The Bible's Most Important Word

I love posting a seemingly random or controversial question on Facebook and allowing dialogue to take place.  The other day on Facebook, I posed this question: "What is the most important word in the Bible?" I got a lot of great responses. My favorite, perhaps, was wine, but I digress. Some of the most popular were love, trust, Jesus, grace, follow, and believe.  And all important words.  But I want to suggest (and open for more dialogue) another word for the most important.  The word is...

Redeem.

And maybe it comes as more as a concept than an actual word, but in that concept of redemption is love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, renewal, and yes, Jesus.  The over-arching narrative of the scriptures is how God is redeeming creation. Sin is at work in the world. We are broken people. Creation cries out and groans to be redeemed. Jesus is God's redemptive plan for creation. The mission of God has been working towards the redemption of creation. Jesus came to inaugurate the Kingdom of God and will come again for redemption and the Kingdom to be fully realized.

Two books I've read that do a great job of showing this are The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible's Grand Narrative by Christopher J.H. Wright and Announcing the Kingdom: The Story of God's Mission in the Bible by Arthur F. Glasser. I would recommend either for someone to read to grasp the scope and unity of the Bible.

If you could pick one word for the most important word in the scriptures, what would it be? Redeem? or something else?

Living Like Lazarus

I've been thinking lately about Lazarus in John 11. You likely remember the story- Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, gets sick and ultimately dies. Jesus was called to come to Lazarus before his death but decided to stay put- leaving Mary and Martha filled with grief and maybe frustration at Jesus for not coming sooner because they believed that Jesus could intervene in Lazarus' sickness. In verse 43, Jesus calls Lazarus out of the tomb, and to everyone's amazement- Lazarus came back to life and emerged from the grave. While we get a few glimpses of Lazarus in John 12- after that we don't hear from him again. What happened to Lazarus?

He died.

This friend that Jesus loved and brought back from the dead ultimately died a second time- this time for good (physically). The question I've been pondering is this: Does the fact that Lazarus died lessen the impact of Jesus raising him from the dead? My answer is no. God still worked in miraculous ways to bring healing into Lazarus' life through Jesus- but the bottom line is that Lazarus was not going to have a physically immortal life.

This brings us to the present day. What does it mean to pray for healing in someones life? How do we respond when we believe that healing has taken place- yet our loved one gets sick again? I have a friend who was diagnosed with cancer and began treatments for the cancer. While he pursued medical treatment, his church family surrounded him with prayer. At one of his check-ups- the scan showed that the cancer was completely gone. The doctors even expressing surprise about the results. The churches and Christians who had been praying for him gave thanks to God for the healing that took place. A year later he was dead as the cancer returned- more aggressive than before. We mourned the loss of a friend and some questioned God about whether healing really took place. Did healing take place- my faith says that it did. My faith says that God is in the healing business still today. Like Lazarus, my friend, at some point, would again die.

I've always wondered about what Lazarus' life was like after his resurrection. I can imagine that Lazarus was ready to tell the story of his resurrection to everyone he met. I imagine that he had a new perspective on living life and on following Jesus. The challenge for us is to live as those who are prepared to die...and to die as those who are prepared to live. You can throw out any cliche you want: Live life to the fullest, live like you were dying, life's short-play hard...the reality is that we likely won't get a second chance like Lazarus did- so we need to make the most of each day- to be satisfied in the presence of our God- and to share the story of how we were once dead (spiritually) but through Christ have new life now and a new life to come.

For those of us who know someone battling cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, or some other disease where we've prayed for healing- let's take each day as a gift from God. Each moment as an opportunity to experience the joy of the relationships we've come to love. Let us realize that even a complete healing on earth will ultimately result in death- that through Christ we might experience true healing where sickness and death will be no more, where we will experience healing from our sinful nature, and where we will be made new. (Revelation 21:4-5)

The Mission of Jesus: Monday Follow Up

Yesterday, we began our summer sermon series called, "The Mission of Jesus" where we will be walking through the Gospel of Mark and examining the life and mission of Jesus as we consider how we are to live as disciples and as a church.  This Sunday, we began with Mark 1:1-15 and focused on verse 15 where Jesus says that the Kingdom of God is near.

One area that we did not get to spend a particular amount of time with was Jesus' baptism in v. 9-11.  When Jesus comes out of the water, he sees the heavens torn open and hears a voice declaring, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." Mark tells us that the Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan.

What is important in this passage is that before Jesus could fulfill his mission, confront Satan, and bring about redemption- Jesus had to know to whom he belonged.  The declaration that Jesus is God's Son is the assurance and certainty that whatever happens Jesus has confidence that he is God's Son and loved.

We need that assurance as well.  We need to know that when we encounter the wilderness, when we encounter trials and temptations, when we encounter the storms of life that we are children of God.  We need to have confidence in the fact that God loves us.  When we grasp that we are children of God, that God loves us as God's own- this can carry us through all that live throws at us.

As you go about your week, remember whose you are so that when you face trials of any kind that you can have assurance that you are a child of God.

A Hypocritical Christian?

What does your life (actions/words/choices) say about your beliefs?

I've been wrestling with this question for a few weeks now.  Sure, many of us would say that we base our actions, words, and choices on our belief in God and what we read/study in the Bible. As Christians we seek to follow what the Bible lays out.  Fair enough.

But when do we become hypocritical in our beliefs and our walk as Christians?

This isn't as negative statement as it sounds...simply, how far do we go to actually live out the life that Jesus lived- and at what point do we say- "That's a really awesome way of life, but I'm not there yet?"  We all do this to one degree or another.  I certainly do this (so if you think I'm finger pointing- I'm pointing at me here!).  Here is some examples...

The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5):  In this passage we find some kingdom ethics or praxis.  Here are some examples:

• (5:21)While the Torah says "do not murder," Jesus says that anyone who gets angry at a brother or sister will face judgement.  How do we do with our anger towards other? Do we seek forgiveness and reconcilliation?
• (5:27) You've heard it said, "Do not commit adultery", but Jesus says that when we look at another person lustfully, that we commit adultery in our hearts.  How do we do with what we put before our eyes? 
• (5:38) "You've heard it said, "eye for eye, and tooth for tooth."  Jesus says that when someone strikes us, that we should turn the other cheek.  This is passivity- it's nonviolent resistance. Are we (Am I) are quick to embrace violence rather than finding nonviolent alternatives to our problems? (I could (and may) go into a longer post on what I think are some of Jesus' ethics regarding nonviolence and peace as a way for Christians to seek to live.  It's fascinating stuff- starting with this verse!) Some of this is most recently seen in Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the ways in which they brought about change without using violence.
• (5:43) "You have heard it said 'love your neighbors and hate your enemies," but Jesus says- "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  Wow.  I once heard that we pray for our enemies not because it necessarily changes the enemy (although it can), but because we are changed when we pray for those who come against us.  We begin to see them not as subhuman, but as people who are lost and hurting.  

I could go on with the Rich Young Ruler (Sell all you have and give to the poor) and other teachings of Jesus.

I've been wrestling with this because I believe that Jesus came not just to show us the way to eternal life with God- but that Jesus came to show us how to live right now.  When we live according to Jesus' example, the Kingdom of God is revealed here on earth as it is in heaven.  It may only be a short glimpse, but that glimpse can begin to change lives.  This glimpse of the kingdom can bring reconciliation between sworn enemies. It can bring together families who have been broken.  It can restore marriages.  It can heal racial and ethnic tensions and bigotry.  Does this sound idealistic? Only because it is so foreign in our day and time. 

Check out this passage from 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  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 people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 We have a ministry, as Christians, to bring people to a place of reconciling with God and with our neighbors.  We do this by living as Jesus lived.  By taking seriously his teachings and example.  When we do this, change can begin to take place in our families, communities, and the world.

So where does your hypocrisy kick in?  It's ok to admit it- in fact, we probably need to do some confession in our churches and 'fess up to our hypocrisy.  Let's face it- churches are full of hypocrites, and I am one of them.  Churches are for hypocrites.  The hope is that in the context of community that we will become less and less hypocritical and more like Jesus.

Feedback:  What is a saying or teaching of Jesus that you have a hard time embracing? Use the comments for some discussion!

Take Off Your Grave Clothes

 Yesterday in worship, we looked at John 11:1-45- the account of the death and resurrection of Lazarus.  What I found particularly interesting in the passage is that when Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb- back to life- that Jesus told some people nearby to "Unbind him, and let him go."  Lazarus was given new life and yet, he still needed the help of the community to embrace the new life and take off his grave clothes.

•  We might be surprise at the people around us who stink like death because they are not surrounded by a community who will help the remove their grave clothes.
• We may have been given new life in Christ, yet we still allow sin to be part of our life.  We have a habitual sin that we just cannot shake...We keep the grave clothes on!  This is why confessing our sins is so important- we break the bound of secrecy and invite others to help us take off our grave clothes by holding us accountable and praying for us.
• Heard the phrase "so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good?"  By raising Lazarus, Jesus accentuates that this life matters. Our everlasting life with God begins when Jesus becomes our Lord and Savior. God has a purpose and a plan for our lives...to live out resurrection and invite others to experience resurrection for themselves.

This passage is a hopeful reminder about what God is doing through Jesus...and is a foreshadow of what is to come.  If Jesus can bring Lazarus back from the dead, surely he can do the same for himself----and for you and me!

Lazarus needed help taking off his grave clothes...just for fun, where were Jesus' grave clothes?

Sunday Follow-Up: Jesus and the Blind Man (John 9)

Sunday's message focused on Jesus' encounter with the blind man in John 9.  This man was blind from birth.  Blindness is the inability to perceive light.  While this man was unable to perceive physical light, he clearly "saw" Jesus, who is the Light of the World.

Keep Moving

(I'm using Youversion to read through the Bible in 2011.  I'll be posting thoughts here on the blog and on my Youversion profile (www.youversion.com/users/lamo5973) I hope you'll join in on some discussion!)

Genesis 12 (The Message)

Abram's father, Terah, had originally set out from Ur of the Chaldees to the land of Canaan (Gen. 11:31). But when he got as far as Haran, he settled his family down there. In chapter 12, God calls Abram to leave his family and country for a new land- the land of Canaan- the place where Terah had originally set out for.
Terah settled down before reaching his destination. Abram "kept moving, steadily making his way south, to the Negev." (Gen. 12:9).
The ability to "keep moving" is so important to our spiritual life. Abram knew that God had called him and "kept moving" in order to fulfill that call. Abram did not allow himself to settle down. He probably had his opportunities. In Egypt, Abram became a very rich man- but because of his deceit of Pharoah, Abram was kicked out and put back on the move.

We need to keep "keep moving" in our lives. If God has called us to something, we need to keep moving until we get to where God is leading.  Settling down before reaching the goal is not what God has called us to. We should recognize that things in our life happen in order to help us to "keep moving." As we grow as disciples, we should "keep moving" in our study of the scripture, prayer life, fasting, and service so that we do not become stagnant but become vibrant disciples of Jesus Christ.

Hope Now

"What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven- and the future starts now.  God is keeping careful watch over us and teh future.  The Day is coming when you'll have it all--life healed and whole."
                                                                                       1 Peter 1:3-5 (The Message)

My devotional reading today came from AW Tozer. He writes,

"Brethren, we have been born of God and our Christian hope is a valid hop! No emptiness, no vanity, no dreams that cannot come true.  Your expectation should rise and you should challenge God and begin to dream high dreams of faith and spiritual attainment and expect God to meet them.  You cannot out-hope God and you cannot out-expect God.  Remember that all of your hopes are finite, but all God's ability is infinite!"

As a husband, father, Christian, and Pastor I am claiming that promise that the future starts now! That hope starts now! That God will give me dreams of faith and spiritual attainment- and they will be greater than what I could have dreamed of myself.

Yesterday at Hope we participated in laity Sunday.  Our lay leaders, Ben and Shelly shared from Luke 18 and the persistant widow and how the wicked judge granted her request because of her persistance.  Yet God is not like a wicked judge! God desires to reveal his love for each of us! God desires for us to rest in his grace and mercy!  God desires for us to dream big because we serve a big God!  Sometimes my prayer life reflects my little faith.  I want to pray- expecting that God will answer my prayers!

What are your prayers for your faith walk?  What are your prayers for your family? For your church?  Are you praying based off of your finite hopes or praying to our infinite God?

Cannot Help But Speak

I'm preaching on Acts 1:1-8 this week as we continue looking at pictures of the Church in the Bible.  This week, we're talking about being a church focused on sharing what we've seen and heard regarding Jesus.  Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

This is the another example of the Great Commission to go into all the world to proclaim the good news.  The disciples are called to share this testimony to the ends of the earth- and they do this through the power of the Holy Spirit.  As I read Acts, I am struck by Peter and John in chapter four who, when told to quit witnessing about Jesus said;

"Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

This is such a change from the Gospel accounts where the disciples fleed Jesus when he was arrested.  Peter even denied knowing him.  Yet here, filled with the Holy Spirit, he (and John) declare that they cannot help or stop speaking about what they have seen or heard.  Their lives have been changed and they want everyone to experience the same thing that they have!

This passage is challenging.  We live in a culture where it is often much easier to remain quiet about our faith.  We use the "Preach the gospel at all times, when necessary use words" as a defense to our silence.  Yet, if our lives have been changed by God- if we've experienced unmerited grace and mercy- if we've been healed, restored and redeemed- how can we stay silent?

My prayer for myself, Hope Church, and the Church around the world is that the Holy Spirit would so flood our lives that we will not remain silent about God's love and salvation available through Jesus Christ.





The Importance of Story

I was thinking about the importance of story.  I was watching the newest Star Trek that came out a while back.  It is the remake of the original series of Star Trek movies.  As I watched, I was captivated by the back story of James T. Kirk and of Spock.  Amidst all the special effects and nostalgia of the movie, it is the story of the people that drew me in.  One could not help to be pulled in to the opening sequence of George Kirk piloting his ship into the enemy craft to save his wife and newly born son, James.  While Spock showed no visable emotion when his mother died, I certainly wanted to.  It was exciting to see Leonard Nimoy reprise his role of Spock (from the future) during the movie.  In contrast, what made Transformers 2 such a bust was the lack of emotional connection with the story.  While the movie had great special effects and I loved seeing the Transformers come to life, the story was lacking.

In the Church, we cannot ignore the importance of story.  While this is certainly nothing new, as Church
leaders we must continue to tap into the rich stories that reside in our communities.  As Christians, we are each invited to participate in God's grand narrative.  From Genesis we can see how God has been at work redeeming creation- leading to the Incarnation of Christ, to the Cross and the resurrection.  We now live in the days where we wait God's full redemption of Creation- and have a role to play in this great story.

In great and small ways, people in our communities are living out this grand narrative of God.  Just as a great movie draws in the viewers- the stories of God's redemptive work has the ability to speak to those who have heard of God's saving love for humanity.  We need to tell the story- the story of Christ and the Cross, and our own stories of how our lives have been transformed by the cross.

What are some effective ways that the story of God's love and the transformation of lives has been shared?






   

Swine Flew

A look at this Scripture passage from Mark 5:1-17 in my Missional Preaching class has had me thinking since last Tuesday.  In the passage, Jesus encounters a man who is possessed by many demons (Legion).  The man is a raving lunatic because of this possession.  He lived among the tombs and no one could bind him.  Even when the townsfolk used a chain and shackles, the man would break free.  He would cut himself with stones and was clearly a danger to himself and those around him. 

When the man encountered Jesus- the demons realized who Jesus was and the power Jesus had.  The demons asked to be cast into the herd of pigs that was nearby.  Jesus gave the demons permission and they entered the pigs and the herd (numbering 2,000) rushed over a cliff and into the sea where they drown. 

The formally demon possessed man was know in his right mind as the town folk came out to see what had happened. When the town folk realized that they had lost their pigs, their source of food and income, they told Jesus to leave.

Here are some thoughts on the passage...

1.  The townfolk wanted their pigs more than they wanted transformation.  Seeing the demoniac transformed and in his right mind had to be an amazing sight.  Yet, there was fear in the midst of transformation.  The people would rather have the status quo (pigs and a lunatic in the graveyard) than transformation (no pigs and a transformed man).

2.  More people likely needed to be transformed in that town.  There may not have been more demon possessed people, but surely there were sick and crippled people who were in need of healing.  The fear that the town felt at the loss of their pigs and the transformation of the demoniac took away any opportunity for Jesus to transform other lives in the town. 

3.  How many times does fear keep us from being transformed?  This could be a personal question and a question to ask our churches.  How often do we tell God, "I don't know if I can give that up?" or "We've never done it that way before" ?  Fear can keep us from experiencing the freedom that God has come to give us.  Do we like our pigs more than a transformed life?  Are we too comfortable with our 'little sins" and thus are unable to experience the fullness of a relationship with God?

The Church is to call people to Jesus Christ in order to experience holistic transformation in the lives of those who come through our doors.  There should be constant change in the midst of our congregations!  Change should happen in our lives...and because change is happening in our lives it will change the way we worship- and it's all because of Jesus!  Rather than fearing change, our prayer for our lives and our churches should daily be asking God to change us, transform us into God's image.  That is a change we can all hope for!

The Weakest Link

Pic- Jerry Lampen / Reuters

I was thinking back over the Winter Olympics the other day.  I'm not a huge Winter Olympics fan, but each night Andrea and I found ourselves watching the Olympics.  One of the events that I found intriguing was the Men's Team Pursuit Speed Skating.  I saw the final between Canada and America.  The sport consist of a team of three skaters who skate at the same time.  The skate in a single file line- trying to synchronize their motions.  At the end of the race, the attempt to skate side by side as they cross the finish line because the last skate to cross the line is where the judges count the time.  As the announcer said on the final lap, you are only as fast as your slowest skater.

It's like that in our Christian communities as well.

I hear and read much conversation about the freedom we have in Christ for various pursuits.  For example- I'm around Christians who enjoy a beer from time to time, and they are right in saying that the Bible doesn't prohibit the comsumption of alchohol (although it's pretty clear on drunkeness). Other areas are media consumption, language, and even co-habitating (we're not having sex, just living in the same house/apartment).  I think much of this is a backlash against legalism in the church as they strive to enforce a "Christian morality."

In Romans 14, Paul is writing about weak and strong Christians.  The weak Christians are those who are unable/unwilling to give up certain observances such as dietary laws or the Sabbath.  For Paul, and the strong or mature Christian- the taboos no longer apply- Yet if Paul or another Christian were to eat a food that was previous "unclean" in front of a person who is not at the same place as Paul- then Paul may cause the "weaker Christian" to stumble.  This is what Paul says:

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.  All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall."  (Romans 14:19-21 NIV)

For Paul, it was an issue of the food or wine that they drank.  There are issues today that we ask Christians engage in without consideration of how it affects the community we are in.  Is it worth having a couple beers if it causes a brother or sister to stumble/question their faith?  Does our sarcasm cause another person to sin?  I don't think we like to ask these sort of questions because we are very individualistic in America (and the West) and rarely consider how our actions affect our community- but they do! Paul says that we should make every effort to do things that edify (build up) our brothers and sisters in our community.

For me, that means denying myself of some extras in life that may be seemingly harmless, but may cause someone else to question their faith or mine.  Our lives are not our own.  They are a living witness and testimony to the God we serve and the faith community we participate in.  Our communities of faith are only as strong as our "weakest" participant.  The entire life of the community is to work to build up faith (edify) and to continually seek maturity in Christ. 

In what ways does your Church and/or your life build up and edify those who are "weaker" or less mature in their faith?  Do you actions/life put out a stumbling block or set the pace?

A Way of Life

Our love for God, our faith in God must be lived out through everyday words and deeds.  Faith is not an intellectual pursuit.  Certainly, we can think about God and ponder God's power and creation- but faith cannot stay in our head.  Faith overflows from our hearts into our everyday lives.  Our faith should be evident to the world by the way we love one another.

James says in chapter 2 that faith without works is dead.  1 John tells us that anyone who claims to love God but hates his brother or sister is a liar.  Jesus said that the greatest commandment was to love God with our entire being, and followed it up with another commandment, that we are to love our neighbors.  Our love of God, our faith in God must lead to a life of service.  We may serve out of a pulpit or in the school districts.  We can serve from the back of a garbage truck or in the CEO's chair in the boardroom. We serve our families, our friends, and are even called to serve (and love!) our enemies.  Christianity is not so much a system of belief as it is a way of life.

When the day comes for my funeral- people are not going to say, "Look at his grasp of Trinitarian Theology" or "Look at how much (or little, I'm a pastor!) money he made."  My hope is that they say "Remember how he loved God and how much Steve loved each one of us."

Show Me Your Glory

Having a 2 1/2 year old daughter is a lot of fun.  I love the opportunity to get down on the floor and play with her.  Just this morning, we played house in her Elmo Tent that she got for Christmas.  We would pretend to fall asleep and then she'd wake up to answer the phone.  What is really remarkable about Abbie is the way in which she studies Andrea and myself.  She touches our eyes, our noses, our mouths.  She copies the words that we say.  Even today, when I was cleaning the bathroom, she pretended to clean the bathroom right beside me.  Abbie is actively seeking to know her parents in the fullest and to learn from us all she can.

Abbie has learned about the many pictures of family throughout our house and we'll often go through each picture and name the people in them.  When I leave on roadtrips to school or other places, Abbie has a picture of me that she carries around.  When I'm gone, we'll talk on the phone and she'll tell me about her day in all her 2 1/2 year old details!  But nothing compares to being face to face, nose to nose is conversation with Abbie.  Phone calls cannot replicate what goes on when we are together.  Abbie knows this, as any child does, and desires for mommy or daddy to come home when we've been away because it's better to have a relationship face to face. 

In Exodus 33, we are told that Moses talked to God face to face as one speaks to a friend.  This is an amazing picture of a relationship with God.  Moses' visits we not filled with prayer request for sick aunts, lost dogs, or unsettled relationships.  Moses questions God and even reminds God that "this nation is your people."  Moses does not want to go anywhere without God's Presence because it is God's Presence with the Israelites that distinguishes them from the rest of the people throughout the earth.

Here is what is remarkable about this account- Moses asks for more.  He says, "Now show me your glory."  Moses already speaks to God as if speaking to a friend.  He wants more.  He hungers for more.  In boldness, he asks for me.  Now God knows better and says that Moses cannot see the glory of God (who could stand before God's glory??), but will allow Moses to see God's back.  From seeing the back of God- Moses is changed and his face becomes so radiant the the people are afraid of him.  Moses will have to wear a veil when he is around the Israel people. 

I am moved that Moses wanted more.  Moses want to know God in the most intimate of ways.  Moses sought after God each day, relating with God as a friend speaks to a friend.  If I'm honest, I cannot say this about my relationship with God.  Certainly, I desire more of God in my life, but reading this I find that I may not have the boldness of Moses to ask God to see His glory.  A.W. Tozer writes that "almost everyday of my life I am praying that 'a jubilent pining and longing for God' might come back on the evangelical churches."  It's time to pray for myself that I might know God as Moses knew God.  That God might place in me a longing and hunger for God's presence in my life.  That the Church would long to know God in this way.  I don't want to settle for a photograph from God, or a phone call- but a desire to know God face to face, as a friend speaks to a friend.

God,
I want to see Your glory.  I want to speak face to face with You.  Show me and the Church Your presence that we might not want to be anywhere else.  Give us a hunger and thirst for more of You in our lives everyday. 
Amen

"The man that has the most of God is the man who is seeking the most ardently for more of God..."
A.W. Tozer

Godly Sorrows Turns Into Repentance

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvaton and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."
2 Corinthians 7:10 TNIV

Paul is writing, again, to the Church at Corinth.  He has received word from Titus that the Church in Corinth has turned away from false teachings and turned back to Paul's teaching- the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul is aware that his previous letter caused the Church some sorrow or grief because he was willing to confront what he believed were to be false teachings.  He spoke truth, and in verse 8 he acknowledges that it "hurt" the Church in Corinth.  Yet, through some godly sorrow, some godly grief- those in the Church turned away from the false teaching- Paul rejoices because this godly grief led to repentance (which seems to be a theme on this second week of Advent)

How often, as Christians, Pastors, leaders, friends are we unwilling to cause a little godly sorrow or grief because we don't want to hurt someone's feelings?  Or maybe we're afraid that we'll come across as judgemental.  Or we don't like to rock the boat and are content to live with the status quo.  Does you ever find yourself in that place?  I have to admit that I do.

In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus says these words,

"If a brother or sister sins, go and point out the fault, just between the two of you.  If they listen to you, you have won them over.  But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Jesus tells his disciples and us that we are to confront our brothers and sisters in sin.  Why?  Because sin leads to death.  It leads to seperation from God.  Do we love our brothers and sisters enough to confront in love and grace?  Do we love our brothers and sisters enough to hope that they would confront us when we sin?

No one likes confrontation.  I generally try to avoid it.  But confrontation that Paul and Jesus speak about can work when it is done with love, grace, and prayer.  We must care enough for our church members and our friends that we are willing to speak up rather than keep quite in silent approval.

A while back, I had to deal with a situation of someone on a leadership team of a ministry I was leading.  It absolutely killed me to have to confront this person.  I was in tears because I loved and cared about this person as a friend and as a Christian.  After our meeting, I knew I had stepped on their toes.  I knew that I had caused them grief.  I wondered if I had gone too far. 

A few weeks later, in the middle of a Bible Study- this person spoke of that meeting and how it helped them come to a place where they could turn away (repent) of their sin and turn back to God.  I praised God that night that Godly sorrow could lead to repentance.  I praised God that the Holy Spirit worked in their life to bring them to a place of repentance.  I thanked God that God was showing me how to confront in love and grace because I care about the spiritual condition of the church.

So, let us as Christians, be encouraging to one another.  Let us speak words of life and grace into each others lives.  And when a brother or sister strays from God- let us love them enough that we would risk some godly sorrow that they might turn back to God.  Let us love our brothers and sisters enough that when we stray from God- that we will allow them to speak into our lives as well.

Site Preparations

"He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 'A voice of one calling in the desert, "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.  Every valley shall be filled in, every mountian and hill made low.  The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.  And all mankind will see God's salvation.'""
                                                                                         Luke 3:3-6

The passage from Luke is the beginning of John the Baptist's ministry- one calling people to repentance.  Luke quotes Isaiah 40 as John is one calling out in the desert to prepare the way for the Lord.  On Sunday, we're going to focus on how we prepare ourselves for God. 

Just outisde of Milford, a new shopping center is going up.  For the last several weeks/months, there have been heavy equipment on the property clearing brush, leveling the ground, and moving dirt.  These preparations are necessary for the buildings that will be placed on the properties.  This site preparation has a practical function.  There is another function of the site preparations- people begin to ask questions; "What's going on here?"  "I wonder what they are building?"  "When will they be complete?"  In a way, the preparation of the site is a marketing technique.  It piques ones interest in what is going on.  If it is a store or restaraunt that we enjoy, then we wait in anticipation for the construction to be completed.

The quotation of Isaiah and Luke speaks of a construction project.  The valleys will be raised, the mountains will be made low.  The crooked places will be straightened out.  The rough patches will be made smooth.  And everyone will see God's salvation.  These verses tell of a great reversal of nature.  The lowly will be raised up and the high and mighty brought down. 

Out near the Jordan River, John called people to prepare their hearts for someone greater.  He called people to prepare their heart by repenting for the forgiveness of their sins.  Repentance is more than a state of mind, or something abstract- it repentance requires action.  Repentance is turning away from sin and turning back to God.  Repentance clears the way for us to experience God's salvation.

On this second sunday of Advent- God is drawing near.  Jesus Christ, the Incarnate God, has come to earth and will come again.  Creation will roll out like a red carpet to note God's arrival.  Likewise, we too must have our hearts prepared and ready for Christ to dwell in us.

More

I was reading Ephesians 3:14-21 as part of my morning devotion time this weekend.  In the passage, Paul is lifting up a prayer for fellow believers- especially the church at Ephesus that they might comprehend how high, deep, and wide the love of God is.  In love, God desires to do infinately more that we could ever imagine in our lives, through the presence of the Holy Spirit at work in us.

How easy it is for me to forget this.  It is easy to go through my day on autopilot and not consider how immense God's love is for us.  I am guilty of going through my day and taking for granted the opportunities and encounters that God puts in my path.  I can miss opportunities to recognize how God wants to do even more in my life.  God wants to work more in my life, my family and in the ministry that God has entrusted me with.  I must not allow sin or anything else keep me from experiencing this love of God that desires to do more.

We're often taught to be content in our circumstances, not to be greedy, to be happy with what we have.  But I think when it comes to God's love- we should want and desire more each day.  When it comes to God's presence and power through the Holy Spirit- we should want more.  My daughter, Abbie, before she could really verbalize it, learned the sign for the word "more."  When she wants some more dinner, drink, kisses, and tickling- she signs and asks for more.  Like Abbie, as Christians we need to ask God for more.  We must put ourselves in a place to receive more from God.

Recently, I have had to look at my own spiritual life and realize that I am often a hindrance to the "more" that God desires to do in me.  As I begin to make some changes, I pray to know God even more; to experience God's Spirit in my life even more; to see the power of God manifested in ministry even more.

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever.  Amen."

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

 

Doing Church on Purpose

At Avenue, we're in the midst of our Stewardship Campaign with a series titled: "Living Under the Blessing Tree."  After two weeks, the feedback has been really positive as we stress generosity in all we do.  The messages for the last two weeks have been spot on.  I had the privilege of preaching during the first week which focused on Paul giving thanks for the church at Philippi at the beginning of the book of Philippians.  This week, the message came from Mark 2:1-12.  This is the passage of the four friends who dig through the roof of a home to lower their paralytic friend down to see Jesus.  Of course, when he gets lower, Jesus first forgives the paralytic of his sins, which causes a stir among the scribes.  So, Jesus continues to completely heal the man.  Everyone was amazed.

As I listened to the message, I considered some of the implications of the text for the Church.  Our pastor encouraged us that each committee, team, meeting, group within the church should regularly ask this questions: 

"How will what we do tonight in this meeting/group/study/worship service/etc. help someone get close to Jesus?"

That's really the million dollar question for us.  By asking this question, it helps us to refine our focus as we gather for council/leadership meetings.  It refines what we do in youth ministry or our music ministries.  This question holds us accountable to who and what God has called us to be.  Just as the four friends worked to get the paralytic man to Jesus, how will what we do in our churches help others get to Jesus?

Now, some might say that everything we do in the Church is intended to bring people to Jesus.  That might be the hope, but sometimes we do it without any intentionality or purpose.  If our meeting has a printed agenda- the purpose of that meeting should be typed at the top, taking into consideration about how the outcome of the meeting will help bring someone closer to Jesus. 

There is a warning to the church here in Mark 2:1-12 as well.  It is heart warming to see these four friends overcome obstacles to get the paralytic man to Jesus....but who were the obstacles?  They were the scribes, religious leaders, and others gathered to hear the message of Jesus.  In essence, they were the Church!  The gathering of people had become so focus on what was happening inside the house (Jesus teaching), that they were not aware of the needs right around them.

I read once from Erwin McManus that as a church, we have become content to look in the mirror when we should be looking out the window.  We (the church) can run into the trap of being so inwardly focused that we miss out on the needs of our community just outside our doors.  If the crowd that had gathered in Mark 2:1-12 had seen the four friends and the paralytic man, they could have made a path to Jesus and helped bring someone closer to Jesus. 

Are we, as a Church, so inwardly focused that we are keeping others from getting to Jesus?  Do we take time to stop and consider how our staff meeting, leadership team meeting, etc. are designed to bring people closer to Jesus?  Are we intentional about it? My prayer is that as Christians, church leaders, and teachers that we would do all we can to help people experience the love and grace of God through Jesus Christ.

This Is Only A Test

Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, we were on the eastern most edge of the famed "Tornado Alley."  Each spring, in school, we went through tornado drills and were reminded of the dangers of severe weather.  In 1985, there was a huge tornado outbreak in our area with 26 of tornadoes throughout Western Pennsylvania.  The tornado that hit Atlantic, PA was an F-4 and was about five-ten miles from our home.  It was certainly an unnerving day.  Because tornadoes were frequent enough, we learned the signs of bad weather.  I began to learn to see thunderheads forming off in the distant and know that later that evening we would have a storm somewhere in the area.

John wrote something simliar to his church in 1 John.  There had been false teachers throughout the area, and because of that a storm was brewing as his church was facing a split because of these "anti-christ."  Here in 1 John 4:1-3, John encourages his congregation to be aware of the signs of a false teacher.  He writes:   

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,  but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

                                                                                                        1 John 4:1-3 (TNIV)

John is writing to his church who is in the midst of a division that has been caused by some "antichrist" or false prophets who are teaching something other than what John has seen, heard, experienced and then taught this early Christian community.  He encourages them to test every spirit and that every Spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and is from God.  John encourages his congregation that they must keep in mind what they know about Jesus.  Jesus is God-in-Flesh and anything contrary is a false teaching.

In recent history, the Nazi Party used scripture to back the idea of Arayan supremecy.  The Ku Klux Klan uses Scripture to support their hatred and bigotry towards African-Americans.  We only have to turn the TV on to hear various teachings that claim to be Christian- some are various TV preachers and others are like Oprah who people listen to more than that Word of God. 

It is a struggle that, as a Pastor, that we have lost our knowledge of God's Word.  It is our anchor that helps to give us assurance in the storms that we face in faith and in life.  We live in a biblically illiterate society- and the Church must wrestle with the best ways to teach this members how to read God's word for themselves and to be able to "test the spirits" of all the teaching we receive- whether from the pulpit, television, or a book.  It is a little disheartening to me that many of our "Bible Studies" have become book studies by Christian celebrity authors where the Bible is never even opened up.  For the Church to move in power, we must ground all we do on God's Word.

How is your church teaching/studying God's Word?  Do you have Bible studies or Book Studies? 

Desiring God's Presence

"Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.  For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."    -Psalm 84:10-11

Have you ever had an incredible moment in God's presence?

Maybe it was a worship experience where God used a song to connect with your soul.  Maybe it was a Bible Study where the Word of God jumped off the page and spoke exactly to what was going on in your life.  Maybe it was a chance meeting with another person where you knew that it was a God moment.

I have those moments that were extraordinary, and have had other moments that seem rather mundane...but when it gets down to it, what I desire is those moments when I am in God's presence.  Dennis Kinlaw writes that whether a person realizes it or not, "...to be near God is the deepest desire of every human heart."  I think that is true.  We self-medicate because we are longing for something and cannot find anything to satisfy it.  I believe it was C.S. Lewis who wrote that we all have a God-shaped hole in our hearts.  We try to fill that God-shaped hole with the things of the world when only God will satisfy.

If it is our heart's deepest desire to be near God- and that we each have a God shaped hole in our heart- why do we try so hard to put a world-shaped peg in a God-shaped hole?  Why do we take our time in God's presence lightly?  

As we begin our week, many of us are looking at a week of stress, of meetings, family obligations, and the newest episodes of The Office...but my prayer to you is that you would long for God's presence this week.  That you would make the time to enter into the courts of the Lord...and in doing so, God may pour out His Spirit in your lives this week.