Celebrate Before the Lord

I read again today of when David dances before the Lord (2 Samuel 6) and was struck not by his dancing or his lack of clothing but by his response to his wife, who was disgusted by his show of emotion and movement that seemed inappropriate for a King. He told her that he will celebrate before the Lord (6:21).  It reminds me of the importance of celebration in the worship experience.

I am appreciating more and more the celebration that happens within the context of our community worship.  I can think back not too long ago when there was little expression of joy during worship but so much before and after in our conversation.  Why should we be afraid of expressing the celebration of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

Hebrews 12:22-24 describes the gathering of worship as the "thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly."  The gathering of the community for worship usually a time for celebrating who God is and what God has done.  That celebration should be joy filled and at least a little noisy.  We do this in other areas of our lives.  Why not when it really counts - gathering in the Name of the One True God! 

Do We Want God to Worship Us?

An amazing shift happens at some point on Sunday mornings at church for many people.  Although they claim to come to church to worship God, they end up asking God to worship them! 

"Wait, Kevin, you have gone too far.  You cannot actually imply that we, as mere creatures, ask God to worship us?"

Yes I do.  When we worship God we honor, love, adore and serve God, among other things.  Most of the songs we sing focus in on us doing that very thing.  But what we expect out of our experience is that God would (now listen carefully here to your own prayers) love us, and honor us by showing up, and serve us by doing what we ask.  We have flipped worship upside down and and made ourselves the object of Sunday morning.  The more we focus on ourselves as we enter into Sunday Morning community worship, the more we desire God to (careful here!) worship us.  It is subtle, but very real.

I would invite you to start looking toward your community worship experience this week and prepare to worship by putting your focus on who God is, not on what you want God to do for you.  It will be difficult because we have not been trained to think this way.  But we are not the creator, we are the creatures.  Let us worship God and not the other way around.

Responding to Sin

Here's a quote that got me thinking:

“Christians get very angry toward other Christians who sin differently than they do.” ~ Philip Yancey

Gets you thinking, doesn't it?  I suppose we respond by saying that all sin is seen equally in God's eyes as it separates us from God.  All sin has the same affect on an individual's relationship toward God.  Coveting, stealing, lusting, murder, lying, failure to love, failure to obey Jesus and adultery all have the same result of alienating God from our lives.  Of course forgiveness through the cross of Jesus heals that result.

But all sin does not have the same consequence in our relationship with others.  Some sin has long lasting results.  Some sins destructive actions cause what seems to be irreparable harm between people.  Christians tend to look at these sins as reprehensible (and almost unforgivable except by God) and we ostracize these individuals from the fellowship.  And we get angry.

We get angry because we are let down by someone.

We get angry because of the harm an action does.

We get angry because we characterize some sins as worse than others, and we don't do the "bad ones."

We get angry because we think if we would have been there to help, these actions wouldn't have happened.

Unfortunately our anger ends up being directed not toward the sin, but toward the very people who need us now more than ever, and we end up losing the opportunity to be not only the conduit of forgiveness, but the people who can help in the transformation of an individual's sinful behavior.

I rarely get angry anymore by sin.  I do get very sad, though.  Because when I experience another person's sin  I see the Deceiver winning a battle that the Holy Spirit could win if we would allow it.  I see what people could be in Christ and their sin is keeping it from happening. 

And it makes me very sad.

God's Challenge

Something simple today.  I am being challenged.  Not to a fight or one-on-one basketball.  Not physically or emotionally or even intellectually.  God is challenging me to think beyond what is comfortable for me in my own spiritual life, and in Judson's Ministry.  This year has been far from normal and I have bounced back more slowly than I thought would happen.  Satan's attacks have been constant and, honestly, I have allowed those attacks to distract me and defeat me.  But God is challenging me.

It's time to move forward.  It's time to live in faith and do ministry in faith.  It's time to take God's risks and fight the fight of faith.  God has called Judson to go beyond where it is and not to be satisfied with past actions of faith.  There is a greater vision to consider than what we have settled for.

I am being challenged.  So is Judson.  What will we do?

Appeasing God

1 Samuel 6 tells the story of the Philistines, who had captured the ark of the covenant from Israel.  They brought the Ark, which represented and maybe housed the presence of God, into the temple of their God Dagon.  The next day they found their idol face down before the ark of the covenant.  The next day the same thing happened and the hands and feet of their idol were severed. Over the next 7 months they moved the ark from city to city with disastrous effects on the population.

As they came upon God's judgment they decided they needed to get rid of the ark and give a guilt offering to appease Israel's God.  This, for me, is an interesting response to coming face-to-face with a more powerful God than your own.  Why wouldn't they recognize God as more powerful and turn toward him, instead of appease him?  Why be satisfied with a lesser god?  It doesn't seem to make sense, but I see it all around me.

How often do people choose they lesser "gods" instead of serving the God they actually fear?  Instead of obedience to God they try to appease God, seeking some way to make God a little less angry for the time being.  Once God's anger has gone away, it is back to life as normal, until the next time that God needs to be appeased.

That is a tough way to live, when we have the opportunity to live under the smile of God all the time!  We don't need to appease God's anger, that has been done by Jesus on the cross!  We simply need to turn toward God, the Great God, God Most High, and follow him.  That has got to be easier than finding creative ways to appease God's anger until we finally send God away from us, as the Philistines did.

Fear

I am astonished how often we live our lives and make decisions under fear. 

• We fear what others will think. 
• We fear that we will fail (or make a mistake).
•  We fear consequesnces.
• We fear picking the wrong people for ministry.
• We fear offending someone.
• We fear we will hear from God wrong.
• We fear every bad thing that could happen will happen.
• We even sometimes fear success.

Is that the kind of life and decision-making that we should be living with as Christians?

If Jesus lived out of fear he never would have left the Garden of Gesemane the night he was arrested, or taught forgiveness rather than law, or cleared the temple, or called the men he did to be his disciples, or went into the desert to be tempted, or even left his mother's side. 

Jesus lived his life out of divine appointment and obedience to what God wanted him to do.  With no fear.  I'm sure he didn't look forward to some of the things he had to go through or do, but that never got in the way of obedience. 

There are times that I focus more on these fears than plunging forward into the calling has for me or the church.  As we take the next steps into the ministry God has for us, we do so not out of fear, but in the exciting obedience of living life in God's will.  Let's live this Kingdom life together!

Asking the Wrong Questions

Why do people ask the wrong questions in regards to their faith?  In Luke Jesus is asked about taxes, marriage and the resurrection, authority and what will happen in the future.  All the while Jesus is telling stories about people who do and don't use the gifts they were given and watching a widow give out of her poverty.  Why does Jesus see what we often miss? 

We are too often focused on the theoretical and theological, as opposed to the action of the Kingdom of God.  We want to know what and why and how many angels can fit on the head of a pin.  We seek to be talked into doing what we have been commanded to do.  We need to discuss, argue and have conversation about things that have little to do with God's way of living instead of going out and living the Way of God and Kingdom of God. 

We also ask why we don't have 10 talents instead of the one we are given, instead of using the one we have been given.  In our jealousy or covetousness or insecurity we wonder why God does things in one place and not in another (or work through one pastor in huge ways and not in another).  That's being focused on the wrong things.  Maybe it is time to get back to the simplicity of using the talent we have been given until the King returns and not bury the talent or wonder why others have more. 

Questions are not bad.  It is how we learn.  But we need to ask the right questions AND go out and live God's life.  What are you focused on?  That's a good question!

Now That We Believe...

As Joshua's life winds down and he completes all that god has for him, he gives last instructions to the people.  To the 2 1/2 tribes that will go back to the east of the Jordon River he has these instructions:

• Love the Lord your God
• Walk in all His ways
• Obey His commands
• Hold fast to Him
• Serve Him with all your heart and soul

This list is so helpful to us. 

Loving God is not about the "feeling" of love but doing loving actions toward God because we love God.  It is a commitment not based solely on emotion (although emotion is included) but on a decision to love.

To walk in his ways is a way of life.  To have everything in our lives be done God's Way.

To obey is simply that: to do what God tells us to do without reservation or question.

To hold fast is to cling to God so that nothing can ever pry you away form God.

To serve God is both to actively worship AND to do those practical things that benefits the Kingdom of God.

Life with God involves more than just coming to church, but is living our lives immersed in God's Way, focused on God's direction, obedient to God's Word and connected to God's heart.  Now that we believe we need to go beyond church to life.

Called to Fight or Heal?

I am still reflecting upon our Men's Retreat and love the concept of the Band of Brothers.  As Joshua and his band of brothers were told to not be afraid or discouraged but to stand and be courageous as they conquered (let's be honest and say ruthlessly destroyed) those who stood in their way.  They charged into battle and took no prisoners as they did what God would have them do: taking the promised land where they would live.


The 72 Jesus sent out were told to deny themselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus as they went about healing the sick and proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was near.  If they were welcomed they would stay.   If they were rejected they would shake the dust from there feet and almost condemn the people of that town.


The Clint Eastwood in me likes the Joshua way.  But I know that we are not called to be Joshua.  There is no promised land for us to take.  Our promised land is being held in trust for us and the Holy Spirit was given partially as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.

Until we received that inheritance, we need to live the Jesus' way.  We must deny ourselves, being willing to give up our lives as a sacrifice for the Kingdom of God and follow the way of life Jesus has asked us to live.  As we live that life, we need to be healers (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc) who proclaim the Kingdom of God.  This may feel uncomfortable for some who think that God doesn't do certain things any more.  But we must remember that we follow Jesus, he doesn't follow us.  We put ourselves aside and follow whatever Jesus desires to do.  This may be more difficult than picking up a sword and charging into the line of battle in a rush of adrenaline.  Living for Jesus may be more difficult than dying for Jesus.  We must be willing to do both.

What Happens in Green Lake Doesn't Stay in Green Lake

I arrived home from Green Lake and Judson' Men's Retreat about 4 hours ago and am working through everything that we experienced.  Thirty-five guys worshiped, connected, played, shared, challenged one another, spent time with God and hopefully grew beyond where we were before the retreat.  I appreciate each of the men who were able to come this year because each man brings something that makes the weekend powerful.  Thanks guys for being my band of brothers!

I want to share some highlights with you, but you need to understand that there are some things that simply need to stay at Green lake.  Some just wouldn't translate.  You wouldn't get the joke or understand the conversation because you were not there.  Some things cannot be shared because our retreat is a safe place for conversation and honesty.  Masks are removed as we seek to meet with God and one another and we have pledged to keep those things that are said between those who were there.  But let me list some things to give you a taste of our time together:

1. Worship carries us.  We know that our time together is more about God than ourselves.  We may not all sing on key but we know worship is a key of our time together.
2. Michael Dimarco challenged us.  To be "one another" puts us in reciprocal relationships.  Did you know that bearing one another's burdens "fulfills the law of Christ"? (Galatians 6:2)  Did you know that confessing to one another is not a Catholic ritual but a scriptural command? (James 5:16)  When is the last time you outdid someone in showing honor? (Romans 12:10)
3. The small group time enabled us to work through these "one another" commands and some of the guys have agreed to continue meeting when we get home.
4. There were 7 generations of guys at this retreat, and the "young guns" invited the "old guys" to be in their small group.  Awesome!
5. God showed up!
6. This retreat could be called "The Year of the Donkey," because we learned if God could use a donkey to speak what needed to be said, he could use any one of us. 

I will leave the rest up to the band of brothers to share whatever they would like to share.   We often say "Whatever happens in Green Lake stays in Green Lake."  I hope that is not completely true.  I hope what we have been challenged to be comes home with us as we seek to be the church of one another!

God Guy

Our speaker for the retreat, Michael DiMarco, wrote in his book, God Guy:

"I believe that the God Guy is the strongest guy on the planet, not because of what he does but because of who he worships.  Everything he does is affected by the fact that he knows and is related to the most powerful being in the universe..." 

What a great way to begin a book, and a great way to go into a retreat with a bunch of God Guys, a Band of Brothers who support and challenge one another.  We are not perfect by any means, but we are moving toward a reality in which we decide that "God's Word alone defines who (we) are and what (we) do" so that we can find "everything (we) need for life, hope and peace."

I am looking forward to this time away.  I am open to becoming whatever God wants me to become, and listening to whatever God needs to tell me.   I desire to be one of the strong ones on the planet.  I can only do that when the One who I worship is allowed full access to me.  That's what this weekend is about for me.

Looking Toward Retreat

I am getting geared up for our Men's Retreat this weekend at Green Lake.  Part of getting ready for me this year is finishing one of Michael DiMarco's (our speaker) books called God Guy.  In writing about idols that we have in our lives he says, "God is more powerful than any other God you could find."  I know this.  I have known this.  But it is a good reminder as we guys head out to spend time with God and each other.

I expect the power of God to be present and that as we meet together. God will do powerful things in the lives of the men who gather there.  This has been proven over and over again.  The anticipation is growing daily as to what I will get a chance to see and experience at Green Lake.  But it is not about the place we meet.

The power of the experience beyond God's power is the Band of Brothers that gathers.  I have found this band of brothers to be essential in my own spiritual life.   They are there for me when I need to express doubt, disappointment, excitement, vision or anything (and I mean anything) that I experience.  They don't judge me they simply listen, care, pray, challenge, admonish and support.  They were there for me through my medical issues at key times, one brother being there at the very darkest of times. They are to laugh with me (and at me). 

This Band of Brothers is part of the power that God works through in our men's gatherings.  I look forward to being with my brothers.  We get to meet with God.  Together.  And see the power of God.

Weird People of Faith

There have been times in my life that I have been called weird.  Of course, those were mostly because of goofy things that I did that girlswould see and say, "You're so immature and weird!"  I never minded because I was enjoying myself too much to try and live up to someone else's definition of normal.

But I have known some people (and heard of people) who lived out their faith in weird (non-normal) ways.

• There is the family that bought donuts for the men who came to pick up the farm equipment that the bank was repossessing.  
• Or the woman who started a clothing exchange so that people could trade clothing they no longer used for clothing they needed. She turned her basement into a place to collect the clothes and washed the clothes that needed cleaning! 
• And the man who gave up a promotion because the money and prestige wasn't important to him.  
• A man who turned garage sales into an helping feed orphans in Haiti instead of new big screen TV for his family.
• Or the countless numbers of individuals who gave up what was important to them in order to serve others.

 In history there are so many - Mother Theresa, Martin Luther King Jr, St. Patrick and many others who decided that living the normal life was not what God would call them to live.  They lived the life of the Kingdom of God because that was what God asked them to do.  Their lives were beyond normal.  They were enjoying themselves to much to try and live up to someone elses standard of normal.  They were weird - in a good way.

Feeling A Little Pharisiacal

Sometimes I am convicted by a word from another person.  Today is was from Pastor Steven Furtick when he wrote in his blog:

Preaching, when done correctly, should unburden people. As preachers, 

our job is to challenge people, yes, but not to burden them. When describing

the Pharisees and what they did to the people through their teaching, Jesus said: 

They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders (Matthew 23:4).

 

This caused me to wonder if I indeed am tying a heavier load on people or not.  Some days I feel like I am challenging people.  Other days I wonder if I am pushing too hard.  The balance can be tricky, especially when dealing with so  many different people who are at so many different places in their Christian walk. I have seen churches in which there was no challenge to go beyond where the church was at and the leaders just patted people on the head told then it will be OK  These churches are dying.  I have also seen leaders who constantly challenge and push their people.  These churches seem tired.

In Moses last instructions to Israel in Deuteronomy he tells them, "What I am commanding you is not too difficult or beyond your reach...the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it."  (Deuteronomy 30:11, 14)  So how we are being told to live as Kingdom of God people is doable and not overly difficult.  I just pray that I present it in such a way that it is not a burden tied to the backs of those I serve, but words of life that help people to serve the Lord joyfully and gladly.

Weird Things About Our Faith

I have been thinking about how weird the Christian Faith is and how some of the things that we do, say or believe seem to be very weird in our culture:

• It is normal to hear God speaking to us as Christians, but weird to other people.  I know they often put people in psychiatric wards if they say the were talking to God, but that is the reality in which we live.  God has given us His Holy Spirit partly to guide, instruct and encourage.  These are things that are done with words.
• It is normal to forgive without asking for anything in return, but weird in our culture.  The true gift of forgiveness is demonstrated by Jesus on the cross, when, in the midst of being crucified he asked that this sin of killing him not be held against his killers!
• It is normal to be more concerned about other people than ourselves, but weird when shown by the media.  For the Christian it is not news when someone sacrifices for the benefit of someone else.  It is so normal that we often think nothing of it or may not even notice it.  Things that are normal don't make the news.  
• It is normal to be generous with what God has given us, but weird to those who seeking the American dream.  Giving away 10% is normal for the Christian.  The sacrifice of more is normal for the Christian.  Choosing to give to mission over buying a new TV is a no-brainer for the Christian but weird to a culture that seeks to accumulate possessions.
• It is normal to desire others to believe in the one truth we know is true, but weird to a pluralistic society that says there are many ways to God.  That's why Christians are tagged as non-tolerant haters.  We just don't fit the normal category in our world.

I am comfortable with being non-normal (weird).  Jesus never calls us to fit in.  He called us to stand out like light.  If being weird helps that light to shine, I'm in.

Called to a Weird Life

When we Christians think of weird Christians, we tend to think of groups of people who pull out of culture and form their own community living, especially those who dress and talk differently.  Some may make fun of the Amish who have a completely different lifestyle than almost anyone on the planet.  Some may look at those who choose not to send their children to public school as strange and give a sideways glance at those who don't watch (or own) TV or who stand out because of their decisions to dress differently.

Unfortunately, these kinds of "weirdness" (defined as not normal) are not what i would talk about in terms of being called to a weird life.  Just look at Jesus teaching.  There are so many things that Jesus teaches that goes beyond what we would call normal.  In fact, obedience to Jesus alone goes beyond the normal in a culture that would say there are many voices we need to listen to, not just one.  Let's just go ahead and admit it, what Jesus teaches us as far as our actions are concerned is not normal for our culture:

• Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you
• If someone hits you on the cheek, turn the other cheek so they can hit it as well
• Lend to your enemies not expecting repayment
• Forgive, be merciful, just as God is merciful
• Pray that we receive forgiveness to the extent that we forgive others
• Do not worry or be anxious

I could go on and on.  Many of these things are seen as weird in our culture AND really don't fit very comfortably.  However, they provide a solid ground for us to live on.  Jesus said the one who hears his word and obeys is like the man who builds his house on the rock.  When the storms come the house can stand.  It is obedience to Jesus' teaching that gives us a solid life.  It may be weird, but it is solid!  

It's A Weird Week

That may seem a little pessimistic to call the coming week a weird week before it has even happened, but my plan this week is to write about different reason the Christian Life is a weird life.  Along with most people I have spent most of my life trying not to be weird, or to not stand out as being that different than the culture.  I think it was a conscious decision by the American Church in the 1960's to the 1980's to show that Christians are not different than other people.  Christians are just forgiven.  Now I find that a shallow understanding of the Christian faith.

These thoughts that I have are stimulated (and informed) by Craig Groeschel's book, Weird, in which he challenges the understanding that Christians are just like other people only forgiven.  If you think about it, normal as defined by our cultural doesn't really work.  Trying to fit in doesn't work because you end up denying at least part of who you really are, and then become someone you are not just to stay "in."

In Deuteronomy, Moses let's the people know that what the other cultures have to offer as far as faith life goes should be totally removed from the land.  Even the names of the gods should be wiped away as they burn and destroy all the physical remains of a different religion.  Israel is also instructed not to copy the ways of the surrounding nations.  In short, God does not want His people trying to fit in with others because they are a Holy people, set apart for a different way of living.  The New Testament calls this the Kingdom of God.

As i read through the Bible this summer I am confronted constantly about a different way to live life that contrasts with what our culture might call normal.  The hard part?  At 50 years old it is hard to change things that have been ingrained in my life.  I said it is hard.  It is not impossible.  So I really have no excuse.  Time to get weird in Kingdom Living!

God Works With Us

At the end of Mark's gospel the Lord Jesus is taken up into heaven after his resurrection and spending time with the disciples.  The disciples went  out and preached everywhere and something marvelous happened: "the Lord worked WITH them and confirmed his works by signs that accompanied it." (Mark 16:20)  I love what follows obedience to the mission Jesus had given them:

1. The Lord worked with them.  I love this!  There is a sense of partnership in Jesus working with us.  It is not us doing all the grunt work and Jesus coming in later to do His thing.  It is not us inviting Jesus to come and do everything.  It is a partnership.  Jesus works WITH us as we work the mission.  In this instance  Jesus is not working with us to grow spiritually and to make it through difficult times.  Jesus can and will do that as well.  But it is in our obedience to the mission we have been given that we see Jesus specifically working WITH the disciples (and us).  Of course, we do need to go out on the mission to experience this.
2. The Word of Jesus is confirmed by signs from Jesus.  I love this!  This isn't just seeing the kindness of the disciples and saying, "These are nice people.  Their message must be good."  or even noticing that their actions were consistent with what they preached.  These are specific supernatural signs provided by Jesus.  We often forget that the miraculous is possible as we obey the mission.  Unfortunately, if the miraculous did happen we end up being shocked and surprised instead of seeing that as normal.  As Jesus works with us in our mission we need to ask for, and expect, the miraculous.
3. We are not the ones in charge!  I love this!  Far too often we make the mission plans and set the parameters for our outreach.  If we partner WITH God we don't dictate TO God how we are to go about HIS mission.  God doesn't work for us but with us!  It is time to open up to do whatever God has in store for us and then to go on His mission WITH Jesus.

 

Beyond The Comfortable Place

Mark describes and early situation in Jesus' ministry in which Jesus healed many people as the whole town gathered outside Simon and Andrew's home.  It was a wonderful time of ministry, and I am sure that for Simon and Andrew it was especially wonderful since this was in their home town.  Everything was perfect. 

The next morning when the disciples woke up they looked around for Jesus and could not find him.  People in town began to come and ask about Jesus.  I can imagine everyone thinking home great this was and how wonderful it would be for today to be like yesterday. 

The Disciples were thinking that it was time to set up shop in this place where they were accepted and where they had a great time of ministry.  What was happening was working and why change a good thing?

But Jesus had other ideas.  When they found Jesus they tried to get him to come back into town (he had gone to a quiet place to pray) but Jesus responded that there are other towns and places that he needed to preach at.  I think that there was a connection between Jesus praying and his decision to leave, because I believe Jesus had to battle with temptations:

• The temptation to have a ministry where he stayed in one place and people came to him. 
• The temptation to stay in the comfortable ministry that seems to be working while neglecting the calling that he had.
• The temptation to draw crowds because of the healing instead of preaching the good news.
• The temptation to see one experience as a repeatable event as a goal, instead of focusing on people.
• The temptation of taking the easy way out.

We have similar temptations.  Our churches and spiritual lives often rise to the place of being comfortable and having great experiences, but then we stop taking risks.  It's like faith is finding that place where we are comfortable and feeling good and having "success."  I don't find that in the scripture. 

We are like the disciples that come to Jesus and say, "Last night was great!  Let's do that again today."  Jesus' responds by saying, there are others to reach out to and we must go to them.  It is too easy for us to stay in those places where things seem to be working instead of reaching out beyond ourselves, and beyond our places of comfort and success.  If we really had FAITH in a big God, we would find Jesus and say, "Last night was great!  What's next?"

When You Are Far Away From God

What do we do when we feel far away from God because of our own choices ( I would also wonder if there is any other reason that we would experience God as far away, but that is for another post)?  For some reason we tend to think that the Old Testament describes God as a distant and judgmental God waiting to cast us into the pits of Hell, and the New Testament comes along to help us to see God as kind, loving and forgiving.   We need to read this a little more carefully.

In Deuteronomy, Moses is giving to the people a history of God's dealings with Israel and passing on instructions for their life together.  Moses describes the possible situation that if the people break these laws and rules they will be removed from the land of their inheritance and be distant from God.  BUT, "if from there you seek the Lord Your God, You will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul (4:29)...for the Lord is a merciful God (4:31)...showing love to a thousand generations (5:10).  God's love and forgiveness have always been available.

When we are far from God it is up to us to SEEK the Lord intensely, with all the energy and focus we can find.  I wonder if we would rather sit back and wait for God's invitation to come back.  I wonder if we would rather feel rejected and live with he consequences of our actions.   I wonder if we would rather just give up and live life without God.  Seeking God takes action on our part.  Seeking God takes energy on our part.  Seeking God takes time on our part.  This is not penance to earn God's favor, but focus to work through the distance WE have created.  On the other side of SEEKING is mercy, love and a renewed relationship with God.

Tomorrow, let's look at how we seek God when we are far away.

Do I Live By Faith...or Doubt?

As I prepare for tomorrow's message I am wondering how often I actually live or act by my faith.  Or better put, how much does my faith actually influence the actions I take moment by moment throughout the day?  I'm not talking about how my beliefs influence my actions because I think that what I believe about Jesus heavily influences my whole life.  I thinking more about faith: the confidence I have that God will do what God has promised whether I see evidence of it or not.

If you are like me, almost everything that we do in our lives is backed up by some sort of security.  Very little of what we do puts us out on a limb.  This is especially true in terms of our relationship with God.  We don't share our faith because we have fears.  We don't change a ministry because of our uncertainty.  We don't take a risk to do a new thing with our faith because we are comfortable.  We don't deviate from our drive home from work to do something God might want us to do because we don't want to be home late.  We don't reach out to someone in need because it will cost us something.

We tend to live more by doubt than by faith. 

Re-Taking Lost Ground

As Israel was preparing to take the promised land, God told them what they had to do in order to gain the land back.  It is what we need to do in our spiritual lives to gain back lost land.  They (we) needed to:

1. Drive out the inhabitants - remove whoever (or whatever) had taken ownership of the land, and drive out those living on land that belongs to Israel.  We often try to take back the land, but we leave someone (something) alive to stay on that land.  We desire to give up coffee, but we still sit in Starbucks to study.  We want to lose weight but we still purchase cookies (for later use).  We want to stop lusting but we still purchase the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.  We need to drive out the inhabitants (which could be the demons who are deceiving) in order to take back the land.  Or else they will be a "barb" in our eyes and a thorn in our side.  They will give us trouble.  WHAT HAVEN'T YOU DRIVEN OUT?
2. Destroy carved images and idols - These are depictions of the "gods" that have taken up residence in the land. We do not always realize what we worship but there are images all around us of things we substitute for God.  When we look at these images they bring us security and they tell us what we need to be doing.  We actually take instruction from inanimate objects!  We must destroy these images so that we can focus on God's direction and worship God alone.
3. Demolish High Places - these are the actual places in which we carry out the worship of other Gods.  We each have our sacred places that help us to draw near to God (the place we pray and read the scriptures and worship God).  We also set up places where we worship those images and idols and receive direction from those things we worship.  DEMOLISH THEM!  Or they will continue to influence your life.
4. Take possession of the land - Once the land is empty, we need to overrun the land and live in it.  Take up residence in the way God would desire us to live.  If we leave it empty, others will come and re-take it.  

How might this look?  Let's say your issue is that at one time in your Christian life you were generous, but that is not part of your life any more.  You begin by driving out the things that have taken the place of generosity : debt, possessions, self-centeredness, etc.   You then destroy the images and idols of prosperity, the lies of what we think we need and the things that have gained more importance in our lives than God.  We then destroy the high places of covetousness and greed that have a place of importance in our lives.  Then we take possession of the land by living there in God's way of living.

It doesn't sound easy, but then again, the Israelites had to go out and actually fight very difficult battles as they took the land.  Why shouldn't we have to do the same?

Grumbling

I continue to read about Moses' leadership in bringing God's people out of Egypt to the Promise Land.  It is almost not understandable how often the people of Israel grumbled, although I am sure if we were in the desert for all that time we would find some things to grumble about.  After all the miraculous things God continued to do, and then the punishments that God placed on his people who grumbled or rebelled, there were still those who thought they needed to vocalize their whining and complaints. 

I know we wouldn't do that, right?  We would never complain about not enough food or water.  Of course we have unlimited amounts of water piped into our homes and so much food that we often waste it.  We would never complain about leadership in the church (or a teacher at school or a government leader).  We would never grumble about how tough our lives are or at what we perceived God was doing.  We would never complain about circumstances or events or irritating people or the heat or the cold or the rain or the loud neighbors...Shall I go on?  For some reason we feel we have the right to grumble and complain about everything that happens contrary to our liking. 

Maybe, just maybe, we need to get a grip on ourselves and learn about contentment.  Paul certainly did.  Paul tells the church in Philippi that he has learned to be content whatever his circumstances.  There is a secret to that kind of life.  The secret is this: "I can do all things through him who gives me strength" (Phil 4:13).  Evidently Paul learned that this was not just a memory verse but the truth behind contentment.  This means when I am hot, God can hep me handle the heat or God can make it cooler.  All things.  That means when we are hungry God can provide food or help us handle the hunger.  All things.  God can heal us or God can walk with us through tough physical times.  All things.  We just tend to demand that God do things our way, or we will teach God a lesson and be miserable.  Not contented. Angry.  Demanding.  Upset. 

That will teach God a lesson.

I Was Thinking...

I have some random thoughts I have been thinking about, begun by things I have read or heard.

• Giving is not what we think it is.  It is an exhilarating expression of trust in God.  Maybe our lack of giving is about a lack of faith in God.
• If Christianity is counter-cultural, why do we think the Amish are so weird?
• Fear of hell has never been a lure for me to draw closer to God.  Neither has the fear of God punishing me kept me from sinning.  It is God's kindness that leads me to repentance (Romans 2:4).  And I think it's been my desire to please God because of all that He's done for me that keeps me from sinning.
• If I am not putting myself in a position to really NEED the Holy Spirit, do I have the right to expect the Holy Spirit to do anything in or through me?
• In the Old Testament, priests served from ages 30-50.  At 50 they priest could help (assist) but could not do the duties of the priest. I have turned 50 this year.  What does this mean?
• Last one - As I am sitting outside by the fire listening to the pond fountain flow and the fireworks exploding all around me I am very grateful for the life I have.  I am thankful for my wife and children.  I am thankful for me church.  Most of all, I am thankful for so many of you who I share life with.  

  Well, that is the randomness with which my mind sometimes works when I get to thinking.  Happy Fourth of July!

Doubt: Another Look

I saw this clip of Dallas Willard talking about doubt and belief and it made so much sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiOIyP4VHOk

Why do we put so much belief in what we doubt and so much doubt in what we believe.  Could it be that we need to spend much more time doubting our doubts and believing our beliefs?  Something to think about...

Supernatural

I saw the title to an article by Francis Chan asking a question about whether we have a Supernatural Ministry.  My thoughts immediately went to a time in my life when seeking out the supernatural was so very important.  Trying to do things that were bound to fail unless God intervene and praying for healing with a confidence in God doing whatever God desired.  There are other times when all of that confidence in God doing something spectacular and miraculous disappears and I depend upon myself making something happen. 

As I read the gospel of Mark I am reminded that when Jesus sent out his disciples he sent them with nothing except supernatural power to heal and cast out demons.  Jesus fed the 5000 (and 4000) with just a few loaves and fishes.  That's Supernatural! People were healed by touching Jesus, bringing nothing more than their hope and faith.  That's Supernatural!  Do we believe enough in the Supernatural power of God as we do ministry and preach that people should repent (Mark 6:12-13)?

I think this is a matter of trust in God and His Calling.  Supernatural isn't only healing, but involves participating with God in doing things that only God can do.  A person who gives their life to Jesus is a supernatural act.  Discipleship is a supernatural act.  Worship is a supernatural experience.  Where does your life and the Supernatural connect?  Do you trust that God can do anything?  I mean really trust that the Creator God, the Lord of the Universe, can do anything in your life?

Who's In Charge of your Rest?

OK.  This may be meddling a little bit into your life, because this thought has actually caused me to make sure that a certain part of my life is also surrendered to Jesus.  Did you know that the Son of Man (Jesus) is also Lord of the Sabbath.  Now if we understand the Sabbath to be that rest that God commands for us to take regularly (weekly), that means Jesus is in charge of our rest.  That Sabbath rest is not an escape FROM Jesus, but a retreat INTO Jesus.  Think about how we do this.

We often take our Sabbath as our "day off." This is our time to do whatever we want to do.   Do we give Jesus control of this time, or do feel we are Lord of this time?  We know best how to rest.  We know best how to restore ourselves.  I actually think we often get more tired, using our Sabbath to continue to run around just like we do the rest of our week.  It's our time to do fun stuff.  Have you asked the Lord of the Sabbath what you should do with that time?  I am asking myself this today.  How about you?

Warnings!

I have a calendar that each day had a label, directions or sign that is humorous.  Here is today's:

From the PillowSac Rocking Chair - Do not eat The Rocker or anything included with the Rocker, including, but not limited to, nuts, bolts, tags, cardboard, packaging, plastics bags, plastic pieces, Styrofoam, unpopped popcorn kernels, etc.  Attempting to eat these things may result in injury, death, or at the very least, discomfort while passing these items through your digestive system from entry to exit."

My first response to this was wondering what do someone actually do that would cause the company to have their attorney write up this statement?  Did someone actually eat the rocking chair?  Or the cardboard?  These things are such no-brainers to me that I don't know why a statement is needed.  But those who made the rocking chair wanted to make sure that people were safe from themselves.  So they wrote that statement.

In the same way, some of the laws and decrees from the Old Testament seem to be no-brainers, but God needed to state them. I couldn't even conceive of doing some of the things that are prohibited.  Just read Leviticus 18.  God was warning His people that certain actions are harmful to the community and to their relationship to God.  As the creator of humans, He desired that we be safe.

God then ended many of the decrees with: I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.  As much as we want to question God's rules and laws, we need to constantly remember that this is God speaking.  He is the Lord.  When we are tempted to break these rules, we must keep in constant thought that God wants us safe, secure and living well. 

They Doubted? How Can That Be?

One of the most intriguing passages of Matthew for me is the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:16-20.  It's not the sending that catches my eye but verse 17, which says,

"When they saw him, they worshiped him; BUT SOME DOUBTED!"   

How can this be?  These are the ones who saw Jesus feed thousands with a few small fish and loaves of bread.  They were there when Jesus healed and stilled the storm (wind).  They not only witnessed Jesus rebuking demons and saw those demons leave, but they were given power themselves to cast out demons and heal as Jesus sent them out.  They saw Jesus violently killed, and then for 40 days (according to Acts 1) saw the resurrected Jesus eat food and teach them.  And yet they still had doubt.  I wonder when this went away?

Maybe the better question is, "When did their faith kick in and they saw what was happening through different eyes?"  Perhaps it was when the Holy Spirit was sent to them.  But the Holy Spirit didn't keep them from disobedience or fear or other emotions that must have occurred on their journeys.  Maybe it was when they actually stepped out to do the mission God called them to do.  Maybe there were other events and meetings in their personal spiritual development that brought this doubting to an end.  Or just maybe this doubting was a constant fight when God didn't do what they wanted him to do in the timing they wanted it done?

I am not sure I would doubt after seeing the things they saw and hearing the things they heard.  But then again, maybe if they experienced what I experienced in my life 2000 years later, the disciples would wonder why I have times of doubt.  Perhaps we simply need to acknowledge times of doubt and realize that these doubts that comes to us do not change the truth of Jesus, but signifies our fear and lack of trust in what Jesus has told us. 

In spite of their doubts, the disciples still worshiped Jesus and still followed his mission.  And they became ferocious in fulfilling the Great Commission, most of them giving their very lives in order share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Doubt becomes an issue when it paralyzes us.  The disciples doubt didn't do that.  We cannot allow our doubt to keep us out of the battle or away from our mission. 

The Standard

In preparing for tomorrow's message I have heard or read so many different opinions about hell and the nature of God.  Some of these opinions are "off the charts," and as I try to figure out where they came up with such an idea I realized that so many people are creating their understanding of God from logic, or experiential things or philosophy.  None of these things are verifiable and even to have a discussion about these opinions is difficult, because there is not one similar standard for measuring against these things to discover which opinion is more correct than others.

That is why the importance of a standard for the Christian faith was such an important decision in the fourth century.  There were so many different thoughts about defining the Christian faith and it caused continual disruption and pain within the church.  So the gathered leaders decided on a Canon (standard) of writings which defined the teachings of Jesus and the Christian understanding of God.  With this Canon, we have a common base from which we can discuss and decide on important issues of theology and faith. 

Of course, there is still disagreements on interpretation, but ultimately there is Standard and throughout history Christians have gone back to this Standard (Canon) to solve these disagreements and discuss differences.  But is this Standard is not the authority, real discussion cannot happen because someone can just use their own thoughts, or quote a famous person to gain authority for their position.  We must go back to the Bible constantly for our beliefs, otherwise we will continue to create God in our own image, and create spiritual understandings that cannot stand. 

Do you know the Standard (Canon - Bible)? 

Looking at Hell

This Sunday I am preaching on Hell.  In my mind I have the picture of an Evangelist of my youth screaming about God's love and warning us in increased volume and seriousness that if we don't accept that love we are doomed to the fiery pits of Hell.  Some responded to that kind of message and honestly, it helped them at times to stay on the "straight and narrow" way.  For me, though, it was the loving, forgiving nature of God that I always focused on and I put Hell to the back of my mind because I desired to please God not out of fear, but out of gratitude.

There is a current debate in Evangelical circles on whether Hell exists as a fiery place of eternal punishment.  One person said this, "The whole idea of hell is incongruent with the nature of God.  God is goodness.  God is righteousness.  God is peace.  God is harmony.  God is balance.  God is all good things."   She went on to say that she couldn't believe in a God who sent people to hell.  When I heard this I was saddened by we humans who seek to create God in our own image.  It's as if we say, "if God doesn't believe what I believe in, or do things by my definitions, I will not follow Him - and I will create God in my image."  Is this the creatures re-creating the creator? 

Francis Chan put it this way in a video -(Not an exact quote but very close)  "Do we really think we know better than God?  That our thoughts on eternity, love justice and judgment are more developed and thought out than God.  Maybe God knows something I don't know!"

As we look to the scriptures this Sunday, I pray we can get a picture of what God intended in judgment, heaven and hell.

Fearing God

As I continue reading through the Exodus I am meeting a people (Israel) who are just getting to know God.  Although they have cried out to the God of their fathers for freedom from their slavery, they really didn't know God at all.  What I find very interesting is that the closer they get to God, the more afraid of God they become.  The more they saw God, the more physical distance they kept between God and themselves.  They were so afraid they asked Moses to speak to them instead of God because they were afraid if God spoke they would die.  They saw a picture of a big God.

Moses did let them know that God wanted to "test" them so that the fear they have of God will keep them from sinning. (20:20)  This test I think was giving them the understanding of how large God actually was.  God had the ability to not only fight for them to defeat their enemies, but also fight against them when they disobeyed.  This was not some sort of God who could be manipulated into doing what Israel wanted.  This was not a God who could only be followed when they needed something.  They could not pick and choose what they obeyed based on convenience or time and desire.  God was the Lord Almighty!  And a healthy fear of God both protected them from their own desires to sin and give them confidence that God can do anything for them. 

And yet they had so much more to learn.  This fear didn't keep them from sinning, as they did build the golden calf.  This fear did not keep them from being afraid of their enemies, as they were so afraid of the enemies in the promised land they didn't do as God told them and the whole generation was kept from the promised land.

I think a healthy fear of God needs to go along with a commitment TO God.  That is something that it took Israel 40 years to figure out.  If fear is the only part of your relationship with God, you are lacking a wonderful opportunity to also be committed to God.  With that, you gain confidence IN God to fight for you when you stand firm.

Will We Turn Back?

When Israel was being led away from Egypt, God do not take them through Philistia, which was the shortest route.  Exodus 13:17 tells us that this was because if the Israelites faced war they might change their minds (about freedom from Egypt and slavery) and turn back.  This was true even though they left Egypt armed for battle.  There is something about war and battles that, if we are not ready for them, it is easy to become discouraged and turn away from the path you are walking on.

I have seen this in new believers who experienced battles after their conversion and fight the desire to return to their former way of life.  If it becomes too difficult it seems we want to take the shortest route back to the lack of war or battle.  The spiritual battles we fight cause the same issues for those of us who have been Christians for a long time.  When the battles come we shrink back wondering where God was in our lives.  When the battles come we become discouraged and somewhat cowardly.  Instead of steeping into the fray was armor shining and weapons ready, we seek to hide in the crevice of a rock.  How little we believe in the power of God's protection and provision!

Since Israel took the long way to the promised land, the Egyptians had time to change their minds and decided to go and bring back the Israelites as their slaves.  As the Egyptians army was seen nearer their camp the people of Israel grumbled and complained.  But Moses said,

"Stand firm and you will see the deliverance  the Lord will bring you today...the Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

To be still doesn't mean to do nothing, but it does mean to still your heart (from grumbling) and still your mind (from over-thinking) and to be still from allowing fear to run the decisions we make.  Moses also said to stand firm, immovable, on the front line, with confidence, watching what God will do with expectation.  I think we usually find a place to hide and cover our eyes (and the eyes of our children), praying that when we open our eyes everything will be o.k.  

Attacks seem to be all around us and Satan is trying very hard to have us back on our heals focused on the armies coming after us.  After 6 months of this I am sick and tired of doing my share of cowering.  It is time to stand firm and look for the deliverance of the Lord, and still the voices inside of us that are influencing our reactions.  Let's stand firm, be still and let the Lord fight some battles.  

Wednesday night prayer is a place for all of us to start: 6:30 at the church.

Vows

After this morning I will have done something i have never done in 25 years of being a Pastor - performed 3 weddings in one week.  These couples were all people who had no connection to the church (one individual had attended for a short while) and I was just trying to serve them at a point of need.  I shared with each person the importance of these vows and how they really need to be kept - not as some legalistic process but in the Spirit of commitment.  Commitment.  That is not an idea that is common in many places.

Our culture seems to through out the idea that if it doesn't work for you, change to something else.  Commitment to a relationship is tossed away like we change our commitment to a Brand name or  business.  Some examples that we do this are:

• Favorite sports team.  If my team doesn't win or if they trade my favorite player I won't cheer for them any more.
• Contracts - If I don't like the contract any more I will either (1) cause trouble until the contract is changed or (2) not do my part of the contract until I get a new contract.  What has happened to honoring the contracts we sign?
• Church - many people do not commit to a church, they attend and participate in a church until the church doesn't meet their needs and does something they don't like.
• Marriage - Things are not going well so we just simply give up and decide not to work through the problem we have.  Til death do we part isn't real for many people.

We focus on the marriage like we do a wedding.  We are more concerned with what looks good (dresses and tuxes, flowers, decorations, etc) and what tastes good (food, duh!) and sounds good (music, readings, scripture and pastor's words).  The only reason everyone had gathered, though, is to witness the vows.  Everything else is secondary to the vows.  That is how it should be in marriage, but we switch things around in the busyness of life and forget that the vows are the key.  Once we understand that we can work through whatever issues there are without fear.  Our security is sure.

Let's look to the vows - and really hold them as primary.  it really helps!

What Will It Take?

We can be so stubborn sometimes.  How often has God made perfectly clear what he expects from us, and yet we continue to refuse or negotiate with God?  Looking from the outside we are pathetic!  Think about it: The Creator of the Universe, God Almighty, who with one thought creates and destroys, had given us instructions and we say, "I'll think about it?" 

I was reading in Exodus today about the plagues that were placed on the Egyptians.  Moses tells Pharaoh to let God's people go so they can go out into the desert and sacrifice to God.  As Pharaoh refused and met plague after plague he got closer and closer to doing all that God had said, but it was only inch by inch: "you can sacrifice in this land" and "only then men can go."  Pharaoh finally relented under the powerful hand of God, but then reconsidered and sent his army after the Israelites, only to have his army destroyed by God.

We do the same thing.  God tells us to do something and we go through a process:

1. Refusal - either through "forgetting" or outright defiance
2. Counter-offers - negociating with God on what we are willing to do
3. Agreement - but not following through
4. Either obedience or disobedience at the end

I wonder if our responses would change if God sent the plagues on us.  Would a plague of frogs (both living and dying) filling our home bring us to obedience.  What about living with gnats or flies always flying around us or landing on us?  Would we be more willing to do what God asks us to do?  Perhaps boils covering our body or locusts or hail would do the trick.  What about the killing of our first born? That's what got Pharaoh to agree, at least temporarily.

What would it take for you to actually do what God wants us to do?  Remember who God is before you decide not to obey.

Why Is This So Hard?

As I was reading in Matthew and Exodus last week I wrote down a question that has caused me to think deeply about my reactions to the things around me:

   Why do we think that doing what God asks us to do will be easy?

Moses understood the monstrous task he was being given even as he tried to run away from God's calling.  But even though God enabled the miraculous to be done through him, Moses had a tough time.  He dealt with a people who grumbled constantly (or so it seemed).  They traveled through, and lived in, a vast desert.  He had to deal with the various interpersonal issues the community had.  He constantly sought out the directions of God and followed them, even when the community rebelled in his absence.  God never told Moses it would be easy.  God just promised He had a plan to free the Israelites.

When Jesus told the disciples he would have to die and be raised to life,  Peter rebuked Jesus (imagine that!) and said this isn't going to happen. Jesus' response was that if anyone would follow him, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.  That doesn't sound easy.  Peter, like us, want to believe that the way of God is an easy road of joy, worship and love all tied up in a nice little community where nothing bad ever happens.  This is at the best naive and at the worst complete denial of the reality of life and human nature. Jesus never told Peter it would be easy, but that he had a plan for new life.

There will always be obstacles, enemies, difficult situations, grumbling people, hard choices and failures that get in the way of doing what God asks us to do.  But we do not quit or give up when these things happen.  We understand our calling the way Paul did:

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed....

Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly

we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being

renewed every day."  (2 Cor 4:8,9,16)

Living the life of Jesus is not always easy.  Jesus never said it would be.  But we do have forgiveness through the cross, life through the resurrection and power through the Holy Spirit.  I think that gets us through the tough times.

Why Are We Such Cowards?

As we were praying and worshiping near the end of the service on Sunday I had this strong impression (I believe it was from God) which posed a question that I felt God wanted me to share with the congregation.  I didn't want to say it.   It felt condemning and, in some ways, like a judgment that God was bringing to our attention.  I really hate doing those things because by nature (as a middle child) I am a people-pleaser and would want to put things in nicer way as to not offend those who who hear.  God and I wrestled for a few moments.

• I hoped the song would go a little longer. 
• I hoped I had heard wrong. 
• I waited for a change in directions. 
• I tried to rationalize by thinking this was just my thought.
• Then I felt the anger and sadness - just a glimpse - as if God was wanting me to know that this was what He was feeling and the words needed to be said.

So I said what I was supposed to say - Why are we such cowards?

We tend to fail in our Christian lives not because we have no teaching or Christian fellowship or belief.  We fail to live the Christian life not because we are ignorant or unable or do not have desire.

We tend to fail in our Christian lives because

• we are afraid we are missing out on something
• we are afraid of what people might think
• we are afraid of failure
• we are afraid of allowing the Holy Spirit to really have access to our lives
• we are afraid of what God might want us to do
• we are afraid of everything except the consequences of displeasing God

Maybe we are really missing out on a healthy form of the fear of God - seeing God as He really is in totality instead of just taking a small taste of God and then doing what we want.  We fear so many things and it keeps us from what God has for us.  We are such cowards.  Why is that?

Surprised by God's Power

They waited 10 days, with no end in sight for receiving what Jesus had promised.  On that 10th day some very specific physical things happened - A load sound like a rushing wind and tongues of fire on their heads.  The reaction of the disciples was not given, but suddenly they could speak in languages they did not learn and they declared the praises of God in those languages.  Then followed the gathering crowds, the mocking of some, Peter's sermon and the huge response who became followers of Jesus Christ.  Wow!

But I wonder - were the disciples surprised by this?  I honestly don't think they were.  After all, they had been around Jesus for 3 years and saw some amazing things.  They had been sent out to share the gospel and could heal and drive out demons.  This was, well, just more of the same, except that Jesus wasn't present with them.  Or was he.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is really just a continuation of Jesus ministry, with the exception that we do it in the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit living in us!  So why are we surprised when God does something powerful?  Why are we surprised when prayer is answered?  Why are we surprised when an critic of Christianity gives his life to Christ?  Why are we surprised at healing or God's unexpected provision in miraculous ways?  Why are surprised when God leads us?  Why are we surprised at God's voice speaking to us?  Why are we surprised when God works in us to do something we thought we could not do?

We should never be surprised by what God does.  Thankful, YES!  But surprised, never.

Courage

The thing that changed the most about the disciples at Pentecost was not the miraculous things that happened through them by the Holy Spirit. Jesus had already given the 12 and the 72 he sent out the power and authority to do those things already and they were amazed (Luke 9:1 and Luke 10:17).  The disciples knew the power they had through Jesus.  They had experienced what it was like to pray and see healing happen before their eyes.  They had commanded demons to flee and they did.  What was transformed about them at Pentecost was not a miraculous holiness because the disciples would fail again (Peter in Galatians 2:11-14).  They did not become perfect when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

What was needed by the disciples, was a healing from the very thing that caused them to deny Jesus, betray Jesus and run away when things got tough.  The disciples had been afraid of so many things throughout the time Jesus was on earth.  The feared the religious leaders.  They feared failure.  The feared for their safety.  They feared they couldn't do this without Jesus' presence with them.

When the Holy Spirit came, Jesus promised the disciples they would receive power to be witnesses.  Did that include the miraculous?  I'm sure it did.  But I wonder if the more important part of what they received was courage that comes from the confidence knowing that God (through the Holy Spirit) was with them to give guidance, instruction, fruit and gifts.

The power of Pentecost was that cowards were transformed into the Courageous, and those who fled in fear now stood firm in their faith. 

Don't Seek an Experience, Seek the Spirit

At a conference I was at over 15 years ago an Assembly of God pastor answered a question about someone who was wanting to "speak in tongues" with the statement: Don't seek an experience, seek the Holy Spirit.  Maybe the reason it seems the Holy Spirit is quieter these days is because people are seeking from the Holy Spirit what they can receive instead of how they can be used with the power of the Spirit in their lives.

Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power  WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES UPON THEM AND THEY WILL BE JESUS WITNESSES.  Jesus does not say they will receive a glorious experience when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.  Jesus does not say that their faith will be affirmed when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.  Jesus does not say there will be great worship, healing or a peace that passes all understanding when the Holy Spirit comes upon them (although all of these things can happen as a result of the Holy Spirit's presence or operation). 

Jesus does say they will be WITNESSES.  Maybe what is missing is that we are focused not on taking the power given to us and being the witnesses we are called to be, but on whatever we can receive to make us feel good or spiritual or at peace.  Perhaps if we use the power of the Spirit in the way it was intended - to reach out beyond ourselves - all these others things will be the result.

Do We Really Believe What Jesus Said?

After his resurrection, Jesus teaches the disciples for 40 days about the Kingdom of God and then ascends to heaven, promising that they would receive power to be witnesses.  So with great expectation the disciples go back to where they were staying (after staring at the sky long after Jesus ascended into heaven) and proceeded to pray constantly.  For 10 days they waited, prayed and spent time together.  Would we be so patient in the promise from Jesus that we could wait 10 days for something we didn't understand, not knowing how long it would actually be until they received this power?  I tend to think we want what Jesus promised NOW.  And even then it is a little slow.

What is it about us that has so little patience for God? We quickly feel anxious, lost, unloved, alone or even angry when God doesn't deliver his promises on our time table and in the manner we think it should come?  To wait on God for His promises demands from us a trust that for us sometimes runs dry.  We have faith in God, but we sometimes do not trust God.  Maybe that is why we really do not try to tap into the power promised to us to be witnesses. 

During this week before Pentecost, pray that God would send to you Power to be His witness.

And trust that He will give it, or help you to tap into it.

Pentecost

I asked the leadership of the church what they felt I should preach on during the Sunday and received some great thoughts on what they would like to hear, and what they thought the church needed to hear.  One leader made mention of the Holy Spirit and said he was always "amazed by Pentecost and what happened then and how it changed lives.  How would it have affected us had we been there?"  What a great observation and question!

With Pentecost Sunday coming this week I think it would be a great thing to talk about all week long, and then teach about that on Sunday.  So I am asking today:  If you had been there, how do you think it would have affected you?  Read Acts 2 in particular, but I would challenge you to read Acts 1-6 (or even all of Acts).  What would be different about you?  

Numbers, Numbers, Numbers

Each Monday there are several numbers that I check out.  I wonder what the attendance count was, even though our system is very imprecise.  And I look to see the offering number, which is increasingly important as our finances are getting stretched. I have always done this because I was taught to some degree that these numbers either measure the success of the ministry, or are at least indicators of what is happening.  Numbers tell us some things.  But numbers do not tell us everything.

As a staff, we also discuss who we saw (or met) who was new to Judson, who we noticed was missing, who came forward to make decisions and if there were any "people issues" (needs, etc) that need to be addressed.  Beyond that I always wonder how people have grown from week to week either in their personal devotion or through the ministry of Judson.  There are always people who share with me on Sunday what they have learned or how a message or teaching has helped them, and those things are helpful as I seek to lead the community. These people tell me some things.  But they don't tell me everything.

I wonder about everyone I don't hear from?  Who is in silent agony, not sharing with anyone the painful things in their lives or their internal struggles with sin?  Who are the ones who put on the face of spirituality but really spend little time on their faith and in their secret moments have many doubts about faith that they deal with?  Who are the ones who are angry at me (or the church) because of unfulfilled promises or hurtful words?

Numbers tell us some things, but not everything. When the numbers are too big those who need attention get lost in the crowd.  Connect groups are great places to work out those things in faith that need dealing with.  In a numbers game, the smaller numbers of these Connect Groups can be instrumental in a healthy walk with god and others.  But not just Connect Groups.

I desire to Connect with those who struggle.  I just need to be more proactive in asking people the right questions so they can be open, real and authentic.  Numbers tell us some things.  They don't tell us everything.

The Power of Journaling

One of the earliest of the Desert Fathers was Antony (4th century).  Bishop Athanasius reported Antony's thoughts on what we today call journaling:  "Let each of us note and record our actions and the stirrings of our souls as though we were going to give an account to each other.  And you can be sure that, being particularly ashamed to have them made known, we would stop sinning and even meditating on something evil.  For who wants to be seen sinning?  Or who, after sinning, would not prefer to lie, wanting it to remain unknown?  So then, just as we would not practice fornication if we were observing each other directly, so also we will doubtless keep ourselves from impure thoughts, ashamed to have them known, if we record our thoughts as if reporting them to each other.  let this replace the eyes of our fellow ascetics, so that, blushing as much to write as to be seen, we might never be absorbed by evil things."

Simply put, if we are honest in our practice of keeping a journal, and honestly write what we do and think, It becomes a form of confession to another, which has the goal of not just admitting wrong, but in changing behavior and thinking.  If this is to work, we must be honest and not just share our struggles, but to see this as part of the battle ground to be transformed into the image of God in heart, mind, body and soul. 

Back At It....Again

It has been quite a year:

• My oldest daughter Alicia got married last June to a wonderful young man.
• Lauren recovered from knee surgery to have another great volleyball season at Olivet
• Sue and I celebrated our 25th anniversary
• I turned 50 in February
• I had surgery on my lung in January and am on the good side of recovery.

The church has been wonderful (mostly) with many baptisms and great ministry happening with new Connect Groups, Celebrate Recovery, Worship changes and working with a great staff.

And my faith, well, it has been interesting. I have had highs and lows, but most of all I realized that in the midst of my physical struggles, my faith built over 50 years brought me through without the need for miracles or visions. What Jesus did on the cross and through his resurrection was enough. The following lyrics explained my experience:
"Life could take, take every dream away, you'd still be my risen one, the place where my hope comes from."

And now I live in this hope as I work toward being who God wants me to be and what he wants me to be. I am restarting the blog today. No one may read this, but it feels good to express myself again.