The Sacrifice of Praise

"Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:15-16, NRSV)

It is interesting that the offering of praise to God is compared to and stated as a sacrifice. Literally a sacrifice is something that had to be given up—killed—in order to pay the debt. We are to give something up—kill it—in order to praise God. More so we are to do it continually!

What do I need to sacrifice? What do I need to let die in my life (I think this is more metaphorically—I don’t need to kill an animal or person—but something in my life). What do I hold on to that constricts my praise to God?

Then the very next sentence says to not forget to do GOOD and share what I have. So not only am I to sacrifice something to praise God, but a part of my sacrifice is my security and resources to help God—because that is pleasing to God.

Word and Deed aren’t separated biblically. To praise God, we need to proclaim Jesus with our lips and our actions—and it is (at least should be) a sacrifice for us. So if my life doesn’t seem sacrificial perhaps I am not proclaiming God or praising Him?

Lord, Teach me what it is that I must sacrifice to praise you. Help me to confess your name and to not neglect what is good and pleasing to you.

God Penetrating our Hearts

"Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen." (Acts 1:24, NRSV)

"And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us;" (Acts 15:8, NRSV)

"(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”" (Luke 2:35, ESV)

"But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side" (Luke 9:47, ESV)

"He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" (Luke 24:38, NRSV)

God knows us. However, he doesn't just know us--he knows our thoughts--he knows our emotions--he knows our deepest desires and thoughts. He can see through our exterior images of ourselves into the depths of our heart.

We usually use the term "heart" in reference to our emotions or non-logical, irrational side of our soul. However, in the times of Jesus and jewish culture, the heart was the center of the soul and body where the rational mind met up with the emotional center of the body (the groin). Therefore the heart was not only the rational thoughts of the person, but the emotional entwined with them.

God doesn't just know our desires, we knows our thoughts. We knows how we rationalize and what we want.

Knowing this about us, he doesn't turn away and just condemn us for our thoughts, we engages us with compassion and challenges us to move beyond them to his will. When the early church went about the business of trying to replace Judas and get another 12th Apostle--the used the criteria of own's heart. Our human perception of a person can only go so far--but God penetrates through that boundary (our boundaries) and sees into the soul--the heart of a person.

The Apostles didn't desire to pick a replacement, the desire to seek God's will and have him pick the replacement.

How can we apply that process to our leadership style? Do we seek out God's will or our heart? Do we allow God to move in our lives or do we stiffle him with our issues and doubts.

May I be a person that allows God to penetrate my heart and seeks his will.

No Other Name is Given Victory!

"When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”" (Acts 4:7, NRSV)

"let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead." (Acts 4:10, NRSV)

"There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”" (Acts 4:12, NRSV)

Peter and John are being questioned by the chief priests and the scribes because of the healing they did to a lame man and for proclaiming that Jesus is the Resurrection of the Dead in the temple. The accusers have the audacity, as they did with Jesus, to ask them by what power or name did you do this action? It is a great question—a question that they probably don’t want answered.

Peter answers them by saying it is Jesus, who know they guy you killed, the guy God raised from the dead. What a strong statement—Peter basically says how dare you ask—look at what you have done—you kill—we bring life and healing to people. You kill, God brings life—not much of a contest.

Then with further confidence, he declares that there is salvation (eternal life) in no one else! No other name under heaven.

We lack the confidence of Peter—we are given a relationship and saved under the only name under heaven. Being a follower of Jesus is not just being a member of another religion. The Apostles and Jesus himself state this is only under Jesus’ name. Being a follower of Jesus is an exclusive claim, an exclusive faith—that is openly inclusive for all to proclaim.

Bottom line, others (religions, faiths, people) can only bring death, but Jesus, who is the resurrection and life, brings victory (exclusive victory)!

Exact Imprint of God

"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs." (Hebrews 1:1-4, NRSV)

In that past month I have had numerous conversations with people who misunderstand the trinity—or what the Triune God is about. Now that is not all that surprising to not understand the trinity: three persons in one God. It is a mystery and beyond human logic. I don’t expect people to understand it. But I have had several people (church goers included) misunderstand who Jesus is.

One encounter with a person claimed he understood that Jesus was God’s son, but not God. This person wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness, he was raised in a church that proclaimed the trinity—he had just missed the point. He had missed the point that Jesus is God. That Jesus is the creator, that Jesus is the sustainer, that Jesus is the redeemer. Jesus is the heir of all things and is the all in all.

I love this phrase in the opening of the Book of Hebrews; He is the exact imprint of God’s very being. We have the image of God, but Jesus has the exact imprint—He is God in the flesh. Jesus has inherited all things, included the name of God which is, “I AM”, therefore everything else is “I AM NOT”

When we are relationship with Jesus than “WE ARE” when we are not in relationship with God in the Flesh “WE ARE NOT”.

Lord Jesus, help me to release who you are, help me to abide in you, because everything else is NOT in comparison to you.

The Gospel of Judas

There was been a lot of hoopla about the new released Gospel of Judas. National Geographic did a big special on Sunday, most of the major media outlets have covered it. Instead of reproducing a lot of the comments about the Gospel of Judas, I thought I just link you to a good blog about it.

Ben Witherington: The Sad Truth about Judas

Witherington has several posts responding to the Gospel--all of them which you should read.

The bottomline is this 1 document written by Gnostics some 300 years after Jesus and Judas, doesn't reveal anything about what the early church believe and knew about their relationship, but reveals only what a heretical group that formed 100 years after the earlier church believed.

The New Motive

"Little children, I am with you only a little longer. . . .‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”" (John 13:33-35, NRSV)

The new commandment? Loving one another doesn’t seem like a new commandment. Wasn’t loving your neighbor as yourself essential to the Law for Israel? Love isn’t new, but the motive behind love is new. We don’t love each other to benefit each other. We don’t love our neighbor because it does them good for us to love them. We don’t love each other because it makes us feel better about ourselves or somehow is a good work for us. Rather we love each other because Jesus loves us. Loving each other is a response to the Love that Jesus gives us. Loving each other is a way of glorify our Lord.

So what is the type of love that Jesus shares with us. Just prior to this “new” commandment Jesus realizing that the Father has given everything into his hands (wow! Everything is in the hands of the Son—that is trust!) turns to his disciples and washes their feet. He serves them. The love that Jesus shares with us is one of a servant—one that goes above and beyond to care for each other. We in turn must serve each other and the world.

The new commandment of love is really a new motive to respond to Jesus’ love—which is ultimate expressed on the cross. Now that is going above and beyond to serve—dying on the cross.

Refusing the Help we Need

Sometimes we just refuse help. No matter how dire the circumstances or how painful it is, we just refuse help.

Last night was one of those moments. Andrew, who is suffering through a poking-of-the-eye-with-the-toothbrush injury refused to take his eye ointment. The night before we woke up several times in the night whimpering and putting a cloth to his eye. Nevertheless it made for a miserable night for all of us. After taking him to the doctor, and the doctor thinking that he just irritated the eye and nothing was wrong, prescribed an eye ointment. Last night after the fury of his birthday (which was a grand event) Andrew refused to take his eye ointment (his being over-tired didn’t help the process). It took over 30 minutes of calming him down and bribing him, until eventually we had to overpower him and give it to him by force. He refused his eye medicine even though he was complaining about his eye.

People are like that. Sometimes we just don’t want help, even though, we know we need it, even though we know we are suffering, we refuse to take the help. People are that way with Jesus all the time. This world is full of death and suffering, and when you open up the doors for people to see Jesus they refuse the only help they really need.

Pray for Andrew to be open to receive the help he needs for his eye, and for people around us to receive the help that Jesus offers to them.

Proclaiming Death

"In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:25-26, NRSV)

The words of Institution of the Lord’s Supper—we say them so often, they seem to roll off our tongue or pass through our ears without a second thought. But when I read them, hear them, or say them, they also seem to strike me as odd. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood”, “you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Those are odd things to repeat and hear over and over again.

It is interesting that Paul states that when wee participate in the Lord’s Supper we are in the action of proclaiming. By taking the Bread and the Wine as a community we are making a proclamation to the word. I usually don’t think of my participation in the Lord’s Supper as proclamation but I think of it as a way to remember and reflect on what Jesus has done for me. But yet, Paul clearly states it is a proclamation not an act of remembrance. By participation we are standing on our soap box to the world and proclaiming—proclaiming what?—proclaiming the Lord’s death. (?)

Whoa! Doesn’t it seem like we should be proclaiming his resurrection, his victory over death. That is such an odd thing to say, we proclaim death…

Well, we do proclaim death. The path of following Jesus is death. Death to this life, death to sin, death to slavery, and our ambitions and lusts— but in that death is true life. A life of servitude to our king, a life of freedom, a life of joy, an life that is everlasting.

In our proclamation of death we proclaim true life in Jesus.

The Lord is on my side

"With the Lord on my side I do not fear. What can mortals do to me? The Lord is on my side to help me; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes." (Psalm 118:6-9, NRSV)

How often I forget that the Lord is on my side—He is walking with me. With that knowledge and relationship it should be easy for me to walk confidently in this world, not with arrogance, but with a trust knowing that God has a plan and purpose for me and my family.

Yet, I feel I protect them from the world. I feel I can guard them. I forget that God is at my side and theirs and he loves them more than I do. Hard to imagine that someone can love my family more than me, but thankful that He does, because I don’t do a great job of loving them all the time.

Lord, help me to not fear, but trust in you and recognize that you are at my side.

Suffering Obedience?

"Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;" (Hebrews 5:8, NRSV)
Does this make you uncomfortable? He learned to be obedient thru suffering. Does that mean I have to learn obedience thru suffering? I really don’t like suffering. I would prefer to live without it.

The book of Hebrews gives us a picture of a human Jesus. Not a sinful Jesus, but one that suffers with us and for us. Jesus is just like us in that he doesn’t like to suffer, but does so because he knows what He has to accomplish. If I know the price I would have to pay to achieve the things that I want would I be willing to suffer for it, or do I just want everything handed to me on a silver platter (okay, it doesn’t have to be silver—it just needs to be handed to me)?

The problem with that statement is “to accomplish the things I want”; it should be accomplish the things the Father wants. Jesus didn’t suffer because he wanted to or that it was His plan, but He did so because it was the Father’s plan and he obeyed his Father.

Lord, help me to obey you and to follow your plan so that I may glorify you in all things—even in my suffering.

The Demand of Grace

"Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls." (James 1:21, NRSV)

How often I forget the Word that God has implanted on my heart? I take it for granted. I do not realize the power it has for this world and for my life. It is not a magical power that the words hold onto themselves, but the truth and the reality of the One behind the words that bring them power. The Word of God implanted in my soul has the power to save souls, has the power to heal people from the misery of the friendship of this world.

"But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." (James 1:22, NRSV)

James immediately reminds that we must respond to this implanted powerful word, the gift of God. The power of the Word demands a response of action—of doing. Because I have received this word, the generous gift that saved my soul, I am to spread this word through my actions. I am to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, act justly, and spread this saving and powerful word to all those that have ears.

Grace demands action. God’s grace for me demands my action for Him and His world.

Grace or Works?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." (Ephesians 2:8-10, NRSV)

Paul seems confused. One hand we are told that we are saved by grace and not by our works, yet on the other hand we are told we have been created for good works. Which is it, Paul?

The answer is both. Paul is very clear, we cannot be saved by our works, and there is nothing we can do to earn salvation. Paul compares it to death. In our sin, we are dead—by definition dead people cannot do anything. However, only by the gracious and generous will of God can we be brought back to life. We do not earn this new life, we can’t we are dead—we unable to do anything.

However, once we created in new life in Jesus—He has a plan for us—to do good works. Not our own works, by God’s purpose and works. We are to be his hands and feet in his word. We have been created for a purpose—we have been saved for a purpose. Not for our glory but for God’s glory.

Grace or works? The answer is we have been saved by grace to do God’s good works.

Patience is Love

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9, NRSV)

"and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation." (2 Peter 3:15a, NRSV)

I am not known for my patience. I wish I was but I not. I get aggravated by having to standing in lines and wait. I get frustrated when my computer doesn’t respond to every click and command right away. And forget about delays on the internet—waiting for something to download. Things can’t be fast enough for me.

I get impatient with my children too. Frustrated how long it takes them to listen or follow a simple command. Instead of just being in the moment with them, and helping them accomplish the task, I throw up my hands and let out a grunt. (a noise by the way my sons have learned to mimic when they get impatient—one of the traits you wish they wouldn’t learn). So in my impatience I teach my kids to be impatient.

God is patient. That is just who He is. He cannot not be patient. But His patience is for our benefit. He is patient because he loves us, not wanting any to perish. He gives us time to respond and repent. He gives us time to respond to His love. God is patient because He loves. Being patient with someone is loving them. Yikes, I have got a lot to learn.

Lord, my I be a father that is patient with my children, and my I be a child that sees the love and patience of my Heavenly Father. Thank for you loving me and waiting for me.

Why I Have a Velvet Elvis

I am not particularly a fan of Elvis—he is a little before my time, but I have been influenced by his fans, namely one of my pastors who was a big Elvis fan, and had a handful of sermons that he would preach about Elvis on the anniversary of his death.

As a long-time youth minister, you collect things—particularly items that make kids thing you are cool or just a little bit off (you want to keep kids on their toes). Well, one day, a good friend found an old Velvet Elvis in a garage sale and thought it would be a hoot to give it to me.

Part of me hangs it on the wall of my Pastor’s Study just because it is funny. Part of me hangs it on the wall to offset the other elements of ego on the wall (diplomas and such). Part of me hangs it on the wall to start conversation with people—it is a good ice-breaker. But mostly, I hang it on the wall to remind me of the mission God has given us

So how can Elvis, the King, remind me of God’s mission for me?

"Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things." (Acts 17:22-25, NRSV)

Did you know that Elvis Presley made more Gospel albums than Rock albums? Did you know that Elvis came from a family that was deeply religious—Pentecostal background—and the hip movements and gyrations he performed on stage he learned and in his church growing up? Did you know that Elvis often would perform “How Great Thou Art,” during his concerts, and that after the end of all his rehearsals and recording he would make people sing a hymn with him. Did you know that just before he died he made a promise to make only Gospel albums for the rest of his life.

Yet, the church pushed Elvis away, instead of clinging on to a person that had the ability and ear of so many people, the church railed against him and condemn him.

While Elvis Presley was a teen cataclysm with millions of American girls screaming at the sight of him, his own church viewed Presley's gyrations on stage as an affront, labelling it the Devil's work and a mocking of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Presley records were condemned as wicked and Pentecostal preachers thumped their pulpits with Bibles, warning congregations to keep heathen rock and roll music out of their homes and away from their children's ears (especially the music of "that backslidden Pentecostal pup, Elvis Presley"). People who decades later would be considered part of the religious right spoke out vigorously against Presley including Cardinal Spellman. In its weekly periodical, the Roman Catholic Church added to the criticism in an article titled "Beware Elvis Presley."[1]

What if the church instead of pushing Elvis away, latch on to him and used his arena of influence to further spread the gospel? Imagine a church this isn’t afraid of a few warts and is willing to be all things to all people. Imagine a church that is more interested in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, than its own public appearance.

The Apostle Paul on Mars Hill did just that. He wasn’t afraid of learning the culture or engaging it. In fact, Paul thought it his mission to learn and engage the culture so that we may engage people with the Gospel.

The picture of Elvis is a reminder of the failure of the church to grasp onto the opportunities that God provides. So often we put things into boxes of sacred and secular, instead of realizing we are all in the secular box in which God is trying to make sacred.
Let us not depend on our own wisdom and plan, but let’s see how God works and join Him in His plan—even if it might include someone as outrageous as Elvis.

[1] Wikipedia.org

Opportunities for Communion

I just watch a video of a guy that set up a folding card table in different public places. He placed himself in a mall, outside a fast food restaurant, in a public market, a park, outside a subway entrance. On this table, he placed a bright pink piece of paper that read in Bold black letters, “COMMUNION”. In addition he placed on the table a loaf of the best smelling and tasting bread that you could buy. He had broken the bread into two pieces. Next to the broken bread was a clear wine glass filled with the best wine that he could buy. This gentleman sat behind the table in a chair wanting for people to engage this visual peculiarity. This man was offering communion, he was inviting people to a relationship with Jesus.

In the video, most people walked on by without even noticing the table, some look at him, but didn’t even slow down. Some people slowed down and smiled, but kept walking by. Some people even hovered a bit, but never got too close to engage. Some even stop to talk to the person, but when offered the bread and wine, refused. Then just one person eventually engaged the person, took the bread and wine and thanked the man.

What a fantastic image of what God has done for us. There God is at the fast food place, the mall, the public park, everywhere we go, offering all of us a relationship with Him—a chance to commune with Him. How many of us engage this offer and accept it freely as it is freely given.

Let us be a people that engages in every moment and let us be a people that commune with God.

Jesus is Yahweh

"You shall keep all my statutes and all my ordinances, and observe them: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:37, NRSV)

"because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9, NRSV)

"For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake." (2 Corinthians 4:5, NRSV)

God likes to make his point clear. It really isn’t that complicated. In Leviticus 18 & 19, God states some of his ordinances and commands and after almost each one, He repeats, “I am the Lord,” or “I am the Lord your God.” It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that God is trying to say that He is Lord, everything else is not, therefore, listen to me, obey me, and worship me alone.

The Hebrew word that is translated to LORD is literally Yahweh, the name God identify himself as to Moses. He is known God. He is not distant or unknown. He is Lord and God that has acted and engaged Israel personally. Breaking down the Lord’s name further it appears to be a compound word that is formed from the phrase, “I am” and, “He is.” That is amazing. God’s name literally means I am, therefore implicating everything else “Is Not” at least in comparison to Him.

As if God wasn’t personal and known enough in the Old Testament, he makes himself more visible in Jesus. Jesus is Lord is repeated over and over again. It is the simplest confession and gospel that we are told to proclaim. It really isn’t complicated. Jesus is Yahweh. Jesus is Lord. It doesn’t get any clearing than that.

No Words are Adequate

"“Teacher, this is wonderful!” Peter exclaimed. “We will make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He didn’t really know what to say, for they were all terribly afraid." (Mark 9:5-6, NLT)

Sometimes it is best not to say anything at all. A lot of us have this need to always say something. Particularly in times of need, we feel we need to tell people that it is alright, or to give people advice with a difficult situation.

Have you ever come across something so beautiful—so stunning, that it leaves you speechless? A majestic mountain range, a sunset over the horizon of the ocean, a child being born—no words are adequate. Any words spoken in those moments—take away from the beautiful—sometimes I think we are supposed to just take it all in.

I think that is what our relationship with Jesus should be about. We lose sight of his glory, of who he really is, we personalize him so much that we forget that his glory and majesty are blinding. Instead of talking, or feeling the need to do something, we should just come before Jesus, bow and listen. Listen to God, Listen to Jesus. Let’s just take Jesus and his glory all in—let it consume us.

Tombstone of D.L. Moody

Took a trip with several other pastors yesterday to the gravesite of D.L. Moody and his wife in Northfield, MA. Here is what their tombstones read:

Dwight Lyman Moody
1837—1899
Feb. 5—Dec. 22
“He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

Emma C. Revell
1843—1903
July 5—Oct. 10
“His servants shall serve him and they shall reign forever and ever.”

May we be people that do the will of God by serving Him.

Show & Tell

My oldest son had Show & Tell today. It was his first one. The teacher gave him this purple basket to bring whatever he wanted to show and tell. He had the whole weekend to consider what to bring. I kept asking him, "what do you want to bring?". His response was, "Whatever I want to bring" (with a look of disgust that I would even ask the question. When I would push him further, he said he would decide the day of. However, he was excited about being able to share something of himself to his friends and his teachers. You could tell he was putting some serious thought as to what would be the best thing to bring. When I would give him suggestions he would ponder it and then say, "No, I will decide."

It got me thinking about how I share my faith with people. God has given me the opportunity to Show and Tell every day and every moment, yet I usually don't take the opportunities God gives me, and I rarely take his advice on what to share--let alone how to share it. I think I tell God, "No, I will share whatever I want--I will decide." The reality is God has decided for me. He wants me to share the Good News that He came into this world, that his Kingdom is being ushered in by His Son, Jesus (God Himself), and that He died on the cross for us, and that he defeated death by rising from the grave. Even better yet, He will come again. That is the news, he has commanded me to share, yet I ignore his suggestions.

Andrew eventually decided. He brought his stuffed birds that have a similarity to their real-life counter parts and make the actually bird calls of those birds. He knows all their names. He eventually decided and took the suggestion of his father that the birds would be a good idea. (I need to go home and find out how the show and tell went).

Heavenly Father, may I be a person (may we be a people) that listen and obey your commands (suggestions) and show and tell the world you (and your good news).

The Church vs. Dunkin Donuts

Open for Business. We had 18 people for service yesterday. Not bad considering there was a blizzard. I was surprised anyone showed up, I was expecting no one. However, I thought it was important that I be at the church in case anyone did show up.

I don’t like the idea of canceling church due to bad weather. I made it safely, if I couldn’t I would cancel. However, I also don’t expect people to risk themselves to make it to service—so I didn’t expect anyone to show.

I have this sense that someone should be here on Sunday regardless of the weather. Sometimes I feel that people come to church as the last resort. Maybe they are depressed, deeply hurting, whatever their circumstances—I want them to know someone loves them and cares for them.

My resolve to have service was strengthened as I drove to church and saw Dunkin Donuts open. Surely if Dunkin Donuts can be open during a blizzard so can the church. So we had 18 people, more than most churches. God blessed us yesterday.

The Pain of Equality

“It’s annoying but justice and equality are mates. Aren’t they? Justice always wants to hang out with equality. And equality is a real pain.” Bono at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Equality. It is not a word or concept that I think much about. I think about Justice, I think about doing good for people- sometimes even do good for people. Jessi and I tithe faithfully to all sorts of organizations including our church. But I usually don’t think about Equality.

But then Bono’s words hit me. Of course it is about equality. You see the problem with my charity is that I often don’t equate myself with the people I am giving to. To be very blunt—I think I am better than they are.

Somehow I believe that I am responsible for all my wealth, my family, my job, all my blessings. The reality is everything is a gift from God and all of humanity is in the same boat. There really is a fine line between me and the poor, the sick, the criminals. That line is grace. The reality is though I am not better, and I just more privileged and therefore have more of an obligation to reach out to the rest not with charity but with equality. Not just giving to them, but being with them, seeing myself as one of them. Seeing them how God sees them.

Then I got to thinking about all the issues of the world that are caused by people thinking they are better than other people. The list is long.

Check out the rest of Bono’s speech at http://www.data.org/archives/000774.php

The Neverthelesses

"He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places." (2 Kings 15:3-4, NRSV)

"He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. Nevertheless the high places were not removed; the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. He built the upper gate of the house of the Lord." (2 Kings 15:34-35, NRSV)

There always seems to be a Nevertheless. When things are going well there always seems to be someone to remember you of a “Nevertheless” in your life. What is a Nevertheless? A Nevertheless is one of those things that lie deep within your heart. No matter how good, how righteous, or how successful you are there is always something dark in your heart—perhaps it is your motives. There always is something we neglect to do or repent from. As long as we are broken and exist in this world, we will have the Neverthelesses in our life.
There just always seem to crop up at the most inopportune times. Most people don’t get to experience my Nevertheless but I do. I know the secrets of my life and the desires of my heart—it usually is to glorify myself and not God.
Look at the Kings of Israel, even when the do what is right in the sight of the Lord, they have a Nevertheless.
Nevertheless, God still forgives a repentant heart. Hey—look a Nevertheless can be good too. Nevertheless God can forgive our Neverthelesses.

Cheers of Children

Children are wonderful. As I was watching my Seahawks self-imploded in the Super Bowl last night, and discouraged not because the Steelers won (but the Seahawks really lost the game), my children put the whole evening in perspective.

Andrew and Joshua spent the afternoon baking and cooking with Babci. Andrew kept running in and showing me what they were making for Super Bowl Night (his two fists raised in the air as he states, “Go Seahawks”). Both of them maybe watch 10 plays but they would send cheers into the air for the Seahawks every once in awhile, lifting my spirits up. Andrew would watch my reactions and that mimic me. It is hard not to put a smile on my face with the positive and innocent cheers of a child.

So perhaps it is not whether your team wins a Super Bowl, but whether or not your children share in the joy of watching it with you.

Gospel Driven People

"And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.”" (Mark 1:36-38, NRSV)

Have you ever felt distracted? Have you ever had that feeling deep down inside you, knowing you are not doing what you are suppose to be doing? It is easy to get distracted in life. To go down a career path, to live your life they way people expect or the way the world wants you to live it. Life in this world is distracting—I think that is the point.

This world is full of distractions and rabbit holes. The question for us is how far are we going to go down one. It is like the movie the matrix, where the world itself around us is a façade to distract us from the true reality.

People wanted to distract Jesus from his vocation—his calling. They wanted to be a part of him as the miracle-man, the one that healed everybody. Jesus’ ministry wasn’t about healing—it was about proclaiming the good news. Healing was a means to an end for his ministry.

Jesus’ ministry is ours. He has given us this ministry of proclamation. We are to be His heralds in this matrix-world. Let us not be distracted from this mission. Let us be Gospel-Driven people and not Distracted-Driven People.

Compulsion to Proclaim

"If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!. . .For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. . . . I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, . . . ." (1 Corinthians 9:16-23, NRSV)

Paul has a compulsion. He is a person that has been transformed by a life-giving message. Paul is not happy to just sit and revel in the good news that he has heard about God. He has been changed by it. His life is driven by it. His character and identity have been transformed by it. He has been set free by it, but is enslaved to it.

Paul understands Jesus’ radical love. He is willing to do anything to get people to hear God’s transforming message. He is willing to give up his rights, his privilege, just so that some might hear. He becomes a servant to humanity because he is fulfilling his identity and obligation.

That Gospel changes us. Jesus changes us. We can no longer be the same.

So the point is, “I serve people to help save them.” Smokes, that is a hard message. I thought I served people so that I might feel better about myself, or that God might look upon me with favor.

We serve people not because we choose to, but because the essence of who we are has been changed by the love of God and now we are compelled to serve.

Makes me wonder, have I really been changed? Is this my identity?

Believing is Seeing

"They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him." (Mark 1:22-26, NRSV)

We need a radical reorientation. We need to readjust our understanding of the world and authority. We accept truth from all sorts of sources. We accept a truth that the news media puts out, our friends, books, but we lack the critical skills of discernment.

We walk around in this world, believing what we see. Our eyes dictate to us the truth, even though we know there are optical illusions. In this Mark passage we are confronted with a world that we rather ignore—the spiritual world. In this rational, still mostly modern world that we walk in, we don’t accept that demons and angels exist, at least not in the form talked about in scripture. Why do we trust our ideas—why are our senses our are mode of discerning truth?

Perhaps Seeing isn’t believing, maybe Believing is true seeing. In this passage, Mark doesn’t explain Jesus authority, but only that everyone recognized it as unique and instantly. Jesus’ authority is not based on our senses our perceptions of him. It isn’t based on his history of learning, but it is based on who He is. Whether or not we believe (or see for that matter) we eventually have to come to terms with Jesus’ authority.

Why is that the demons always can see Jesus? We need a radical reorientation of authority and belief.

Changing our Conversation

“… we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” 1 Corinthians 8:1b (NRSV)

It is easy to get enamored with ourselves and our ideas. We think we are pretty clever and intelligent. We are arrogant and prideful people…at least I can be. I once heard a statistic that said 90% of Americans believe they are smarter than 50% of people. At least 40% of those people are wrong and if they were smart enough they would be able to figure out if they were wrong or right.

I love this saying by Paul. It is so easy to get caught up with our knowledge with being right in our conversations instead of loving. In our relationships and dialogue with people we are usually more interested in our self than the other person. We even think thoughts like, “was that okay to say?”, “I wonder if this person likes me?” Our lives are all about us. Yet the life of discipleship, the life of following Jesus makes our lives not about us but about Him and therefore about others.

What would it look like in our next conversation with someone if we were more concerned about them and loving them then being right or displaying ourselves

Salvation thru Judgment

“Sometimes God saves by judging. . . . judgment is generally a good thing. It means the coming of truth and justice into our deceived and oppressed world.” (Brian McLaren, A Generous Orthodoxy)

We don’t like being judged. I don’t like dealing with the consequences of my behavior. I know my children don’t like the consequences to their behaviors. They dislike the timeouts we give them for not listening or misbehaving. Usually the threat of the timeout changes their behavior. However, sometimes they need the timeouts to be corrected. We find that when we are not consistent with their consequences the more courageous they are with the misdeeds.

God saves us by judging us. God saves us because he is consistent with his judgment and rules. God is not wishy-washy or bends the rules. God rescues us from our deceived and oppressed ways. God also rescues us by forgiving us. He judges then forgives. He sets forth the natural consequences for us allow us to see the untruth of our ways and the world. Then when we turn from our ways (repent) he rescues us with forgiveness.

My favorite part of the timeouts with my children (a process I do not take any enjoyment from) is after they have served their time, they apologized for their actions (usually with the saddest tears) and I get to say, "You know that I love you." Then with their tear-filled eyes they turn to me and they leap in my arms and say, “I love you too, Daddy”

That is salvation, being rescued from the falsehoods of our behavior and being freed by the love by and for our parent.

Thank you Heavenly father for rescuing me time and time again with your judgment and forgiveness.

Listening is Loving

But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 1 Kings 22:14 (NRSV)

I don’t listen enough and I pride myself on being a good listening. In fact, I am a better listening than most people. Yet, I don’t listen enough. Like most people, I like to talk, I like to share my ideas, I like for people to be interested in me. When we talk we lose sight of who we are. When we don’t listen we often think of ourselves to highly.

We when don’t listen we tune out the voices of truth. We don’t hear what our friends are saying to us about us. How do we expect to hear God when we don’t even listen to each other.

I have been working on listening to my children. It is easy to overlook them and just tell them what to do, instead of taking the time and hearing what they have to say and how they feel. When I take the time to listen they feel valued by me and we began to understand each other better. The problem is that listening takes time and patience. I don’t have much of either. But then it occurred to me that to have time and patience you need love. You need to love the person to give them your time and patience to listen to them.

Micaiah takes listening and speaking seriously. We don’t take our words seriously. We throw away our words, with extreme callous. We should treasure the words we use. I love the idea of speaking only the words the Lord speaks to me. Not that I am a prophet like Micaiah, but it means that I need to listen mor instead of speaking. I need to listen more to God—which means I need to love God more to give Him my time and patience.

Lord Have Mercy

Jesus I've forgotten
The Words that You have spoken
Promises that burned within my heart
Have now grown dim
With a doubting heart I follow
The paths of earthly wisdom
Forgive me for my unbelief
Renew the fire again

Chorus
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy on me

I have built an altar
Where I've worshipped things of manI have taken journeys
That have drawn me far from You
Now I am returning
To Your mercies ever flowing
Pardon my transgressions
Help me love You again

I have longed to know You
And all Your tender mercies
Like a river of forgiveness
Ever flowing without end
So I bow my heart before You
In the goodness of Your presence
Your grace forever shining
Like a beacon in the night

Some songs just stick in your head. May this song be my prayer this week. This song is called, “Lord have mercy” by Steve Merkel. A good version of it is on itunes by Michael W. Smith.

Hearing the Silence

“Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him . . .” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NRSV)

Elijah heard the silence. It was not in the powerful rock-splitting wind that he found God, it was not in the ground-shaking earthquake, it was not in the blazing fire that Elijah heard God’s voice, but he heard God in the silence.

Elijah flees to the wilderness scared for his life—he is the only prophet left in Israel. The people have turned to other gods. In this solitude God speaks to him not with the might he shows in controlling creation, but in the tenderness of the silence.

Most of us are bothered by the silence. It makes us uncomfortable. In classrooms or meetings, if someone is not talking we get nervous, we squirm in our seats. He feel we need to answer or talk. But perhaps the truth is not in the noise or the answer, but in the spaces between the noise, the spaces between the answers.

We are uncomfortable with the silence because we are uncomfortable in the presence of God—it reminds us of who we are and who He is. We are uncomfortable, because God is the Truth, and we rather build a tower of lies. We are comfortable in the shadow reality of our own truth and not in the Truth of the silence.

Strip away the noise and the untruth around us, so we can hear the silence.

Turn up the Signal, Wipe out the Noise

“Send out the signals deep and loud
And in this place, can you reassure me
With a touch, a smile – while the cradle’s burning
All the while the world is turning to noise
Oh the more that it’s surrounding usThe more that it destroys
Turn up the signal
Wipe out the noise” (Peter Gabriel, Signal to Noise)

How do we hear God?

I sometimes get the impression that we view ourselves as the Verizon wireless man? You know the guy that wears the telephone repair suit and walks all around the country asking, “Do you hear me now? Do you hear me now?” We might believe that we can talk to God or at least say we do, but I often get the impression that most of our prayers and conversation with God is in doubt. Deep down we question whether God can really hear us?

I actually think it is the opposite? I think God is the Verizon wireless man, and he is constantly on the phone with us, and with His supernatural wireless connection asking us, “Do you hear me now? Do you hear me now?” God is speaking to us constantly. His life-changing breath/spirit is whispering in our ears awaiting to tingle them, if we just remove the distractions in our life. God is sending out his deep and loud signal to us, yet we turn on the noise and distractions of this world.

Look at all the noise we put into our life. How often are we in the car without the radio, at home without the television on? We now walk around with mobile phones filling any potential quiet moments with more noise. We don’t take the time to turn the noise off and listen to God. It is no wonder that most of us struggle to hear him, we are drowning out His voice.

Turn off the noise. Turn up God’s Signal

Word of the Lord in your Mouth

So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.” 1 Kings 17:24 (NRSV)

The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:16 (NRSV)

If you say so. And here it is again. The verbal power and truth of God’s words. What God says happens. It doesn’t possible happen it happens. That is power of using the verbal word to create, sustain and destroy. It reminds me of the movie, “Dune” where the people are on a quest to learn the one word that has this power of life. When they master it, they win. It brings new meaning to the child rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Well, God’s words are more power than sticks and stones. And we know that words do hurt and they do comfort as well.

Words are so important. Let us not use them flippantly or causal, but carefully and reverently. My hope is that others may know that we are men (people) of God because the word of God in our mouth is true. My desire is that we can recognize the Word of God in other people. That we can be people that know when we hear the Truth and strive for it. If God says so, it will be.

If You Say So...

Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” Luke 5:5 (NRSV)

If you say so. Peter had heard the reports that whatever this man said came to be. Peter, a fisherman knew what he was doing, he knew there was no fish in the lake, but he also knew the reports of Jesus. So his response was, “if you say so.”

I don’t think we really believe Jesus. We really don’t believe what he says is going to happen. Even though we have all the evidence that everything he vocalizes happens. Do we really trust Jesus to fulfill his promises and his commands to us? He says go be fishers of men, but yet we hesitate to fish—to share our faith with people. Do we trust Jesus that people will respond, and he will catch men?

May our response to Jesus be like Simon Peter’s, “If you say so.”

Deep Thoughts from a Dentist Chair

I just came back from the dentist today. I haven’t been in awhile. I had several thoughts that occurred to me while I sat in that torture chair for 45 minutes.

(1) Trust: Why do I trust this person that puts instruments in my mouth that sound like she is excavating a mine shaft? One of the main struggles of being human is trusting in the sovereign God. Yet, I willingly and without much hesitation trust this person, whom I only met 5 minutes ago to drill, scrap my teeth. I can’t see what she is doing and as far as I know she could be planning to pull my teeth out one by one or carver her name into my teeth. Yet, I struggle to trust God, the creator and sustainer to run my life.

(2) Faithfulness: I always have the best intentions before and after I go see the dentist. A couple of days before I go on a strict regime of brushing/flossing my teeth just like they told me to do the last time I visited. After taking a brow beating about the state of my mouth, I pledge to brush softly and in little circles, to floss daily, and treasure my teeth for the gifts that they are. How long does that pledge last? It is like when we go on a retreat or pledge to God, I will be faithful and study your Word everyday. How many times do we make pledges to God with the best intentions but fail to keep.

(3) Stewardship: God has graciously and generously given me these teeth, yet I fail to be a good steward of them. I don’t take care of them and treasure them for what they are and allow me to do. What if I didn’t have my teeth? Life would be different. I need to be a better steward of the resources God has given me, therefore allowing me to generous give of myself.

(4) Justification: It is one of the best feelings have your teeth professional clean. They smooth, the look shiny and they feel shiny. There is a confidence you gain from having the freshness and healthiness in your mouth. Yet, no matter how hard and how diligent I clean them at home; they never feel the way they do after the dentist. It is that way with sin, no matter what I do; I can never take the stain or remove my sin. I can make it look marginally better, make it look and smell more socially acceptable, but it is only through the professional cleaning of Jesus that any of us are able to have that smooth and refreshing feeling of being clean by the blood of the lamb. There is a confidence and freedom after been cleaned by Jesus.

I had no idea that my trip to the dentist would be so fulfilling this morning. I should go more often.

The War on Christmas

The war on Christmas has been on the news lately (particularly Fox News). There is a sense of outraged that Christmas is being banned from American and that Christians are being forced out of the public arena. Here are examples of the battlefield around the country:

• In Illinois, state government workers were forbidden from saying the words “Merry Christmas” while at work
• In Rhode Island, local officials banned Christians from participating in a public project to decorate the lawn of City Hall.
• A New Jersey school banned even instrumental versions of traditional Christmas carols.
• Arizona school officials ruled it unconstitutional for a student to make any reference to the religious history of Christmas in a class project.
• Attorneys are working to educate library officials in Memphis about the unconstitutionality of their exclusion of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wise men from a nativity scene.
• Teachers at a Georgia elementary school reportedly were told to nix any religious pins and refrain from referring to a party as a “Christmas” party, while the local district has censored certain religious Christmas songs from its “winter” program.
• In Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Ridgeway Elementary School's "winter program" has changed the name of "Silent Night" to "Cold in the Night." Sung to the tune of "Silent Night," the lyrics include: "Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm."

Perhaps we should be concern with this “war”. But you know what I am more concern with is the Church proclaiming Christmas to the people of God and the world. Since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, many people and churches are faced with the dilemma of upsetting the family idolatry/consumerism of Christmas morning vs. keeping Christmas a holy day remembering God’s greatest gift. Seriously, what is the Churches telling the world about Jesus if we crumble under pressure and let Christmas become secularized.

Instead let’s be a people that redeems Christmas from the culture and celebrate what God has done and is doing for us. Are we willing to sacrifice some family traditions and secular customs to focus ourselves with our words and actions on Jesus at Christmas.

God is Giving

I love giving gifts particularly if I know the person is going to be excited about it. There is a joy about getting the reward of satisfaction knowing that the person loves the gift. I dislike (or yes, maybe even hate) gifts for the sake of gifts. It is amazing how easily we fall into the trap of giving gifts because it is Christmas and we ought to give a gift to that person. We ought to give to people because they have a need. We ought to spend time with people because we love them. I would rather spend the time with people that spend the time running around making sure I have the right gift for them or any gift for that matter.

The focus of Christmas quickly becomes how much I can give instead of how much God has given us. This frenzy of gift-giving is the anti-thesis of what Christmas is all about. It is not about our righteousness or worthiness to do the right things or to do anything, but it is about God’s generous and abundant love for us, that GOD GIVES himself to us.

This season let’s not worry about what we are giving, and what we are doing, but let’s focus on what GOD has GIVEN, and what GOD is DOING.

God doing is own thing.

‘If your heirs take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a successor on the throne of Israel.’" (1 Kings 2:4, NRSV)

"Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards,not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God." (1 Corinthians 1:26-29, NRSV)

God does things differently. I mean really, if I was writing a story or planning to motivated a people, I wouldn’t do it they way God has done. He allows the people of Israel to try to do it they way. He allows them to try to be the King of God’s Kingdom (that phrase seems funny, to be the King of what is God’s). God didn’t want to established his throne with anybody else buy himself, because He alone is King. But he goes along with our plan, he allows us to see how it is going to work out. He allows us to live out the natural consequences of our choices.

So even in David’s remarks to Solomon as he passes on the Kingdom. David tells Solomon that if he leads the people to be faithful and if they are faithful after him, than your throne will last forever, and your family will always have succeed the throne. This is so comical, because not even Solomon can keep hold of that promise. And the history of Israel’s Kings is one of failures with a glimpse of faithfulness.

God does things differently doesn’t He? So God knew all along that our plan was going to fail, but he had the patient to see it out. Then he finally decides to put an end to it and to regain the throne that is rightful His all along. Does he send a mighty and powerful King. No, He comes as a humble baby, born with animals, poor and outcast. The King comes as what is low and despised in the world. This mighty and powerful God comes as a baby. Yet, we should be still should be frighten—because one day this babe will be the judge.

God does things differently doesn’t He? I mean wouldn’t you come as a might and powerful King, backed by a mighty and powerful and take the throne of this World by force. I wouldn’t come as a helpless baby—a helpless poor and seemingly insignificant baby.

In this season, let’s be thankful that God does things differently.

Distorted Mirrors

I went to look at a Nursery school today. I don’t know if I am overly-protective, or overly sensitive but I have not been impressed with Nursery schools. I am supposed to send my child to these one of the schools where they don’t seem equipped to handle or nurture my child.

Beyond my over-protectionism, I was horrified with what I saw. This nursery school was created by the church that it resides in as an outreach to the community. And as I listen to the Nursery school director and asked him about teaching the faith in the school, she seemed like that was a crazy question. They don’t integrated faith into the school because it is an outreach. Huh? What kind of outreach is that? She stated very confidently and proudly that they celebrate all faiths, all traditions, and all families. If this was a secular school, I would have understood this philosophy, still might not want my child to go there, but understood it nevertheless. But this was a church based nursery school.

Basically the outreach they are doing is telling everybody that everything is okay. Instead of pointing people to the Living God and Truth of Jesus, they are holding up a mirror to people and telling them okay. Except the mirror they are holding up isn’t a mirror that reflects reality, it is a mirror that reflects falsehoods and lies so that people aren’t offended by what they look like.

Is the church too scared in this world to identify what we look like? Are we too scared and frightened to see what is actually in the mirror of this world to react? Or are we courageous enough to stand in the light of God and see the true reflection of who we are, and allow God to transform us into who He wants us and has created us to be.

If the church is giving up the Truth, who will preserve it?

Needless to say, Andrew is not going to that nursery school.

The Eyes of our Heart

"He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a true heart." (2 Chronicles 25:2, NRSV)

"He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper." (2 Chronicles 26:5, NRSV)

"So Jotham became strong because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God." (2 Chronicles 27:6, NRSV)

"And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people; for the thing had come about suddenly." (2 Chronicles 29:36, NRSV)

It is hard to miss the point in the story of all the kings in Chronicles. Be faithful to God, follow Him alone. It hits you over the head like a hammer. You even start to wonder how did the people of Judah and Israel miss it. Could they not learn the lesson of history of stay faithful and true to the Lord instead of turning to their own ways and false gods.

It is easy to shake our head at other people’s faults and failures, but it is hard to recognize our own. Our broken hearts and broken minds easily stray from God and his purpose. They easily stray from our divine creator and his destiny for us. I can understand Judah and Israel, because I am so easily marvel at other people’s ability and even my own—that I forget to recognize God in the moments of my life. It is God that provides makes things good for those that love Him.

Then even when we are doing right on the surface for God, our hearts can be in the wrong place. I love the first quote that I posted today about King Amaziah that he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, but he did it without a true heart. How true that is: I am such a reluctant giver. I am such a reluctant lover of God in my heart.

I am reminded this morning that it is only through God that we are able to accomplish anything. Our job is to focus on Him. Our mission is to have a true heart that seeks to Love Him. Only then we will do what is right in the sight of the Lord, and only then will provide for us his immense blessings.

My prayer this morning for all of us is from the song by Paul Baloche:
“Open the eyes of my heart Lord
open the eyes of my heart
I want to see you
I want to see you”

Thinking Outside Our Community

“Likewise when foreigners, who are not of your people Israel, come from a distant land because of your great name, and your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm, when they come and pray toward this house, may you hear from heaven your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigners ask of you, in order that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built." (2 Chronicles 6:32-33, NRSV)

Thinking outside the box! Does this surprise any of us. That Solomon, the great wise Solomon, prayed for foreigners of Israel to know God. We often think that evangelism or spreading the Good News of God is only a New Testament (particularly, Paul thing). No, not really at all. God has his sights on everybody since before the creation of the world. The reason that Israel is God’s chosen people is not because they did anything special or deserve to be chosen, but because God chose them to bless everybody. That is the essence of the covenant with Abraham: To bless the world. So here it is again, after Solomon has completed the temple, he turns and prays to God. He asks for God’s mercy when the people turn and sin; he even states that he knows that they will (6:36, there is no one who does not sin). Then Solomon even asks when foreigners turn and repent and come to you, be merciful to them and give them what they want.

That is thinking outside of you community. We have the greatest news, that God came down to earth to reside with us. He is not contained with a temple, but He walked among us and still is present with us. We are called not to keep them information that news to ourselves or within our own community be we are called to bless the world with that news. As Isaiah puts it we are to cry out to the world that Jesus is Lord!

“When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin, because you punish them, may you hear in heaven, forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send down rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance." (2 Chronicles 6:26-27, NRSV)

Even Solomon puts in his prayer asking God if the people confess his name. That is the whole ball game right there: confessing God’s name. Confessing that Jesus alone is Lord and Solomon opens it up just as God did from the very beginning to people outside the chosen community.

“because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NRSV)
How eager how we to share that Good News? If Solomon, who was the wisest person, who God was with (1:1), had it in his heart to share the good news with foreigners, with strangers, why do we struggle with this? If we are to be viable (what a lame word that is), if we are to be life-giving, life-sustaining, we are to tell (verbal) about Jesus. Why do we hesitate with such wisdom? Let us starting thinking outside our community, outside our church. In doing that we become the people, the church that God has created us to be.

One last comment this morning: Look at Solomon’s question below.

“But will God indeed reside with mortals on earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!" (2 Chronicles 6:18, NRSV)

God’s plan is even better than that Solomon! God decided not just to reside with mortals in the temple on this earth. God doesn’t to be one of us, to walk with us, to know our world through our eyes. We have a God that not only resides, but walks with us.

God's viabilty vs. Us

"King David said to the whole assembly, “My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great; for the temple will not be for mortals but for the Lord God." (1 Chronicles 29:1, NRSV)

"Take heed now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the sanctuary; be strong, and act.”" (1 Chronicles 28:10, NRSV)

"David said further to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and act. Do not be afraid or dismayed; for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished." (1 Chronicles 28:20, NRSV)

I am no King. I certainly am not Solomon, nor do I pretend to be. But these words were encouragement for me this morning. One of the themes in scriptures particularly 1 Chronicles is that when God is with you, who can be against you. Good things happen when you are faithful and worship God in all things. The key is walking with God allowing him to be with you.

Even when David allowed Satan to stand up against Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1); David decided to count his blessings seemingly for his own glory and not God’s, David was quick to repent and even recognized that God’s mercy is greater than any human’s.

In this time as we try to establish Christ Presbyterian Church to be more “viable”, we need to define what does “viable” mean? Does it mean that we have enough money? Does it mean that we don’t have to worry about reaching out to our neighbors because we are do alright by ourselves. Or does it mean having God with us. We are not viable because of anything that we do. We are viable because of who God is. We need to learn a place in this world and in relationship with Him. We need to see his sovereignty in this world and to worship God and give God the glory for all things. Being viable means loving God and serving this world. If we do that…if we “Be Strong and Act” with the confidence that “God is with us.”—then we will be viable because God is viable. Viable really isn’t a strong enough word for God is it?

Dream Out Loud

"When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream." (Psalm 126:1, NRSV

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." (Isaiah 61:10, NRSV)

And you can dream, so dream out loud. . . .
In dreams begin responsibilitiesAnd I can love, and I can loveAnd I know that the tide is turning 'round (U2, Acrobat)

God’s goodness cannot be imagine. God’s grace is not even the stuff of dreams. When God’s grace and salvation are generously spread over us and His creation, it will only be like the things we dream of. We an only begin to dream of his greatness and his sovereignty. The good news is that it is even better than our dreams.

Each night, when I put my boys to bed, I gave them a blessing that goes something like this: “May God protect you tonight. May you fall into a deep sleep and dream of God’s Kingdom and may you fall deeper in love with Jesus.” I wonder if my boys really do dream of God’s kingdom, I hope they do. I hope God provides them with those glimpse and dreams so that they do fall deeper in love with Jesus. When we experience his grace and presence in our lives, when we experience is Kingdom come now, he can’t help but fall in love with Jesus. And the cream of it all is that our dreams don’t even compare to the reality of His Kingdom.

I love the song Acrobat from U2, it is one of my favorites, and would be and my must have album—not many would include this song. But I love the line about dreaming out loud. God has given us the ability to dream and imagine His Kingdom coming, and our responsibility is to dream out loud. Dream so people can hear our dreams and experience just a little bit of the reality of God. I am not sure that is what they meant for this song, but it is what I get out of it.

May we be a people that God protects, that dreams out loud so the world can experience the Truth and reality of God. Come Jesus, come!

Best Laid Plans

"Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God burst out against us, because we did not give it proper care.” So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel." (1 Chronicles 15:13-14, NRSV)

Intentions are not good enough. Sometimes we have the best intentions or the best laid plans, but sometimes they are not enough. David was turning the people back to the Lord compared to Saul’s regime. He intended to bring back the Ark of the Lord, however, in his zest he forget the rules with the ark. He forgot that only the Levites were allowed to carry it. However, Saul was persisted, he made a mistake, and then he corrected it. He then brought the Levites in and had them sanctify themselves before he attempt to retrieve the Ark again. It worked the second time not because of David’s good intentions or plans, but because he was obedient.

I think at times at church we have good intentions, but we are not obedient to the process. We are obedient in keeping God the center and focus of our universe. He only becomes a part of the process instead of the process. We become more enamored in what we have planned and what we are doing (or what to do) than what God has plan.

Can we be a people that are repentant and correct our behavior when we realize that we haven’t been obedient to God’s plan and timing or will we push ahead with our plans?

Then in chapter 16 we get the bottom line of our task and God’s plan for us:

"Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of his salvation from day to day." (1 Chronicles 16:23, NRSV)

Seems so simply—point people to Christ. Can we start by point ourselves to Christ!

A Voice Say Cry Out!

A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” (Isaiah 40:6 NRSV)
What should I cry? This took me by surprise this morning. If I accept the premise of the question, then I accept that I should be crying out for something. If I should be crying out for something, what is my current situation in which I need to cry out from?
What should I cry? Help! Come Jesus! Those seem like relevant things to cry out in my life. It is easy how quickly I am geared to be self-centered. I just assume that I should be crying out for myself. Instead of crying to and for someone else.
That is just it. I should cry out for the benefit of others. I should cry out for the injustices in the world. I should cry out for those that can’t cry out. I should cry out for the Lord. In Isaiah 40, that is the bottom line. I (we) need to be crying out on the highest mountains the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news that God’s judgment is coupled with his grace; that God is going to tear through the heavens and personally intervene in my experience—in history. We need to proclaim and cry out to people the Good News that Jesus has come and will come again.
Lord, help me to cry! Help us!

Faithfulness in Advent

"So all Israel was enrolled by genealogies; and these are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. And Judah was taken into exile in Babylon because of their unfaithfulness." (1 Chronicles 9:1, NRSV)

"So Saul died for his unfaithfulness; he was unfaithful to the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord; moreover, he had consulted a medium, seeking guidance," (1 Chronicles 10:13, NRSV)

"And David became greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him." (1 Chronicles 11:9, NRSV)

"Then the spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David; and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to the one who helps you! For your God is the one who helps you.” Then David received them, and made them officers of his troops." (1 Chronicles 12:18, NRSV)

Okay, I get it—it is about faithfulness. But whose? Does God depend on our faithfulness to do his work? Does he only work through us or for us when we are faithful?

The mighty work and favor of David is not because of David’s might, but God’s might. Yet, David was faithful and devoted and walks with God. Our faithfulness matters. The question is: are we faithful because allows us to be faithful and are we unfaithful because God hardens are heart? I think the answer probably is yes and no. Yes, in some ways that is probably true. No, because that is not our experience or at least they way we should perceive our life.

That question is almost relevant. What we are to take away is that we are called to be faithful and when we are God works for us (really for him—because we are only do his work when we are faithful). So how can we be a church or a people that is faithful? Is God with us or are we being put into exile?

Faithfulness is rooted in being the people that he calls us to be: mainly Loving God by Loving our Neighbor. Faithfulness is recognize God an focusing on God in all things. In this Christmas season (which really is Advent season) the world or moreso Satan is attacking the truth and distorting our focus. Instead of focusing on the importance of preparing our self for the once and future King we are allow ourselves to be deceived by the glitz and hurriedness of the secular season of Christmas. What if we were a people that was faithful to the Word of God and live out the Advent season of our lives: Preparing the Way for the Lord.

The Call of a Waiter

From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4 (NRSV)

I dislike waiting. I am not very patient. Amusement parks annoy because you have to wait in line for hours to go on a 3 minute or less ride. Waiting on the internet or a computer is perhaps the most frustrating. Or waiting in traffic—there is no escape. Waiting in can be so painful and challenging.

Yet, there it is…God works for those that wait for him. Yikes! You mean I have to be a waiter (check out this play on words—God calls us to be waiters: being a person that waits for him, and that serves other people). You mean the thing that I struggle with the most is what God is calling us to do—to wait!

Do I wait for his will to be revealed? Do I wait to see what God is doing? Do I wait patiently for him and allow him to do the work or do I just do it.

The call of being a waiter. Argghh. However, The promise is great—He works for us that wait for him.

Lord, help me to be a waiter—to serve your people and to wait for you to work. Grant me patient.

Potter and the Right Path

I went to see Harry Potter last night. I have to admit I am a Potter junkie. I can’t get enough of the stories and movies. Every time a movie or book comes out, I rush to read through it all and then go through a period of withdrawals. Good movie, but it strips a lot from the book for the sake of time. If you haven’t read the book (which are they any people out there) I don’t see why you would see the movie.

Anyway at the end of the movie, Professor Dumbledore (the father, wise figure) tells Harry, “we have two choices now, one that is right, and one that is easy.”

Which path are we going to take? The easy one or the right one. It seems hard to determine which is the right path for us to take. However, it isn’t really hard to determine which path is easier. I am not saying that the easy path is always wrong, but at times it is how we escape because the right path is too difficult.

In our culture today, we avoid conflict—at least living in the conflict. We are pretty good at entering into conflict and creating conflict, but we are not very good or eager to live and process through that conflict. It is easier to avoid it and just demonize the other side of conflict, instead of trying to reside and reconcile in the conflict.

The right path is difficult, it is counter-cultural. The right path takes us down a road that seems impossible or too difficult. The right path leads to God and is led by God.

Does Jesus identify with me?

Ezekiel 34:16 (NIV) I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

Matthew 25:40 (NRSV) And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

Does Jesus identify with me? He clearly identifies himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, the sick, those in prison. He lists all those people as his family. But does he identify with me? Am I a member of his family? Am I one of those people that he would stand by and say I am like this. In Matthew and Ezekiel he clearly identifies with the poor and the forgotten in society. However, I’m not necessarily one of those people. I don’t really identify with those people. There are different from me, and I feel awkward around them. How can the King of Kings be one of them?

That is the question, yet from the very beginning, Jesus (God with us), identifies with the humble of the world. He entered this world in a stable; in a feed trough for animals with the only visitors initially were shepherds. He entered this world in the lower class and he left this world alone, dying on the cross.

Isn’t that the problem for most of us. It is not that Jesus doesn’t identify with us, it is that we don’t identify with Jesus. We don’t get what Jesus is all about. When we start seeing how Jesus sees the world, we start entering into his will and identify with the people that he does. We can look at the homeless, the hungry and hear their stories and realize they are not that different from us. Really the only difference is a thin line of grace. The sin of my arrogance is to believe that I have what I have because of myself and not because of the grace of God. Yet, even with God’s graciousness he identifies with the have-nots. It is not that we are different than the poor and the down-trodden; the problem is that we are different than Jesus.

Lord, help me to have your eyes, so I can see the world that you do. Help me to have the eyes of your heart, so that my heart may break for this world like yours does. Help me to use my hands and feet so I can serve the world that you serve. Help me to identify with you and your family.

Little Faith

Little faith. Sometimes I feel like I have little faith. Doesn’t God hear me, doesn’t he know what I desire. I cannot move the mountains with my faith, but Jesus says in Matthew 17, if we had the faith of the mustard see we could. How big is my faith then? How big is our faith? Do you really believe God is working in our lives? Do we really believe God has a plan and purpose for Christ Presbyterian Church? Will God bring revival to this church and to this community?

Lord, help my unbelief. Help me ignore the enemy at the door. Help me to ignore the distractions that Satan is putting before us. Help me to hear your voice. Help me to have the faith bigger than a mustard seed. Help me to let go of my will, so your will can consume me.

Lord, Come! Come and bring revival in our hearts so your name can be proclaimed.

Quotes from the Men's Retreat

“Relationship with God is a Journey not a destination.”
“Our purpose is intertwined with our personhood.”
“Sin is life destroying and life controlling”
“Surrender….take your life out of your hands.”
“Be a person in love with God’s presence.”
“God didn’t call me to be a success but to be a son (child of God)”
“God doesn’t need my help to run my life…”
“Live out today with the prospect of tomorrow not the past”
“If it is possible, I don’t need God…God dwells in the impossible.”
“What you cannot change, you must control, if you cannot control it, eliminate it.”
“God is moving away me from myself”
“What we know we must preach…we don’t have the luxury of being wrong”
“Does the Gospel with you or me?”
“What is trying to damage my relationship with God?”
“Jesus doesn’t want to be the center of my life, he wants to be my universe.”
“When it is beyond my ability, worship Him.”
Thanks Dwight!

Day with Thomas and my Boys

The imagination is amazing thing. My boys love Thomas the Tank Engine. This past summer Jessi and I discovered that a real (minus the talking) Thomas the Train tours the country and pulls passengers around. We knew it would blow Andrew and Joshua's mind to actually take a ride on Thomas. The past several weeks I had been giving hints to them, foreshadowing the actually event happen. I would say something like, "wouldn't it be great to ride in a train." and, "wouldn't it be great if Thomas could take us."
I believe God does this for us. He has dropped hints foreshadowing his great wedding banquet for us. He has joyful played with us letting us know what abundance is to come.
When the days seem long, when we seem to have had enough, may we remember the promises and covenant God has made with us, and await for our Thomas ride in the sky.

Dancing with Jesus

The Bride has made herself ready according to Revelation 19. What does it mean that they bride (us) are made ready? How do we make ourselves ready for the marriage to Jesus? The image of marriage to Jesus is powerful and one that we often overlook, our corporate relationship to Jesus is a like a marriage. A marriage works the best when the two parties are unified. In healthy marriages you can’t tell who is leading the dance. It is clear that Jesus is the head of the house and marriage. But he doesn’t lead with an iron fist. Our marriage to Jesus is like a dance, where good dances are stride for stride with each other, and they know each others next moves. The bride so unified with the groom can anticipated the next step or move in the dance.

How are we to be that unified bride that is stride for stride with Jesus in is work in this world?

The bride prepares herself by clothing herself with the righteous deeds of the saints. We are prepared for the wedding by doing his will. We are prepared for the wedding, by dancing with Jesus here and now. We are prepared for Jesus and the wedding, by being people that live out our faith in every moment.

Lord, help me to learn to dance with Jesus in this world. Help me to do the righteous deeds of the saints.

The Gospel of Generosity

The essence of the Gospel is that God is gracious and generous. It doesn't get more complicated than that. God generous gives of himself. He didn't need to entry in this world. He doesn't need us. Yet, He willingly entered this world and offered himself as a sacrifice. He gave his life for us. The is nothing more generous than giving your life. However, God didn't just give his life for one life or for two or even just 12. He gave his life for everybody, for all times. That is an endless and generous giving.

This morning I was reading in Matthew 15. It talks about how Jesus went up to a mountain and people kept bringing him the poor, the lame, the blind, etc. Jesus kept healing them for three days. He generously gave of his time and his power. Then with compassion in his heart, he decided to feed these people. The disciples break 7 loaves (7 being the symbol of perfection) So a complete or a prefected loaf was broken for 4,000 plus people. Yet, there was still so more left over. Jesus body was broken not just for 4,000 plus people, but for all Humanity. And when all is said and done, the we be left over pieces. He gives all of himself generously to us, yet he still always has more to give. Our gracious God gives abundantly and then some.

How are we to be like Jesus and be generous givers? What is our life to look like if we give abundantly and generously of ourselves? Things to think about during the season of stewardship.

Lord, Help me to give of myself generously. Don't let me hold back. The only thing I have to offer in this world is myself. Let me give myself, all of myself to you, to serve you. May CPC be a church that are generous givers.

Crumbs of Faith, Loaf of Doubt

I went to a local pastors' fellowship event today. I was encourage to see some many faithful and devoted followers of Jesus. We sang, prayed, and had communion together. It was a blessed event. Pastors' came from all over the theological spectrum (all evangelical). At one moment in our time together we prayed for healing for one of the man. Pastors' rose up to heal him and pray for his healing.

It is amazing when doubt creeps up on you. In this time of many blessings, I was doubting. Doubting God. Doubting God whether he would really heal this person or not. The man proclaimed healing upon himself--but I was worried about follow-up. What happens if the man's symptoms come back, what happens to his faith? What happens to the faith of these pastors who proclaim this healing?

Doubt it is an amazing thing. Without it, we wouldn't have faith. In Matthew 15, I read today about the canaanite woman asking Jesus for healing of her daughter. Jesus initial refuses, but she persists him. He acknowledges her faith and heals the person. Her faith was great.

Does doubt preclude great faith?

A crumb of a faith from my master's table overrides my loaf of doubt.

Lord, may I be a person that holds onto the crumbs of faith from your table. May CPC be a community that holds onto those crumbs as well. Thank you Jesus!

Seeing thru the details

Sorry about the delay in posting. I had problems with my firewall and cookies, all things too detailed for me. In fact I become too focused on the details and couldn't see the big picture at time. I don't know how much time I spent trying to solve the details that I became trapped in the box of all the little details.

Don't get me work the little details are important, but sometimes they distract us from the reality of the situation. In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about separating the sheep and the goat. The criteria he uses is those that care for the least of these compare to those that don't.

Those that feed the hungry, that give drink to the thirsty, that clothe the naked, welcome in strangers, that care for the sick, the visit those in prison receive eternal life. Hmm, sounds okay, but that is hard to do for somepeople or to do all the time. Perhaps the point is not always doing it, worry about what we are doing and what we are not doing, but perhaps we should be people that are so transformed by the Gospel of Jesus that our lifestyle, our worldview allows us to see through the details of people and see them.

Can we see through the details of the homeless, the drug abusers, the criminals? Can we see through the details of those that are different (are they really that different?)?

Are we able to see the details of the lowly and poor birth of an infant child and see the savior and the King? Can we see through the details of unwed pregnant teenager and see the virgin mother of our Lord? Jesus doesn't differentiate circumstances but he sees people that are broken and forgotten and He remembers them.

Lord, Let me be a person that remembers them and sees through the details. Help me not to be trapped by the details. Help me to have the eyes and ears that you have, so I can see what you see, and hear what you hear.