled. She said "Thank you for coming. I'm sure you know I am dying and I just need to hear some words of reassurance from God. I'm not really afraid but I don't really want to die. But I am excited about seeing Jesus."
I opened my Bible and read these words to her:
"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come.
Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:1-7 NIV
This dear sister began to breathe easier as I prayed for her with gentle tears running down both our cheeks. She let out a very long sigh. Her sister had sat down with us on the other side of the bed and reached out to hug her. They began to quietly whisper their love for each other so after having been there more than an hour, I excused myself and left with instructions to call my office if she needed me further. She died that day in the early evening. Her sister told me later it was a blessing from God to have been there with her.
Three key words should reverberate in your spirit:
- GUARANTEE - the Holy Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us what he promised
- ALWAYS CONFIDENT - because of God's guarantee which we receive through the Spirit
- KNOW - is a function of the faith that God has made me for a higher purpose than death.
Now please don't derail your life by obsessing about dying. Think about it, yes, but not to the point that you fail to, as Paul said later, "So we make it our goal to please him whether we are at home in the body or away from it." 5:9 Death is merely a function of life, but there is much more after that event which our Father will only make known to us at that time.
Why have I NEVER seen a person of real faith die in fear? I really don't know how to answer that, but I suspect there may be a point in there somewhere when Jesus shows up and holds out his nail scarred hands and gently says, "Come on, it's okay I've already walked this road. You'll be fine."
Until next time keep shouting HALLELUJAH!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
"Jars of Clay"
You may not be as enamored of history as me, and I hope the first part of this post won't bore you enough to quit reading, but I'll risk it if you will. The history of your earliest brothers and sisters is an important element in understanding your Christian roots, so I want to share a few facts that will set the stage for this installment of our discussion of "Faith is My Life".
The first 30 or 40 years of Christianity were characterized by persecution and threats, but that came virtually entirely from the Jews who viewed their Jewish brothers who embraced Jesus as Lord as both spiritual and national traitors. The Roman occupiers of Judea pretty much ignored the Jews and lumped the new Christians and Jews together. In fact most of those early followers of Jesus were Jews so the Roman attitude was understandable.
However, with the reign of the Emperor Nero that changed drastically.
In July 64 AD, a very serious, six day fire broke out in the heart of Rome that destroyed nearly half of the city. Some of the citizens began to accuse Nero of actually causing the fire because he immediately began to clear the debris to begin construction on a new palace and gardens on the 300 acre burn site. What follows is an account written by a Roman historian named Tacitus. He was 9 years old at the time of this great fire and witnessed what he describes in his Annals, written around 116 AD, he observed:
"To get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our Procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was made of all who pleaded guilty; then upon their information, AN IMMEMENSE MULTITUDE (emphasis mine) was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their death. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt to serve as nightly illumination when daylight had expired."
Do you need to go back and read that again?! I'm not sure how many "an immense multitude" would be but I know it's probably beyond any accounting ability of that era. Nero wasn't the first Emperor to persecute Christians but he was most likely the cause of more Christians deaths than all of his predecessors combined. He set in motion a wave of persecution that lasted for centuries.
When Paul wrote his 2 Corinthian letter, likely in the Fall of 56 AD, being a Christian was risky, as the early waves of persecution began to flex some serious muscle. Paul addresses that risk in a very unique way:
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:4-7 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 4:16-18
God has invested his "treasure", the good news about his Son, in "jars of clay", that's you and me, to prove his love for his human creation. We all are fragile, imperfect, flawed and just common, ordinary vessels but we house a precious treasure from heaven.
I realize some of you are being challenged by life circumstances that can appear insurmountable at worst and just depressing at the least. There are still countries and areas of countries where being a Christian is still risky, even a death sentence. Please try to see beyond whatever circumstance is threatening you now, and just allow faith to rise in your spirit. You are a "jar of clay" but God has entrusted you with a treasure that far outweighs your circumstance - if you can believe it.
Take a deep breath, go stand in front of a mirror and tell yourself, face-to-face, that you are a reflection of the glory of God and because of Jesus, you now are an imperfect vessel that literally contains the treasure of heaven.
Until next time please keep letting God's glory shine through you.
The first 30 or 40 years of Christianity were characterized by persecution and threats, but that came virtually entirely from the Jews who viewed their Jewish brothers who embraced Jesus as Lord as both spiritual and national traitors. The Roman occupiers of Judea pretty much ignored the Jews and lumped the new Christians and Jews together. In fact most of those early followers of Jesus were Jews so the Roman attitude was understandable.
However, with the reign of the Emperor Nero that changed drastically.
In July 64 AD, a very serious, six day fire broke out in the heart of Rome that destroyed nearly half of the city. Some of the citizens began to accuse Nero of actually causing the fire because he immediately began to clear the debris to begin construction on a new palace and gardens on the 300 acre burn site. What follows is an account written by a Roman historian named Tacitus. He was 9 years old at the time of this great fire and witnessed what he describes in his Annals, written around 116 AD, he observed:
"To get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our Procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was made of all who pleaded guilty; then upon their information, AN IMMEMENSE MULTITUDE (emphasis mine) was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their death. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt to serve as nightly illumination when daylight had expired."
Do you need to go back and read that again?! I'm not sure how many "an immense multitude" would be but I know it's probably beyond any accounting ability of that era. Nero wasn't the first Emperor to persecute Christians but he was most likely the cause of more Christians deaths than all of his predecessors combined. He set in motion a wave of persecution that lasted for centuries.
When Paul wrote his 2 Corinthian letter, likely in the Fall of 56 AD, being a Christian was risky, as the early waves of persecution began to flex some serious muscle. Paul addresses that risk in a very unique way:
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness", made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:4-7 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 4:16-18
God has invested his "treasure", the good news about his Son, in "jars of clay", that's you and me, to prove his love for his human creation. We all are fragile, imperfect, flawed and just common, ordinary vessels but we house a precious treasure from heaven.
I realize some of you are being challenged by life circumstances that can appear insurmountable at worst and just depressing at the least. There are still countries and areas of countries where being a Christian is still risky, even a death sentence. Please try to see beyond whatever circumstance is threatening you now, and just allow faith to rise in your spirit. You are a "jar of clay" but God has entrusted you with a treasure that far outweighs your circumstance - if you can believe it.
Take a deep breath, go stand in front of a mirror and tell yourself, face-to-face, that you are a reflection of the glory of God and because of Jesus, you now are an imperfect vessel that literally contains the treasure of heaven.
Until next time please keep letting God's glory shine through you.
Monday, April 7, 2014
"Faith is my Life!" #2
Living by faith is a huge daily opportunity and challenge for all of us. Here's why:
- We live in a dual reality that is both physical (what is around us 24/7/365), and spiritual (what we can't see, touch, hear etc.)
- The two will eventually collide in every person's life because faith will be challenged by a present, surprising reality
- Faith is often illogical and may not make much sense when it collides with physical reality, in fact if it did always make sense, it wouldn't really be faith
- The ability to "see" what you can't "see" is a learned discipline because living by faith is a choice we must intentionally make,
- God knew this would happen so he sent the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter.
In the Old Testament, when Moses went up on Mt Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments written in stone by the very finger of God, something remarkable occurred. As God spoke with him, his face began to reflect the glory of God. When he came down from that encounter, he carried the two tablets of stone and his face glowed with the "shekinah", the glory of God. But, the glory was beginning to fade so Moses put a veil over his face to speak God's words to the Israelites.
Paul refers to this incident to make a point about Living by Faith with the help of the Holy Spirit:
"Now if the ministry that brought death (those Ten Commandments), which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness. For what was glorious (Moses' face) has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts. THEREFORE, since we have such a hope, we are very bold." 2 Cor 3:7-12 NIV
But he isn't finished, he's just warming up. Keep reading:
"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being changed (transformed) into his likeness with ever increasing (degrees of) glory which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." 3:17-18
Now, take a deep breath and just let that sink in for a moment. He's talking about YOU and ME and every person who is being transformed by the glory of Jesus Christ, everyone who is walking with Jesus as a living breathing representative of the "shekinah" of God. Is that way more information than you wanted to know? Wonderful! Your faith has collided with your reality of life. But, don't start getting nervous or fearful, rejoice that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, you can actually become the true reflection of Jesus in your world. HALLELUJAH!
Hear Paul again as he concludes his train of thought and instruction:
"THEREFORE (any time you see this word in scripture, pay attention to what it's 'there for') since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not distort the word of God." 4:1-2
So here it is in a nutshell:
God has commissioned his Spirit to train each of us to become a replica, actually the Greek word also means a statue, of his One and Only Son and reflect his glory in our world. The Spirit does this in what should be thought of as "ever increasing degrees" of transformation. We are at different stages in this process but rest assured, God is at work in your life every day. Unlike the "glory" that shone from Moses' face, the glory God has given you will NOT fade but only grow brighter. HALLELUJAH!
Until next time, go on about your life and be God's glory!
Thursday, April 3, 2014
"Faith Is My Life!"
Here's a question to open up your spirit today - think it through:
"WHAT IN MY LIFE ACTUALLY DEFINES ME?"
A few suggestions you might consider:
A few years ago Thom Rainer, President/CEO of Lifeway Christian Research surveyed 1200 millenials between 1980 and 2000. He published his research in a book - "The Millenials - Connecting To America's Largest Generation". Here are some of statistical results:
I believe Paul states that possibility in a simple but profound way:
"We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God who reconciled us (brought us back) to himself through Christ." 5:17
Let's think of it in a more personal way - "Faith is my Life!"
This perception of my life, as God the Father envisioned it for me, is a foundational teaching of Jesus and all of his Apostles. But, like happens today too, those Corinthian disciples had gotten distracted from who they really were by the social, political, familial, self serving loyalties they had grown up with. The church at Corinth was still a struggling baby, trying to fit their old ways of thinking and acting into this new way of life, but it obviously wasn't working. It wont work for us either.
So, I want you to take a short journey with me through 2 Corinthians over the next few weeks as we hear God speak to them (and us) through Paul. I will be using the NIV for this but you feel free to use whatever Bible version you prefer.
Until next time, plant this firmly in your spirit - "Faith is my Life!"
"WHAT IN MY LIFE ACTUALLY DEFINES ME?"
A few suggestions you might consider:
- Ancestry/Ethnicity - who I came from and how that may have shaped who I am
- Social Network - those I rely on for encouragement and help me stay grounded - or not
- Family traditions - holiday celebrations, birthdays, deaths, politics, religion
- Self Image - who I think I am
- Physical appearance - the mirror doesn't lie
- Personal experiences - successes, challenges, disappointments, failures, hopes, dreams
A few years ago Thom Rainer, President/CEO of Lifeway Christian Research surveyed 1200 millenials between 1980 and 2000. He published his research in a book - "The Millenials - Connecting To America's Largest Generation". Here are some of statistical results:
- 72% affirmed they are more 'spiritual' than religious
- 70% "church today is irrelevant"
- 65% "rarely/never attend a church"
- 75% "reared in an unchurched family"
- 26% "I will go to heaven"
I believe Paul states that possibility in a simple but profound way:
"We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. All this is from God who reconciled us (brought us back) to himself through Christ." 5:17
Let's think of it in a more personal way - "Faith is my Life!"
This perception of my life, as God the Father envisioned it for me, is a foundational teaching of Jesus and all of his Apostles. But, like happens today too, those Corinthian disciples had gotten distracted from who they really were by the social, political, familial, self serving loyalties they had grown up with. The church at Corinth was still a struggling baby, trying to fit their old ways of thinking and acting into this new way of life, but it obviously wasn't working. It wont work for us either.
So, I want you to take a short journey with me through 2 Corinthians over the next few weeks as we hear God speak to them (and us) through Paul. I will be using the NIV for this but you feel free to use whatever Bible version you prefer.
Until next time, plant this firmly in your spirit - "Faith is my Life!"
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
"Questioning My Faith"
In my experience all new followers of Jesus have questions, lots of questions. So do those of us who have been following Jesus for most of our lives. We want answers to things that trouble us and often challenge our faith. But here's the thing - faith is always a choice we must intentionally make, not as an alternative among many equal possibilities but as the one true path to confidence and peace. Jesus is that one path - ALWAYS! Living with real assurance is one of the gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit. But, that can require walking a crooked and rocky road to get to that place. Getting there requires:
(1) the forward progress of TIME, which is what faith does, points us forward;
(2) PATIENCE to just allow God to do what he does in his own way and his own time;
(3) TRUST that although I don't have answers to all my questions, I know enough to cling to my faith in every circumstance because I know Jesus as my Lord and High Priest.
When Paul wrote his first letter to the disciples of Jesus in Thessalonica, he knew they were being bombarded with challenges to their faith. All you need do is read about his efforts to establish the church in that city just a few months earlier (Acts 17) and how he literally had to escape certain death from some radical Jews. So, he and Silas and Timothy went on to Berea, then to Athens. Those Jewish agitators followed him to those cities stirring up more trouble. He finally went to Corinth where it is believed he wrote 1 Thessalonians, one of his earliest letters.
Here is my "go to" encouragement from Paul when I start to analyze my unanswered questions:
"May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and he will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NIV
"May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it." The Message
When I left home at 19 I had been a Christian for seven years. I grew up in a Christian family where I learned early that God is my Father, Jesus is my Savior and the Bible is their word to me and the basis of all that I believed. That's all good. But, after attending a Christian college I knew I had to separate myself from all of it because my belief was essentially my family's faith. I knew I had to discover what was beyond the protective bubble that I had grown up in. So, after a long discussion with my Dad, and his encouragement to pursue what I felt I needed to do, I joined the Navy.
I left home with a mix of excitement and apprehension. For three years I tried hard to run away from the God I had grown up afraid of. My Mom kept me connected to home because she wrote me a letter every week and enclosed the weekly church bulletin. But, on the few occasions when I came home on leave, I chose to not go with my family to church. They never condemned me but I feel pretty sure others in that community of believers wrote me off as a lost cause.
My four years in the Navy put me in close contact with many people who were convinced that "God" was the creation of men. I tried to be an atheist, I really did. Many years later I sat with my Mom to sincerely apologize to her for all the ignorant, immature, absolutely crazy stuff I wrote her over most of those years. She just ignored it all and kept writing and sending the church bulletin.
Finally, God, the true Father showed up. In a big way. I wont go into all the details here. You can read it all in the Introduction of my book, "Yes Lord I'm Listening", if you wish. I'll just say that God did for me exactly what Paul told the disciples at Thessalonica he will always do.
Do I still have some questions? Sure. But they are few. I keep them stored away in a very personal place in my spirit where I meet with God. He has let me know the same thing Job came to realize after his really personal encounter with God. I don't need answers to all my questions, I just need to know God and that's enough.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But, when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6 NIV
As your Father, God always wants to hear your voice speaking directly to him. However if you expect him to answer your prayers for wisdom with some sort of immediate brain explosion, you maybe disappointed. He certainly can and probably does that at times, but generally that wisdom comes after days, weeks, months even years of searching God's word for your answers. But, never hesitate to tell him what you are feeling and think you need from him. He may not always give you what you ask for, but he will give you something different or better or he may just say "Not yet!"
Probably most of our questions are very personal rather than theological. The question I have heard most in counseling sessions is this - "Why?" They relate to personal tragedy and very hard situations we have to deal with, just like Job. Answering most of our "Why?" questions will have to wait for eternity in the Father's house. But then, they really won't matter at all.
Until next time, keep giving God the glory!
(1) the forward progress of TIME, which is what faith does, points us forward;
(2) PATIENCE to just allow God to do what he does in his own way and his own time;
(3) TRUST that although I don't have answers to all my questions, I know enough to cling to my faith in every circumstance because I know Jesus as my Lord and High Priest.
When Paul wrote his first letter to the disciples of Jesus in Thessalonica, he knew they were being bombarded with challenges to their faith. All you need do is read about his efforts to establish the church in that city just a few months earlier (Acts 17) and how he literally had to escape certain death from some radical Jews. So, he and Silas and Timothy went on to Berea, then to Athens. Those Jewish agitators followed him to those cities stirring up more trouble. He finally went to Corinth where it is believed he wrote 1 Thessalonians, one of his earliest letters.
Here is my "go to" encouragement from Paul when I start to analyze my unanswered questions:
"May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and he will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NIV
"May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it." The Message
When I left home at 19 I had been a Christian for seven years. I grew up in a Christian family where I learned early that God is my Father, Jesus is my Savior and the Bible is their word to me and the basis of all that I believed. That's all good. But, after attending a Christian college I knew I had to separate myself from all of it because my belief was essentially my family's faith. I knew I had to discover what was beyond the protective bubble that I had grown up in. So, after a long discussion with my Dad, and his encouragement to pursue what I felt I needed to do, I joined the Navy.
I left home with a mix of excitement and apprehension. For three years I tried hard to run away from the God I had grown up afraid of. My Mom kept me connected to home because she wrote me a letter every week and enclosed the weekly church bulletin. But, on the few occasions when I came home on leave, I chose to not go with my family to church. They never condemned me but I feel pretty sure others in that community of believers wrote me off as a lost cause.
My four years in the Navy put me in close contact with many people who were convinced that "God" was the creation of men. I tried to be an atheist, I really did. Many years later I sat with my Mom to sincerely apologize to her for all the ignorant, immature, absolutely crazy stuff I wrote her over most of those years. She just ignored it all and kept writing and sending the church bulletin.
Finally, God, the true Father showed up. In a big way. I wont go into all the details here. You can read it all in the Introduction of my book, "Yes Lord I'm Listening", if you wish. I'll just say that God did for me exactly what Paul told the disciples at Thessalonica he will always do.
Do I still have some questions? Sure. But they are few. I keep them stored away in a very personal place in my spirit where I meet with God. He has let me know the same thing Job came to realize after his really personal encounter with God. I don't need answers to all my questions, I just need to know God and that's enough.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But, when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6 NIV
As your Father, God always wants to hear your voice speaking directly to him. However if you expect him to answer your prayers for wisdom with some sort of immediate brain explosion, you maybe disappointed. He certainly can and probably does that at times, but generally that wisdom comes after days, weeks, months even years of searching God's word for your answers. But, never hesitate to tell him what you are feeling and think you need from him. He may not always give you what you ask for, but he will give you something different or better or he may just say "Not yet!"
Probably most of our questions are very personal rather than theological. The question I have heard most in counseling sessions is this - "Why?" They relate to personal tragedy and very hard situations we have to deal with, just like Job. Answering most of our "Why?" questions will have to wait for eternity in the Father's house. But then, they really won't matter at all.
Until next time, keep giving God the glory!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
"Hearing, Thinking, Doing"
"Post this at all the intersections, dear friends. Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." James 1:19-21 MSG
I read this passage to my Bible class last Sunday morning and it generated much discussion about how the prevalence of anger has impacted all of human society. Learning to follow Jesus today is just as challenging today as it was in the mid first century when James wrote these words. Jesus taught and modeled a challenging new way of hearing, speaking and doing. In fact much of James' letter exactly mirrors Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,7) with several direct quotes from Jesus' sermon.
For me, Eugene Peterson's (The Message) interpretation of the above passage speaks to the modern mind in a way that is unmistakable, undeniable and absolutely striking. Make your own comparison:
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires. Therefore get rid of all mental filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21 NIV
As a follower of Jesus you face the same gut check challenge that your brothers and sisters in every age have faced - allowing God, through the Holy Spirit, to completely remodel your inner world. The process is always "snail-pace" slow because changing our thinking requires:
James' three guidelines for building a righteous life pose a challenge. "Quick to listen" simply means quit talking so much and listen a lot more than you talk. "Slow to speak" means pay attention to what comes out of your mouth and learn to discipline your words before they are spoken. You don't always need to say everything you think. "Slow to become angry" means exactly what it appears to mean, keep your anger in check. Think about what pushes your hot button, seriously!
The payoff is enormous - God will use all the means at his disposal (which is a bigger thought than the human brain can even conceive) to "landscape you .... into a salvation-garden", the righteous life God wants all of us to experience to prepare us for eternity in his beautiful house.
Some final words to ponder from James 2:12-13 NIV
" Speak and act as those who are going to -be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
THAT my friends, is a whole mouthful of truth. Please let it filter into your life and relationships.
Until next time, keep on giving God the glory!
I read this passage to my Bible class last Sunday morning and it generated much discussion about how the prevalence of anger has impacted all of human society. Learning to follow Jesus today is just as challenging today as it was in the mid first century when James wrote these words. Jesus taught and modeled a challenging new way of hearing, speaking and doing. In fact much of James' letter exactly mirrors Jesus' words from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,7) with several direct quotes from Jesus' sermon.
For me, Eugene Peterson's (The Message) interpretation of the above passage speaks to the modern mind in a way that is unmistakable, undeniable and absolutely striking. Make your own comparison:
"My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires. Therefore get rid of all mental filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." James 1:19-21 NIV
As a follower of Jesus you face the same gut check challenge that your brothers and sisters in every age have faced - allowing God, through the Holy Spirit, to completely remodel your inner world. The process is always "snail-pace" slow because changing our thinking requires:
- New information which we obtain from hearing, reading and observation
- Asking questions of those we trust to speak truth (spiritual mentors)
- Trying out what we learn at every baby step in order to make needed adjustments
- Sharing what we learn with others in our life who are where we were
James' three guidelines for building a righteous life pose a challenge. "Quick to listen" simply means quit talking so much and listen a lot more than you talk. "Slow to speak" means pay attention to what comes out of your mouth and learn to discipline your words before they are spoken. You don't always need to say everything you think. "Slow to become angry" means exactly what it appears to mean, keep your anger in check. Think about what pushes your hot button, seriously!
The payoff is enormous - God will use all the means at his disposal (which is a bigger thought than the human brain can even conceive) to "landscape you .... into a salvation-garden", the righteous life God wants all of us to experience to prepare us for eternity in his beautiful house.
Some final words to ponder from James 2:12-13 NIV
" Speak and act as those who are going to -be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!"
THAT my friends, is a whole mouthful of truth. Please let it filter into your life and relationships.
Until next time, keep on giving God the glory!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
"Learning To Get Rid Of Some Stuff"
We all have "stuff" don't we! Not the stuff you have stored in your garage or that unused room in your house that you won't allow anyone to go into. Not even that storage unit you have been paying for all these years filled with stuff you haven't even looked at or thought about in a long time. No, we're talking here about the "stuff" that makes you feel guilty because it is useless in your walk with Jesus and you know it but somehow holding on to it seems oddly comforting. It's YOUR stuff.
One of the favorite "sidesteps" I've heard (and used on occasion too) is this old worn out way of trying to rationalize my "stuff"with the statement, "Well, that's just how I am. Yes I have a quick temper and you don't want to rattle that big dog's chain." Sometimes I've heard it in this way, "My daddy/mother was that way and I am too." Or try this one on for size, "Hey, I'm only human!"
As a new follower of Jesus, one of your greatest challenges, and the one with the greatest payoff, is learning to think right. I have no idea what kind of "stuff" you are guarding in your life. But, as a minister and church elder for a lot of years, I know that whatever hits your hot button and makes you want to tear down the walls when a teacher or preacher shines the light of God's word on your "stuff" should be a wake-up call for you. It might be your relationship with your spouse or someone in your family. It might be what you spend way too much of your family's income on for no spiritual benefit. It might that you whine about not having this new thing or that you have no friends or .... on and on and on.
Listen folks, Jesus died to give you the only true PRICELESS gift and that gift is God himself. In his moving prologue to his gospel, John wrote -
"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side
has made him known." John 1:18 NIV
Before Jesus came, the world was held in the iron grip of fear and pagan superstition. NO MORE! We can now KNOW God as our Father because the greatest gift of the gospel of Jesus is God the Father. The true sense of John's statement is this - being at the Father's side from eternity, Jesus brought him out, made him visible, understood, literally unfolded him. Because of Jesus, anyone can now know God as he really is, a Father who only wants the very best for his kids.
I think Paul said it clearer and better than I ever could at Romans 12: 1-2 -
"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and
holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable and perfect." NASB
Take some time to sit alone and think clearly about your own "stuff". Please realize that God is not trying to make your life a daily exercise in boredom. He only wants to transform the way you think through the blood of Jesus and his Holy Spirit so that you can see him and learn to think his thoughts. He wants to be your FATHER. You must lay all of you on the altar of sacrifice. Only then can transformation begin. You may not jettison all of your "stuff" right away but make a start somewhere with something. You will be proud of who you see in your mirror and those around you may be shocked. But your Father will stand up and cheer.
Be blessed until next time.
One of the favorite "sidesteps" I've heard (and used on occasion too) is this old worn out way of trying to rationalize my "stuff"with the statement, "Well, that's just how I am. Yes I have a quick temper and you don't want to rattle that big dog's chain." Sometimes I've heard it in this way, "My daddy/mother was that way and I am too." Or try this one on for size, "Hey, I'm only human!"
As a new follower of Jesus, one of your greatest challenges, and the one with the greatest payoff, is learning to think right. I have no idea what kind of "stuff" you are guarding in your life. But, as a minister and church elder for a lot of years, I know that whatever hits your hot button and makes you want to tear down the walls when a teacher or preacher shines the light of God's word on your "stuff" should be a wake-up call for you. It might be your relationship with your spouse or someone in your family. It might be what you spend way too much of your family's income on for no spiritual benefit. It might that you whine about not having this new thing or that you have no friends or .... on and on and on.
Listen folks, Jesus died to give you the only true PRICELESS gift and that gift is God himself. In his moving prologue to his gospel, John wrote -
"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side
has made him known." John 1:18 NIV
Before Jesus came, the world was held in the iron grip of fear and pagan superstition. NO MORE! We can now KNOW God as our Father because the greatest gift of the gospel of Jesus is God the Father. The true sense of John's statement is this - being at the Father's side from eternity, Jesus brought him out, made him visible, understood, literally unfolded him. Because of Jesus, anyone can now know God as he really is, a Father who only wants the very best for his kids.
I think Paul said it clearer and better than I ever could at Romans 12: 1-2 -
"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and
holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable and perfect." NASB
Take some time to sit alone and think clearly about your own "stuff". Please realize that God is not trying to make your life a daily exercise in boredom. He only wants to transform the way you think through the blood of Jesus and his Holy Spirit so that you can see him and learn to think his thoughts. He wants to be your FATHER. You must lay all of you on the altar of sacrifice. Only then can transformation begin. You may not jettison all of your "stuff" right away but make a start somewhere with something. You will be proud of who you see in your mirror and those around you may be shocked. But your Father will stand up and cheer.
Be blessed until next time.
Friday, January 31, 2014
"An Unconditional Follower"
Many years ago in an Indiana town I was preaching in a revival type meeting and an older gentleman came to be baptized at the conclusion of the service. We talked briefly and he affirmed his faith in Jesus as Lord but when he came out of the dressing room he stopped at the baptistry and asked me to wait a moment. He turned and went back into the dressing room and came out carrying his wallet. I hadn't seen this happen before so asked if he was afraid someone might steal his unguarded wallet. His reply went something like this: "No sir but I have lived all of my life for selfish things and now I want to follow Jesus all the way so I think I need to baptize my wallet too!" I didn't argue with that.
One of the hardest things Jesus ever said, at least in my mind, is these words:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his
brothers and sisters - yes even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone does not
carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26-27 NIV
To me, the word "hate" is such an ugly, unnecessary word in this context. I fully understand hating sin and the weaknesses of the flesh all of us struggle with. I get it that we must learn to love those who see us as enemies and vice versa. But my parents, my wife and kids, my brothers and sisters? Even my own life?! Then there is this word "cannot". That word is emphatic and has no hope in it. For a long time I have struggled to understand what Jesus is telling me to do because I too am an "anyone".
I have come to realize that Jesus' words must be interpreted within the context of the moment. Luke says that Jesus was being followed by large crowds who traveled with him. Not much different from today. Probably most of them were merely curious to see the next miracle he would perform than what he had to say. Or maybe these large crowds were just checking him out to compare him with the reported 60 or so others who had come on the scene claiming to be the Messiah. He did have a reputation of being somewhat subversive in his teaching about their religious leaders and the rules and regulations they had been taught all their lives.
In today's context, being a "church goer" or a "believer" is not the same thing as being a true "follower" of Jesus. The word "disciple" literally means putting your feet into the footprints of Jesus and walk where he walks. To do that, you must keep your eyes on him, not your parents or your family or even your own likes and dislikes. Many of those early Christ followers were ostracized, disinherited and disowned by their own families simply because of their faith in Jesus. Read the book of Hebrews carefully and you will understand that many of them were turning back to the familiar Judaism they had been reared in. The social pressure had to be enormous for Jews and Gentiles alike.
Is Jesus telling me that I must gather my parents and my family together and tell them I "hate" them? I hope not because I could never do that. I love them. So, I have to use a little common sense here and see Jesus' words in a realistic way. I need to be shocked into the reality that nothing and no one in my life is as crucial as my relationship with Jesus as Lord. He will be first or not at all. Is that difficult to do? I'll let you answer that for yourself.
My new brother or sister, following Jesus is a whole new way of thinking about how I relate to others, even in my own family. It can cost you relationships that you have had all your life but please don't surrender to the pressure that seeks to elevate any of them above Jesus. There is no conflict between being a Jesus follower and other relationships in your life. He wants you to be a model for them of what the love of God really is so take some time to read Matthew 5, 6 & 7, the Sermon On The Mount, and write down the specifics you find there about how to relate in this new way in your world. Above all, pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead and instruct you. He is your guide in all things related to discipleship.
Be blessed until next time.
One of the hardest things Jesus ever said, at least in my mind, is these words:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his
brothers and sisters - yes even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. And anyone does not
carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26-27 NIV
To me, the word "hate" is such an ugly, unnecessary word in this context. I fully understand hating sin and the weaknesses of the flesh all of us struggle with. I get it that we must learn to love those who see us as enemies and vice versa. But my parents, my wife and kids, my brothers and sisters? Even my own life?! Then there is this word "cannot". That word is emphatic and has no hope in it. For a long time I have struggled to understand what Jesus is telling me to do because I too am an "anyone".
I have come to realize that Jesus' words must be interpreted within the context of the moment. Luke says that Jesus was being followed by large crowds who traveled with him. Not much different from today. Probably most of them were merely curious to see the next miracle he would perform than what he had to say. Or maybe these large crowds were just checking him out to compare him with the reported 60 or so others who had come on the scene claiming to be the Messiah. He did have a reputation of being somewhat subversive in his teaching about their religious leaders and the rules and regulations they had been taught all their lives.
In today's context, being a "church goer" or a "believer" is not the same thing as being a true "follower" of Jesus. The word "disciple" literally means putting your feet into the footprints of Jesus and walk where he walks. To do that, you must keep your eyes on him, not your parents or your family or even your own likes and dislikes. Many of those early Christ followers were ostracized, disinherited and disowned by their own families simply because of their faith in Jesus. Read the book of Hebrews carefully and you will understand that many of them were turning back to the familiar Judaism they had been reared in. The social pressure had to be enormous for Jews and Gentiles alike.
Is Jesus telling me that I must gather my parents and my family together and tell them I "hate" them? I hope not because I could never do that. I love them. So, I have to use a little common sense here and see Jesus' words in a realistic way. I need to be shocked into the reality that nothing and no one in my life is as crucial as my relationship with Jesus as Lord. He will be first or not at all. Is that difficult to do? I'll let you answer that for yourself.
My new brother or sister, following Jesus is a whole new way of thinking about how I relate to others, even in my own family. It can cost you relationships that you have had all your life but please don't surrender to the pressure that seeks to elevate any of them above Jesus. There is no conflict between being a Jesus follower and other relationships in your life. He wants you to be a model for them of what the love of God really is so take some time to read Matthew 5, 6 & 7, the Sermon On The Mount, and write down the specifics you find there about how to relate in this new way in your world. Above all, pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead and instruct you. He is your guide in all things related to discipleship.
Be blessed until next time.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
"Following Jesus Is A Learned Lifestyle"
After nearly a decade of blogging on "The Hallelujah Chorus" I have decided to create this new effort to try to reach out to a very special target group of folks who are new to following Jesus. Although what I write is easily appropriated by anyone who is seeking a deeper relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, my primary aim is to encourage those who are new in Christ. Actually, I have to confess that I really have one particular, very special person in my heart for this project. As a new follower of Jesus only since the end of December 2013, she is mine and the Rose's newest daughter in Jesus. But, I have never seen one more excited and proud of what God is doing in her life.
During my half century of ministry and church leadership I fear I haven't done a good job of preparing most new disciples of Jesus for the ministry he has called all of us into. I've always known that to be a vital part of Jesus' commission to "make disciples.....baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matt 28:20) However, I have no way of knowing how many of the thousands I have shared the good news with and/or baptized into Jesus learned to actually follow him as Lord. I pray every single one of them is still on that divine upward journey.
Okay, so here we go.
Following Jesus isn't complicated but doing so can really complicate your life. All you need do is read about how Jesus' early disciples struggled to incorporate all he taught and modeled into their daily lives. Peter had a very difficult time getting past the racism his Jewish upbringing had drilled into him about all non Jews. Judas was fine with betraying Jesus to the Jewish leaders despite all that he saw and heard from him because he just didn't fit Judas' expectations of Messiah. Jesus' Apostles engaged in what might have been at least a 2 year argument over which of them was at the top of their "pecking order". Jesus taught them there is no hierarchy in his kingdom. Only servants who seek the welfare of others.
Here is how the mighty Apostle Paul learned to see this journey every disciple of Jesus must take:
"One thing I do; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press
on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us
who are mature think this way." Philippians 3:14-15 ESV
"Pressing on" with "upward" thinking is the road to maturity as we are Learning To Follow Jesus. Learn patience with yourself and others in your life. Always know that what Peter learned is true for you too:
"Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking
for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your
brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same sufferings. And the God of all grace
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will
himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:8-11 NIV
Please feel free to share this with anyone you think can be encouraged by it. We will get down to more real nitty-gritty as we go along. The address is www.kentsutherlandnewblog@blogspot.com.
Til next time Be Blessed!
"Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking
for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your
brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same sufferings. And the God of all grace
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will
himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:8-11 NIV
Please feel free to share this with anyone you think can be encouraged by it. We will get down to more real nitty-gritty as we go along. The address is www.kentsutherlandnewblog@blogspot.com.
Til next time Be Blessed!
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