December 31, 2009

There is a need in every one of us to get right with God. When John preached about confessing and repenting, people showed up. One of Roman Catholicism’s most important practices is the rite of confession. We all know the truism “confession is good for the soul”. Other well worn phrases include, “coming clean”, “fresh start”, “clean slate”. We all desire to be washed and clean before God.

Yet every effort at getting past our sin results, at best, in a fresh start wherein we simply begin to fall short before God all over again.

This is why Jesus’ baptism is greater than John’s. John is just a man who motivated others to choose to admit their sins and want to change. That’s a necessary start but it doesn’t do what only God can do: wipe away our bad record, and empower us to live, not sinless, but above and beyond what our weak human will can do.

Washing with the water is a great symbol which points beyond itself. Immersion in the Holy Spirit is that to which the water points.

December 30, 2009

I’ve recognized recently that I have not spent daily time confessing and repenting of my sins. Instead my prayers have focused on seeking God’s help in various ways. Repentance is the Greek work “metanoia” which means “change of mind”. I know that I can tend to “drift”. I can fall into habits and attitudes that are not God-honoring and are frankly selfish. It is therefore important for my spiritual health to admit my sins and decide to think and act differently. Confession and repentance need to be daily disciplines.

John preached that we should admit our sins, be genuinely sorry for them, and decide to live better than we have been living. John’s preaching, however, was “pre-christian” meaning that he was telling everyone who would listen that they need to confess and repent in order to receive forgiveness. Christianity, however, is a “post-cross faith”, which means that Christ has already forgiven us.

The reason an “already on the cross forgiven believer” confesses and repents daily is not to earn forgiveness, rather we do so simply because we know we are forgiven, loved by a God who cares for us and wants the best for us. We want to live out the life and forgiveness he’s already offered.

I choose to live a life of loving God because he first loved me.

December 29, 2009

Mark skips Christmas!!! I’m wondering if Mark isn’t a little like Peter . . . uninterested in all the personal stories surrounding Jesus’ birth . . . just wanting to get to the meat of why God came to earth.

He jumps straight to prophecy. He quotes Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1 and even mixes in an allusion to Moses in Exodus. He is making it abundantly clear that Jesus is the Savior of the World expected by the Jewish people for centuries.

Although I don’t think this is Mark’s intent, it nevertheless strikes me that God sends to each of us people, circumstances, problems, challenges, joys and suffering, all of which function to prepare our hearts to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.

Whom has God sent to you to prepare the way for you to receive Christ as the leader of your life? What has God allowed which has led to your becoming a Christ follower? A good spiritual exercise would be to name those people and circumstances, thank God for them and recognize that is at all times intersecting your life with his love and presence so that you are constantly being redirected to the life that he offers.

December 28, 2009

I am writing this on Sunday morning. Right now Pastor Mike is concluding his third message of the morning and I’m certain everything in him is yearning for all present to “get” the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Beginning this coming Sunday I’m going to preach through Mark all the way up to Easter. I hope you take it upon yourself to invite those who do not yet know the Good News or do not understand who Jesus is or who have no clue what the facts of Jesus’ life on earth have to do with our day to day lives in southern Chester County.

Mark’s gospel has been called the Gospel for people with short attention spans. It’s only 16 chapters long and the word “immediately” or “at once” is used between 50and 60 times. Mark had become Peter’s friend and co worker in Rome and after Peter died (tradition has it that he was crucified upside down because he felt he was unworthy of being crucified as Jesus was) in the early 60’s, Mark decided put into writing all that Peter had told him about what Jesus had done. It’s a fast paced narrative of the powerful presence and work of God which Jesus had begun and continues to this day.

I hope you and many others join me in this adventure of discovering anew or for the first time the power and love of God.

December 21, 2009

I think the following quote from the daily devotional by Oswald Chambers was “right on” for Mary and maybe especially for Joseph. It’s a great picture of what each of us should “aspire” to.

"Most of us live on the borders of consciousness- consciously serving, consciously devoted to God. All this is immature, it is not the real life yet. the mature stage is the life of a child which is never conscious; we become so abandoned to God that the consciousness of being used never enters in. When we are consciously being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, there is another stage to be reacehd, where all consciousness of ourselves and of what god is doing tthough us is eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint; a saint is consciously depenent on God."

December 19, 2009

Laszlo Tokes, the Romanian pastor whose mistreatment outraged the country and prompted rebellion against the Communist ruler Ceausescu, tells of trying to prepare a Christmas sermon for the tiny mountain church to which he had been exiled. The state police were rounding up dissidents, and violence was breaking out across the country. Afraid for his life, Tokes bolted his doors, sat down, and read again the stories in Luke and Matthew. Unlike most pastors who would preach that Christmas, he chose as his text the verses describing Herod's massacre of the innocents. It was the single passage that spoke most directly to his parishioners. Oppression, fear, and violence, the daily plight of the underdog, they well understood.

The next day, Christmas, news broke that Ceausescu had been arrested. Church bells rang, and joy broke out all over Romania. Another King Herod had fallen. Tokes recalls, "All the events of the Christmas story now had a new, brilliant dimension for us, a dimension of history rooted in the reality of our lives … For those of us who lived through them, the days of Christmas 1989 represented a rich, resonant embroidery of the Christmas story, a time when the providence of God and foolishness of human wickedness seemed as easy to comprehend as the sun and the moon over the timeless Transylvanian hills." [And] for the first time in four decades, Romania celebrated Christmas as a public holiday.

December 17, 2009

Herod told these scholars from the East, probably from what we identify today as Iran, a boldfaced lie. Lying is one of the most blatant (and unfortunately effective, at least temporarily) forms of manipulation. Herod lied to them so that they would become be his “sleuths” to find Jesus. And the scholars from the East seem to have believed him.

Naïve, trusting, open minded, seekers from Persia meet powerful but fearful, dishonest, and manipulative Caesar.

I have a friend who says his parents did him a terrible disservice by raising him to be trusting, honest and didn’t show him how to “work the angles” in life. He says it’s a dog eat dog world and if you don’t eat, you’ll be eaten. He thinks it’s simply wrong to teach your children, that trust and honest are the way to make it in the world.

I like the Magi. They trusted, followed, believed, even naively. And they found the king and it wasn’t Herod. Herod, on the other hand, certainly did make it big in his world. Unfortunately for him, his world did not have the final word.

December 16, 2009

I find it interesting that secular Herod, the wealthy militarily powerful King fully backed by Rome, took the time and effort to find out where the hoped for the Messiah of the Jews would be born. Of course Herod’s job was to maintain peace and make sure no “would be Messiah” would mount a rebellion against Rome. For that reason and investigation is warranted. Nip a potential problem in the bud. But I wonder was in the back of his mind. Possible paranoia aside, could he possibly have wondering if he really might be on the wrong side of God?

Also interesting is that Micah 5:2 is quoted here. Micah centuries earlier had predicted the exact birth place of Jesus. How did God work it to get Jesus to be born exactly there? Read Luke 1:2-4. Even Caesar was a pawn in the plans of God.

December 15, 2009

This event may have taken place as many as two years after Jesus’ birth. It’s a fascinating event. Bethlehem is a tiny, tiny village, smaller than West Grove. Herod was the magnificent visionary King of the region, ruler over all of Judea. He had built coliseums, palaces and fortresses. His huge military fortress towered above Bethlehem. It’s kind of a tale of two kings. One temporal, the other eternal. The former with temporal power and wealth, the latter a lower class citizen of a (in a wordly sense) meaningless nation. Who is it that these magi, representatives of the rest of the world, seek? And who is it who feels threatened. Add all of this up and you will learn much about how God comes to us individually and how God sets about righting the world.

December 12, 2009

Matthew is quoting Isaiah 7:14 which, he discovered in researching for this gospel, is a “double prophecy”, that is, it was fulfilled twice, once in the immediate context of the Old Testament and then more fully in Jesus. Isaiah prophesied that a young woman from the house of Ahaz who was not married would marry and have a son. Before three years passed (one year for pregnancy and two for the child to be old enough to talk), two invading kings would be destroyed. This occurred. Secondly, Matthew shows the further fulfillment of this prophecy in that a virgin named Mary conceived and bore a son, Immanuel, the Christ, God with us. Interestingly, Matthew ends his Gospel with Jesus’ words, “I will be with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20)

December 11, 2009

Joseph would not have expected God to send a Savior to forgive sins. Rather he would have expected a savior to free Israel from Roman oppression. When Joseph’s dream directed him to the name Jesus (Joshua in the Old Testament, Yeshua in Hebrew) I wonder I Psalm 130 came to his mind. This is certainly the Psalm that Matthew had in mind when he wrote verse 21.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

2 O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.

6 My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 O Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.

8 He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Psalm 130:1-8 (NIV)

December 10, 2009

Matthew writes from the Perspective of Joseph just as Luke writes his Gospel from the perspective of Mary. Joseph was shocked and embarrassed. His fiancee’ (in that culture it was like being married without living together) either had an affair or really was pregnant by God’s Spirit. There simply was no other option. Either Mary had been sleeping around or . . . .? Joseph at lest knew it wasn’t his doing. And that must have been awfully tough. How does a man handle that?

Joseph, I think, must have been a really great man. Somehow he paid attention to a dream, believed it was God speaking, and believed that God had altered the natural laws of reproduction. It seems to me that’s a very large leap of belief.

And that’s exactly what he chose to believe and act on. I have the impression that Joseph must have been a young man who knew he was living in God’s world, a man who, when wanted to lead him, could sense that God was “speaking” and was will to do whatever it took to follow that leading with integrity. Joseph handled his humiliation by courageously following God.

I would like to see a father son picture of Joseph and Jesus somewhere. Wouldn’t you?

December 9, 2009

It is difficult for the modern mind to imagine how an “immaculate conception” could have taken place. For some it is easier to believe that both Matthew and Luke made the story up to add credibility to their biographies of Jesus. Following are some considerations which have helped me to understand this Miracle which Matthew and Luke tell, but which both Mark and John omit.

1. Neither Matthew nor Luke needed to add this story if it weren’t true. Each simply reports it. The evidence of the resurrection is “proof” enough of Jesus deity.

2. If Matthew and Luke had colluded in making the story up, one would think certain apects of their stories would match up better than they do.

3. The section of Luke that recounts this event is written literarily in obviously Jewish literary style, completely different to the rest of the writing in his Gospel. This leads one to conclude that he may have simply copied it from written records of the events, perhaps from Mary herself, whom he most certainly interviewed.

4. I concluded at the beginning of my Christian life that it is not necessary to decide a priori that miracles don’t happen. God is outside of/beyond nature. He’s the creator and sustainer of it. If this is so, then He can tweak and alter the “laws” of nature in any way He wishes and at any time.

5. Matthew also cites at least 53 Old Testament scripture references fulfilled by Jesus. This is astonishing. One of those is Isaiah 7:14. He must have been amazed as he did his homework and discovered how Jesus was the piece of the Messiah puzzle that pulled them all together.

6. Joseph certainly believed in a virgin conception. He believed his dream. He didn’t believe his fiancee’ would cheat on him and he knew he wasn’t the father.

To be fair, my first decision was to decide to believe in the virgin conception, before actually believing it deep down. However, as has been the norm in my walk with Jesus, God has provided more and more corroborating and compelling evidence to support my initial decision. And yes, this is a valid way to proceed on your faith journey.

November 23, 2009

“If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him”

The Bible tells us that Christians have to get along with each other in a far more visible way than any other group of people gets along. Actually Americans hardly get along at all these days. We are not a melting pot any more where differences are subsumed into commonalities. Rather we’re more tribal than ever. Our differences become our identities and we fight for them. We’re told to tolerate, which basically means put up with the other guy who’s, in the view of the tolerater, wrong. Further the “tolerater” as he tolerates (endures the other’s wrongness????), will work to change the other guy so he melts to my demands. We’re more at war with each other than ever.

Jesus says Christians can’t be this way. If someone has hurt me I’ve got to care so much about this breech of relationship that I do the unthinkable and go and try to repair the breech. If that doesn’t work I’m supposed to try again!, this time with a neutral friend or two. If that doesn’t work, I’m suppose to try again, this time with a church leader or two. I’ve got to keep trying!

This is a question not of process or knowledge, rather it’s a question of will. Do you know anyone who does this? How about you? How important to you is getting this teaching of Jesus right?

November 21, 1009

“By this all men will know that you are my disciples”

Most of us understand that people don’t have a great history of getting along with each other. The history of the world is one of fighting and winners and loosers. We fight over anything and everything, from territory to rights to ethnicity to religion.

If you ever wonder why God doesn’t run the world better, try running a company where all your employees can do whatever they want and you haven’t given yourself permission to just get rid of them. Now think of running the world with 6 billion people doing whatever they want, especially trying to run it themselves.

This was true in the Old Testament. Israel, God’s representatives, didn’t get along even with itself. Is any surprise that Congress, our representatives, can’t do any better? We’re a sorry lot.

With this in mind think of today’s scriptures. Jesus said the world will believe that God sent Him, to the degree that believers, not because they are coerced, but because they want to, actually get along with each other. That’s such a radical departure from all that we know, that it becomes an irresistible miracle! Especially so because they voluntarily get along, no one being fired or being cut from the team. Now that’s a witness that works.

November 20, 2009

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow”

When Christ returns, he will gather all believers, those who have died and those who are alive, into one united family under his rule. All believers from all times, will be with Christ in his kingdom. This includes . . . . . .

the unattractive
the orphan
the sick
the hateful
the enemy
the murderer
the poor
the unclothed
the widow and widower
the unclean
the homeless
the prisoner
the diseased
the spiteful
the oppressor
the sinner
the opponent
the dictator

It seems to me that that one of the most important things we can do with this brief life we have on earth is to actively engage in loving others, especially the ones we find most difficult to love. Why? Because a demand of the New Creation is that each of us must able to so as one among God’s new humanity. Today is our preparation for eternity.

November 17, 2009

“having all that you need”

God ensures that I have all I need. But it’s really hard to differentiate between needs and wants, isn’t it? I find myself complaining when my garage door opener doesn’t work, or when I loose my automatic car door opener. In fact for over a year now, I have had to actually put a key into the car door key hole, turn it, and open my doors manually. Poor me.

What is really want is to be so grateful for all that I have that I consider all my needs and wants met. I want freedom from my “felt needs”. Do you? Paul seems to have achieved this kind of contentment;

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Not only that, he appears to be all the more empowered for it.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

Following is a wonderful and freeing verse. It’s worth memorizing and daring to risk believing.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus”.
Philippians 4:12-19 (NIV)

November 16, 2009

“not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"

It has been said that “God loves a cheerful giver, but he’ll take the giving of a grouch.” This old line might be funny sometimes but it’s not true. In fact, I’ve said many, many times in sermons that if you have not given yourself over to the leadership and forgiveness of Christ in your life, then you might even want to hold off on your giving. God wants you, not your money.

On the other hand, if you are a Christ follower, God will take steps to grow you.

I did not start out as a cheerful giver. In my first year of following Christ at the age of 32 I learned about tithing.

"A tithe of everything . . . belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." Leviticus 27:30 (NIV)

Therefore I began to tithe (10% of my gross), but I wasn’t doing it cheerfully! In fact I gave 10% to penny, and not one penny more! But, once I started I began to feel glad that I started. It felt like a sacrifice (even though it wasn’t because it’s all God’s anyway), but over time I began to discover that I was living just fine on the 90% that God had left me. Over still more time I began to be a happy giver and today I look forward to giving over and above to God’s causes.

Sometimes it takes simple, raw obedience to kick start the growth of God’s Heart within us.

November 14, 2009

“whoever sows generously will also reap generously”

If I don’t plant any seeds, I won’t get any plants. I can count on that. However, If I do plant seeds, the chances are pretty good that I’ll get a crop.

This applies to every area of life, be it giving money, giving encouragement or even giving forgiveness. Notice this verse;

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:37-38 (NIV)

God says that when we give, He will take care of us. We’ll be provided for. Whatever we’ve lost in our giving will be “made up for” by God by His blessings. The best blessing is the great feeling we get from being givers. Often givers find themselves blessed more financially after having become givers than they were ever blessed before becoming givers.

But we must be careful. Beware of the trap of giving so that you will be blessed. That’s not from God. I give because I want to experience and express the compassionate heart of God, not to get blessed. It’s important for each of us to monitor our motives.

November 13, 2009

God doesn’t want me to be a “scrooge.” He wants me to be like a teflon tube, a person into whom God can pour His blessings so that they can flow easily through me to others.

This can be a very tough issue for married couples who have differing views on giving. When one spouse wants to give “as a generous gift” and that gift for the other would be only “grudgingly given”, then of course there’s a problem. Money is the number one issue mentioned by couples as the source of marital conflict. So, what to do when the conflict focuses on giving to God?

My advice stems from the belief that God doesn’t want to create conflict within marriages. Further the Bible makes it clear that giving is to be done freely, not under pressure or in a legalistic manner. Therefore if one spouse wants to give biblically and the other is reluctant, it’s really important to discuss the matter respectfully, honestly and lovingly and in the end I personally believe that the more mature Christian should defer to the less mature Christian. This means that the stronger Christian will not be forcing his or her will on the other and will be showing honor to that spouse’s understanding. It then becomes the stronger Christian to be a spouse who makes Christianity attractive rather than legalistic.

Attitude matters so much to God.

November 12, 2009

“Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means”

This is great advice. We’ve all heard in one form or another. “Finish what you started”. “Do what you say you’re going to do”. This advice was also a big part of Jesus’ teaching. He had a strong emphasis on integrity, being true to your word, not falling into hypocrisy.

Paul adds “according to your means.” This alludes to the biblical teaching of percentage giving. When God asks for a tithe, it implies that if one has no income, then there’s nothing from which to tithe. God’s desire is always to lead us to sacrificial giving, but not impoverishment.

Paul then speaks to attitude. “For if the willingness is there . . . . .”

Am I willing or am I resistant. This is a wonderful heart test for each of us. If I sense reluctance, unwillingness or resistance in myself, then I know that God has some work to do in my heart. If I have a genuinely willing heart, I can rejoice that God’s Spirit is bearing fruit within me.

November 11, 2009

“See that you also excel in this grace of giving”

The apostle Paul is so completely in tune with the heart of God. He calls our giving to God and to others a “grace”. It’s a gift to be able to give. Why is it a grace or a gift? When we become givers it is because God has imparted a part of Himself to us, He has recreated part of me into his image. Becoming a giver is becoming like God, like Christ. The most well known passage in all of scripture is about “over the top, beyond the pale” generous giving. .

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)

God gave His Son, the Son gave his life. God has set the example for extravagant love and he did so through giving, not out of his excess, but out of the core of His Being. At the core of His Being is the central character of giving.

“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

Now we understand why Paul wants us to excel in this grace of giving. Why? Because doing so grows us one step closer to Christlikeness.

November 10, 2009

“they gave themselves first to the Lord”

When I hear of the need of another, that need can stir me to acts of generosity. My problem, however, is that once that need is no longer on my radar, I can all too easily cease being generous.

In today’s passage Paul urges the Corinthians to complete the offering they had pledged to make. They, like many of us, were facing the temptation of making a generous pledge but not actually giving as they said they would. Therefore, Paul writes a very wonderful sentence which gives the reason for the Macedonians’ sustained generosity.

“they gave themselves first to the Lord”

Frankly this is the reason my giving to the Lord has been sustained and consistent for the last 29 years.

The first thing I do is tithe, which means I give 10% of my gross income to the Lord’s storehouse which is the church. Second I give my offerings, which is over and above the tithe, to ministries such as our deacons, Urban Promise and more. I do this because the Bible teaches that God tells me to do this. So, if want to “give myself first to the Lord” I must do what He says. I am reminded of the following verses.

“The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your life” Deuteronomy 14:23

In the end it is obedience that keeps me (and I think most of us) consistently generous.

November 9, 2009

Those of us in the CLC family who have traveled on short term terms mission trips to Latin America, sub Saharan Africa, Romania or elsewhere, know that the poor can be more generous with what they have than middle class Americans. There always seems to be a place at the table for others in the homes of the poor even though the supply of food is limited.
Read again these very beautiful phrases from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians regarding the poor in the Macedonian churches of Philippi, Thessalonika and Berea,
“Their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity”

“they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.”

“ Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints”

When they heard about the need in the Jerusalem church, they wanted in on helping them. . .even to the point of “giving beyond their ability.” Imagine that! They gave “beyond their ability”
Lord grace each of us with the same generous heart with which you graced the Macedonians.

November 8, 2009

“is it not you?”

Paul speaks of the Thessalonians being his crown. In Greek there are two words for crown. The one is diadema which is used almost exclusively for the royal crown. The other is stephanos which is used almost exclusively for the victor's crown in some contest and especially for the athlete's crown of victory in the games. It is stephanos that Paul uses here. The only prize in life that he really valued was to see the believers in Thessalonike, his friends whom he had come to love, living for Christ. He knew that when his life would be over and he would meet the risen Christ, the one question Christ might ask, is “whom did you bring with you?”

Here’s how the apostle John put it...
"No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children follow the truth." (3Jn 1:4 ).

Paul would have said amen to that. A man or woman’s greatest glory lies in those whom he has set or helped on the path to Christ. Nothing that we can do can bring us credit in the sight of God; but in the end the stars in a man or woman’s crown will be those whom he led nearer to Jesus Christ.

November 7, 2009

“but Satan prevented us” (vs 18)

It seems that 21st century America is just too sophisticated to believe in Satan. But there’s a very real problem for 21st century sophisticates. It is the problem is that when you really think it through we just don’t have a better explanation for the existence of evil. Darwinists have, of necessity, no room for the categories of good and evil. There’s only what works for survival. Value judgments don’t fit.

The biblical word, Satan, means “adversary”. The biblical world view, and therefore mine, is that there exists in the universe a quasi personal force, not at all on paar with God, yet allowed by God in a limited way to do evil, including specific evil against people. Satan, however, never has the final word. Astonishingly, God even uses the evil wrought by Satan as a strand of material which God weaves together with other raw material of life on earth and He brings good out of it. Good, not evil is always the final word.

Paul was prevented by Satan from revisiting Thessalonika. Satan’s work may have manifested itself in illness, or circumstances or a blocked means of access, or other people, or . . . . you name it, Satan has used it. But, of course, now we have this beautiful letter from Paul to the Thessalonians. And we get in on Paul’s heart and what he would have said to them in person.

How God brings good out of evil is a very beautiful thing.

November 6, 2009

To me the incarnation is unfathomable. Yet I believe it. God, the maker of the Cosmos and the sustainer of all its dynamics is also the maker, creator and sustainer of each part and parcel of that cosmos and that includes individuals. God came to earth in the person of Jesus not just to live among and care about humanity, but live among and care about people in particular. The mind blowing teaching of the bible is that the God of the cosmos knows and cares about you, not only you “in general” but you in particular.

For Christians this must also mean that we care about people in particular, not just humanity as a whole. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it perfectly (paraphrased), “a love of community becomes dangerous, even evil, if it does not elicit love for each individual community member”. I even heard a democratic pundit say about his party that they “love humanity, but hate people”

Paul wasn’t just focused on “getting ‘anonymous numbers of people’ saved”, rather he met persons, people, individuals he knew by name and came to love each.

This challenges me greatly. The salvation message falls short when it becomes a mechanism by which people get in on eternal life. I’m not even sure it can work that way at all. God cares about individual people and loves them individually. So must we.

November 5, 2009

“for the joy set before him”

What are your hopes and dreams? What are you looking forward to? What are your goals for yourself, your home, your family, your church? What is the trajectory of your life? What is the destination toward which your life is headed?

These are the questions of joy. Comfort, immediate gratification, alleviation of suffering, and relief from stress, are all overrated. Although each of us live “in” the “now”, almost all of us miss the “now”. Why? We’re complaining too much. We’re too worried about our “now’s”, what’s wrong with them and how to fix our immediate problems.

The Bible teaches that our “now” is fueled, infused, enlivened and made joyful by the trajectory of our lives, the anticipated destination, and our pursuit of a legacy that points beyond ourselves. In this way there is never a “now” moment, regardless how painful, that isn’t permeated with a certain joy streaming in from our future destination, that says, “this ‘now’ is real and it does matter, but it’s ‘not all there is’. It is part of God’s working into you and out of you his beyond imagination beautiful future”

October 30, 2009

The following is an updated letter I have mailed to the church family in the past in response to the tragedies experienced by members of the church family. It is included here to help you in your relationship to God as we tackle the problem of evil in the world.


Dear Church Family,

Some of you are teachers and leaders. Many of you are parents. All of you will need to deal sooner or later with the question of how a good God can allow bad things to happen.

Following are a few pastoral and biblical perspectives which I encourage you to consider as you communicate with your children, students, colleagues and friends about why tragedy happens.

1. God didn’t do it. He doesn’t bring about tragedies. He allows them.
In a broken world broken things happen. God prefers to give us free will as
opposed to creating us as puppets on a string. This allows therefore for human error, failure, sin, brokenness and pain.

2. God never wastes a hurt. He is totally and only good, and He has a future and a hope for every person, none excluded. ( see Jeremiah 29:11) All any of us needs to do is to accept it, believe it, and follow Jesus, the One who puts it all back together.

3. There are no satisfactory answers to the question “why.” The jar will never comprehend the mind of the potter. (see Isaiah 29:16) Most of the answers that we give to the question “why” end up being trite, or wrong, or a misrepresentation of God.

4. Avoid seeking blame or “justice.” As painful and difficult as it is to do (for some almost impossible) forgiveness heals, blame kills. No amount of human “justice seeking” will heal. The legal system may need to come into play at times, but extreme effort is required to dislodge seeds of bitterness from the heart. They grow and poison and eventually kill.


5. Be real. The “why” question, although unanswerable, is great as a cry of anguish. The Psalms are full of all the contradictory human emotions of pain, hope, anger, sadness, joy, bitterness and love. You can openly bring it all to God. When you’re real God has “raw” material to work with and heal.

6. Talk with your children and friends.

7. Pray and never give up. (Luke 18:1) God heals. Those who have not been physically healed will have been healed in the next life. They are now with God in Paradise. Let’s thank God that you and I can have that healing too.

But do pray for physical healing, also for spiritual and emotional strength for the family and friends of those facing pain. God has His best in store for all of us and prayer makes a huge difference. Sometimes our biggest failure is that we stop praying too soon. Where we are today is not the end of the story. God has good chapters for each of our lives, which He has yet to write.

8. “Spiritual warfare” is a biblical metaphor and it is real. Evil exists as does the “evil one”. There is a force (Jesus named it Satan) outside of ourselves which seeks to destroy God’s creation and that includes people. God has conclusively dealt with it on the cross, which means resurrection and restoration, not defeat, are the end of the story.

9. Yet the best way to frame suffering is not to focus on the evil but on what God is doing through it all. What I see is God turning many, many of us more and more to dependence on Him, into deeper and more intense prayer, and into a deeper personal experience of Him. That is a fantastic outcome. It is the outcome that, of all outcomes, is most fully life-giving.


10. None of us is guaranteed a tomorrow. Assuming we’ll be here tomorrow is presumption. Each of us needs to learn better to live in the “now” and be genuinely grateful for it.

11. For me, the most important thing is that all those who have allowed Jesus to connect them to Himself will see each other again. Each of us can have a reunion with loved ones we have lost. “If for this life only we have hope . . . . we are a pretty sorry lot.” (see I Corinthians 15:19) The longer I live the more true I know this to be.

Your fellow believer,

Pastor Jeff

October 29, 2009

What Do Prayer Studies Prove?
When a landmark study suggests that intercessory prayer may actually hurt patients instead of help them, you have to wonder.
Gregory Fung and Christopher Fung posted 5/15/2009 09:03AM


Should your doctor prescribe prayer as part of your treatment? According to a study of 1,134 physicians this past December by Health Care Direct Research, the majority of doctors (70 percent) believe miracles are possible today. Yet fewer than 29 percent believe that the outcomes of medical treatments are related to "supernatural forces" or "acts of God."
Studies on prayer in medicine have a way of demarcating the battle lines between saints and skeptics: Christians long for scientific proof of the efficacy of prayer. Critics, waiting for the opposite, hope to undermine religious faith. For better or worse, we have seen many attempts to measure the healing effects of intercessory prayer. The first known studies were published in 1873 by English polymath Francis Galton. He found no statistical evidence that prayer prolonged life or reduced stillbirths (though his findings would not meet today's criteria for a controlled prospective study).

More recently, various prayer experiments have caught the attention of evangelicals who are eager to show a positive connection between faith and science. One that generated particular excitement was Randolph Byrd's 1988 study, which observed 393 patients admitted to the coronary care unit of San Francisco General Hospital. About half of the patients were prayed for by "born-again Christians with daily devotional prayer and active Christian fellowship in a local church." The other half served as a control group (they received no prayer). In this study, the prayer group significantly outscored the control group.

Byrd's published report received criticism on a number of fronts, however, including possible unintentional unblinding (for example, the research assistant who knew which patients received the special prayers also collected the clinical data), and non-independent outcome variables. The latter involved the observation that most of the 6 of 29 variables in which the prayed-for group fared better were probably interrelated (meaning the 6 variables could have influenced each other).

The effect of these and other methodological problems has been to render Byrd's paper too murky to serve as evidence of God's direct activity in healing. Such controversies have been par for the course when it comes to prayer experiments: too few patients; unblinded researchers or subjects; invalid outcome measures; inappropriate statistical methods; randomization problems; and suspected outright fraud. (For a detailed analysis of many previous prayer studies, see our website IntercessoryPrayerStudies.com.)

A Celebrated Study
Three years ago, however, results from a landmark study carefully designed to put the debate to rest went public. The study received some attention at the time, but seemed to have escaped the notice of many Christians, probably because of its surprising—and for Christians, disturbing—conclusions. The Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP), conducted under the auspices of Harvard Medical School, was by far the most comprehensive of its kind. The study required 10 years and $2.4 million, and was mainly underwritten by the John Templeton Foundation, a supporter of studies that explore the intersection between religion and science.
STEP was simple and elegant, conforming to standard research norms and protocols: 1,802 patients, all admitted for coronary artery bypass graft surgery, were divided into three randomized groups. Two of the groups received prayer from committed Christians with experience praying for the sick. But only one group's members knew they were being prayed for. The result: The group whose members knew they were being prayed for did worse in terms of post-operative complications than those whose members were unsure if they were receiving prayer. The knowledge that they were being prayed for by a special group of intercessors seemed to have a negative effect on their health

The two groups that were unsure of whether they were receiving prayer were also compared. One group actually received prayer (the same group mentioned above), while the other did not. This time, the group that had received prayer experienced more major complications than the group without additional prayer. In other words, the study seemed to show that prayer—at least prayer from strangers—might be bad for one's health. The results were disappointing to those who had hoped to see the positive effects of additional intercessory prayer. (They also may have been surprising to skeptics who were expecting no effect at all.)

Many have questioned the validity of the study, including the authors themselves, who worried that "… being aware of the strangers' prayers … may have caused some of the patients a kind of performance anxiety. It may have made them uncertain, wondering, am I so sick that they had to call in their prayer team?" Evangelicals' responses have included the observation that many of the patients, after all, were either praying for themselves or had friends and family praying for them (96 percent reported having others praying for them). This reality could drown out any effect of the additional prayers. Other Christians claim that intercessory prayer investigations are problematic, given the various New Testament examples of physical healing through direct, in-person prayers—a scenario that would be impossible to test in any double-blind way. A third response has been, as one high-profile hospital chaplain said, that "God is not subject to scientific research."

C.S. Lewis anticipated a carefully designed prayer study, but did not think it would show any positive, measurable "results." "The trouble is that I do not see how any real prayer could go on under such conditions," Lewis said. "Simply to say prayers is not to pray; otherwise a team of properly trained parrots would serve as well as men for our experiment." He argued that this approach to prayer treats it "as if it were magic, or a machine—something that functions automatically"—an accusation unintentionally but prophetically aimed at STEP and the other well-meaning attempts to measure the effects of prayer. If Lewis is right, such attempts always end up trying to measure something more akin to magic than a real movement of God.
Ironically, STEP actually supports the Christian worldview. Our prayers are nothing at all like magical incantations. Our God bears no resemblance to a vending machine. The real scandal of the study is not that the prayed-for group did worse, but that the not-prayed-for group received just as much, if not more, of God's blessings. In other words, God seems to have granted favor without regard to either the quantity or even the quality of the prayers. By instinct, we might selfishly prefer that God give preferential treatment to those who are especially, deliberately, and correctly prayed for, but he seems to act otherwise.

True to his character, God appears inclined to heal and bless as many as possible. It is as if he can barely restrain himself—though he often does—from supernaturally intervening and disrupting the nature of the universe to care for those he loves, whether they acknowledge it or not. Did God answer the prayers of the study's official prayer teams? Yes. But more than that, he answered the prayers of the patients, of their friends and relatives, and perhaps even of those who may not have known they were praying.

Why Pray?
If this is true about our God, then a nagging question arises: "Why put so much effort into praying if God is already so generous?" This is another way of asking the real but unspoken question: "What is the minimum required of me to get my prayers answered?" Such questions expose the weakness of our modernist desire to know if prayer "works." In finding that God is in fact constantly answering prayers, we stumble upon the deeper and more disturbing reality that his answers often don't give us the where, when, or how that we originally sought.
Scripture attests to this reality. God, for example, answered Israel's prayers for release from Pharaoh's hand, but his answer—when it finally came—was unexpected, unpredictable, and anything but tame (as a generation left in the desert could attest). His answer to Israel's prayers for release from Caesar's grip proved even more unanticipated and, for many, simply unacceptable. Thus, it is no surprise that Jesus taught us to pray "thy will be done," as he himself prayed all the way through Gethsemane. In all this, we discover that our obsession with whether prayer works is the wrong question. We know prayer works. The real question is, are we prepared for God's answer?

Not surprisingly, those who were prepared for God's answer to Israel's cry for the Messiah were people who prayed. Anna the Prophetess, who spent the bulk of her life worshiping in the temple, was one of the first to recognize him. Lydia, who saw the truth of the gospel and opened the door to Philippi, was in the right place at the right time because she was praying. Thus, we pray not only because God answers our prayers. We also pray so that we might recognize and receive God's answer, know how to respond, and perhaps see God himself.
Most physicians believe in miracles, and in the cause-and-effect reality of their jobs. Miracles happen, but they happen to all because we are loved by God, whether we are in rebellion or not. What is left to physicians, and to us, is how we will respond. We would be wise to avoid magical or mechanical claims about the gospel. STEP encourages us to believe that God is eager to answer our prayers with seemingly little regard for our competence in prayer or, at times, even our orthodoxy. This ought to give us confidence to act, believe, and work alongside the good and generous King, who calls us to advance his kingdom, bring healing to the world, and pray.
Gregory Fung studied biochemistry at Harvard and is currently the Boston divisional director of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Christopher Fung is a pathologist and a member of LaSalle Street Church, Chicago. They are son and father, respectively.

October 27, 2009

“the very word of God” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)

Do you believe that that Bible is the “very Word of God”?

It really is a quite audacious claim isn’t it? Paul, a “mere man” in his own words, writing to some new believers in the city of Thessalonica, claiming that what he said was the “very Word of God”.

Here’s how I understand this and I recommend this understanding to you. Paul was a brilliant and devoted scholar of the Bible, which for him was the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible. When he personally met Christ on the Damascus road and subsequently began to live the reality of Christ in him and he in Christ, he then studied the Old Testament anew. His enlightened eyes and mind saw the foreshadowings of Jesus the Messiah in every section of the Hebrew Bible. He then began to proclaim everywhere what God had shown him. This revelation from God about the truth of Jesus in Scripture, taught through the experience of man who personally experienced the living Christ, later recorded in letters becomes a huge portion of what Christians call the New Testament.

“The very Word of God” in Paul’s letters is not God doing the actual writing (for example, Islam claims that Gabriel dictated to Mohammed), rather it is God’s revelation through God’s Holy Spirit through a faithful human being whom God chose to use and who was on the scene during and after the life of Christ and who was among the apostolic witnesses the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

October 26, 2009

"The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (TLB)

This verse perhaps more than any other spells out the benefits of reading the Bible.

Actually our church is continuing it's involvement with the REVEAL survey (a study to discover what really helps people grow spiritually) which our church family took a few years ago. As more churches are surveyed, and number of those surveyed has grown into the many tens of thousands, one finding stands out above all others.

"By far the most catalatytic practice that any Christ Follower canengage in, regardless how new one is to the faith, is Bible reading."

I hope many of you take advantage of this opportunity to create your own personalized online Bible study and then use it regularly. You will find that getting God's Word into your mind, heart, and life will accelerate your life with God and other people like nothing else has.

http://biblestudy.crosswalk.com/

October 24, 2009

“as a father treats his own children. We pleaded . . . ., encouraged . .. and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy”

Paul felt responsible for the spiritual lives of the Thessalonians. Do you feel responsible for the spiritual lives of those in your unique sphere of influence?

There’s an awesome question right at the beginning of the Biblical narrative (the Bible is one continuous story and together describes a worldview that is intended to inform every Christian). It is this, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Well am I? Are you? Cain was certainly complaining to God, that he can’t be responsible for his brother. We live in a world which, despite the claim of unprecedented global connectedness, is more disconnected than ever. The more that technology connects us in some ways, the more it disconnects in the ways of the heart.

I think God put Cain’s question in the Bible so that you and I have to ask this question too. People need people. That means someone needs me. God set it up that way which means I’M RESPONSIBLE FOR OTHERS! I Think that’s the biblical message.

Am I praying for those in my sphere of influence and beyond? Am I asking how they are doing spiritually? Do I want them to know and respond to the Gospel. Do I feel responsible for their eternal destiny?

These are good questions aren’t they?

October 23, 2009

“we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too. . . . .”

This is an incredible statement. Let me ask you, how your life been most impacted by others? Is it the information they imparted? Is it the advice, help, money, material items, opportunities they gave you? Maybe their impact has to do with encouragement, belief in you or “straight shooting” input into your life.

Here’s what I think. All of the above matters, but more than anything else my life has been shaped by those who “shared their lives” with me. People who were just there, who’s spirit touched my spirit and something real and life impacting happened. In particular when a Christ follower shares his or her life with me, it’s not just my spirit and their spirit connecting, but it’s Christ’s Spirit, connecting with my spirit, touching and receiving Christ’s spirit in them connected to their spirit. In short, Christ’s Spirit to Christ’s Spirit. This is Biblical Connection.
The phrase “one another” occurs 51 times in the New Testament. That’s the Biblical word “koinonia”, Holy Spirit infused fellowship.

Mostly it’s just doing life together. I guess it can happen to a degree through letters, facebook or twitter, but only to a degree. I think there’s power in “sharing our very lives” which ultimately means life to life, face to face, person to person.

Do you “share your very life” with others?

October 22, 2009

“What joys await the sower and the reaper, both together!”

The reaper of this spiritual harvest derives satisfaction from bringing others to experience eternal life.

Sometimes Christians excuse themselves from witnessing by saying that their family or friends aren't ready to believe. But our excuses don't stand up very well before the example of the Samaritan woman, who spoke to the very people most likely to reject anything she had to say. Her message was attractive because she described how Jesus had met her needs; she did not attempt to expose their needs.

Jesus made it clear that a continual harvest awaits reaping. Don't make excuses. If you are watchful and available, you will find people ready to hear God's Word.

October 21, 2009

“We pleaded with you, encouraged you”

No loving father would neglect the safety of his children, allowing them to walk into circumstances that might be harmful or fatal. In the same way, we must take new believers under our wing until they are mature enough to stand firm in their faith. We must help new Christians become strong enough to influence others for the sake of the gospel. We can do this by helpful instruction and supporting encouragement. We must also warn them of pitfalls and temptations that they will face. Quite often they will need correction and rebuke. A good disciple, just like a good father, will not neglect to use discipline when needed.

October 20, 2009

I respect so much the many of you who coach little league sports, who are team moms, who go to school board meetings, who are highly involved as volunteers in the schools, and so much more.

These are your “fields of harvest”. These places where you are likely to meet those who are “far from God’ are places of involvement which have an eternal purpose. You are not there by accident. God has made you in such a way that you can influence others for Christ in a way that no one else can. He has given you special abilities and a special personality which can connect with others in the sphere of influence which he has given you.

Be encouraged. “It is God who is at work in you to will and to do His good will.” Philippians 2;13. God has you where he wants you. He wants you to know and believe that and then to thank him for the opportunities he’s given you and then to ask him to use you as an influencer for Christ wherever you are.

October 19, 2009

“among”

The statistics are discouraging. The average person, after having become a follower of Christ, has within two years almost no remaining friendships outside of the church.

We tend to congregate together and then stick together. Of course there is much good in this but it prevents us from being “among”, from being “salt and light”

Christ followers are sent, each and every one of us. We are “sent” to some place in the world where we are supposed to influence lives for God in Christ.
“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too”

This is not easy to do. It’s much easier to write a check than to share my life.

Our family has sponsored a Compassion child for well over 20 years and the most difficult part of the sponsorship is writing him letters which information about our family and life. The check matters immensely, but our lives matter too. It is in the day to day of one’s life with God that Christ incarnated is experienced.

It’s struggle but it’s a primary struggle, one which we must not cease engaging.

Are you among others who are far from God? Do you share your life with any of them?

October 17, 2009

“all he says is purest truth”

Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars, flatterers; they think they will get what they want by deception. As a king, David certainly faced his share of such people, who hoped to win his favor and gain advancement through flattery. When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope — the word of God. God's words are as flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when he speaks.

October 16, 2009

“Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, for then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.”

Everyone hates hypocrites. Most people have a sixth sense which allows them to “smell out” a hypocrite when they encounter one.

I’m fascinated with the success of Mitch Williams (the “wild thing”) as a sports analyst. He’s the one who threw the home run to Joe Carter in the 1993 World Series which cost the Phillies a championship.

One would think he’d be reviled forever in this city of rabid angry fans. But it’s exactly the opposite. The city loves him and so do I. He is simply honest. He tells it like he sees it and makes no excuses.

No excuses. He owns up. He admits failure and takes whatever blame he deserves. He doesn’t blame others, or circumstances.

I wonder if he’s not a personification of fans’ self perception when they are at their best. He gives each of us permission to own up to our own failures, admit them, come clean and move on.

In short he gives fans the possibility of becoming something other than a hypocrite.

The truth is that we don’t have a whole lot of options. Each of us fails every day. We either cover it up and act like we’re something better, which is ultimately hypocrisy, or we “fess up”.

Jesus, said don’t try to look like something you’re not. No one likes it in you and it’s a bad witness to others.

Don’t try to look godly even when you’re doing godly things. Don’t brag about your good deeds. Do them secretly.

God knows you inside and out. What’s real in you will sooner or later be revealed, probably much sooner than you think.

October 15, 2009

“don't let anyone know about it”

When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, he is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God's love. Why do you give?

It's easier to do what's right when we gain recognition and praise. To be sure our motives are not selfish, we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity (Mat 6:4), prayer (Mat 6:6), and fasting (Mat 6:18). Those acts should not be self-centered, but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. The reward God promises is not material, and it is never given to those who seek it. Doing something only for ourselves is not a loving sacrifice. With your next good deed, ask, "Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?"

October 14, 2009

“We didn't have any hidden motives”

This pointed statement may be a response to accusations from the Jewish leaders who had stirred up the crowds (Acts 17:5). Paul did not seek money, fame, or popularity by sharing the gospel. He demonstrated the sincerity of his motives by showing that he and Silas had suffered for sharing the gospel in Philippi. People become involved in ministry for a variety of reasons, not all of them good or pure. When their bad motives are exposed, all of Christ's work suffers. When you get involved in ministry, do so out of love for Christ and others.

October 13, 2009

“we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

An ambassador is a representative of his home country living in another country. One of his really big jobs is to know and love the citizens of the country where he lives, yet represent his own country in the best possible way.

We live in a world that is currently not God’s home country. We are actually citizens of God’s Kingdom and we are functioning as his ambassadors. As such we must love the country, region, locale, to which God has assigned us and we must, at the very same time, do all we can to make our “home country” and Him who presides over that country look awfully good to others.

“Lord, help me to have ‘people eyes’, to love people, to notice them. Lord, help me to have an outward countenance that makes the inner reality of my love for you. Lord, do whatever you need to do within me to make me a witness in whom others sense an irresistible draw to You.” Amen

October 11, 2009

“Never once did we try to win you with flattery”

Manipulation is one of the most common of human sins.

We manipulate others to achieve outcomes by outright lies, shading the truth, flattery, subservience, brashness, fear, monetary influence, praise, pretense and so much more.

This is why Jesus said, “let your yes be yes and you no be no. Anything more than this is of the devil”. He meant that we must trust God. We must simply do our best to speak with pure motives and then let the chips fall where they may.

I try very hard to make the Gospel intelligible to others so that lack of understanding is not a barrier to others. But it is very easy to cross the line into trying to make the Gospel palatable to others. The Gospel should be shared with others lovingly, clearly, intelligently, personally, but not with anything that smacks of manipulation. The gospel can and will stand on it’s own and on it’s reality and vitality within you.

October 10, 2009

“God gave us the courage to declare his Good News to you boldly”

Why are so many of us so reluctant to talk about Jesus and God with others? There are some very good reasons to be concerned of course, not the least of which is the growing public perception that anyone who talks about Jesus or even Christianity must be a judgmental, right wing nut case.

However notice the rest of today’s verse:

“in spite of great opposition”

There has always been opposition to God and there always will be. Yet if Christians are not out there setting the record straight, who will?

We must speak about our faith, do so freely, but never with acrimony or judgmentalism, or put downs of others of differing views, or with arrogance or, in my opinion, threats of hell (though hell is real, fear evangelism only lasts as long as the fear lasts). Evangelism is about the love of God.

Paul said it well, “speak the Truth in love”.

When was the last time you asked God to lead you to speak of Him to someone who is far from God?

October 9, 2009

“the coming wrath”

“Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NLT)


The “day of the Lord” is the time of Jesus’ second coming. It is when evil will finally be destroyed and God’s Kingdom will be established here on planet earth. Believers will be resurrected with new bodies and will live on a renewed, restored, and reconstituted earth.

Right now the world wide church is engaged in the task of eradicating evil, bringing others to salvation, and growing them into mature co-workers with God in restoring the world for good.

But today, or tomorrow, or next month or 2012 (there’s a new movie coming out) or 2050 or 2400 or whenever, Christ will come back and complete the restoration of the world.

Are you ready? Are you in collaboration with evil or with God? That which is not of God will be destroyed along with all those who cling it. Those who belong to God will be restored to a new world.

Where is my hope? It is in the realization that the sin and evil which are part of my soul have been forgiven through Christ’s work on the cross.

My task therefore is to remain “in Christ” and seek to share that salvation message with others and to join God in His mission to heal the world until Jesus comes and finishes the job.

October 8, 2009

“Other people tell us”

After Paul, Silas, and Timothy visited Thesslonika they traveled south to Corinth. Apparently many from Thessalonika had preceded them, because the city was abuzz with the news of new Thessalonikan followers of Christ.

What do others say about your life and about your faith in Jesus Christ? Do others know what you believe and where your hopes allegiance lie? We certainly don’t want to bludgeon people with our version of the Gospel, but sharing the Gospel must be more than deeds. Although our desire should be that something about our lives should be irresistible because God is irresistible, people also need to hear words within the context of genuine friendship.

What part of my interaction with others outside the faith speaks of my love of God and my hope that others can come to know and love Him too?

October 6, 2009

Winston Churchill, when speaking to a school at an ominous time in the early 1940’s, when London was being bombed by the Nazi Luftwaffe (airforce) and things were looking bleak, he simply said, "Never, never, never, never, never, never, never give up."

Never give up! Don’t quit. Keep on keeping on with your hourly times of focus on God, this Scripture reflection, journaling, anything you can do to be in the presence of God, let him guide and fill you and do your best to align your actions with Christ’s intention.

Don’t quit. “press on to hold of that for which Christ has taken hold of you”. Can you think of a more wonderful combination of encouragement, call to action, and security and hope, “he has taken hold of you”. He won’t let go. Go all out for Him and the purpose for which he has taken hold of you.

October 5, 2009

I cannot think of a better passage to read than this one about the essence of the Christian life. Paul had met God. But he wouldn’t boast about it. He wouldn’t talk about the details. He never said, “look what I’ve got and you need to have the same experience that I did”.

Instead he would only boast of his weaknesses. He spoke of weaknesses actually given to him by God to keep him humble! Can you thank God for that which keeps you humble?

God has graciously given me this ability. Yes I still whine at times, but gratitude always wins me over sooner or later. And that ability is a gift from God. I am grateful for everthing that God has allowed in my life, because God never wastes a hurt or even a sin.

Notice this unbelievable verse:

"The things which are done in secret are shameful even to speak of; but anything shown up by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated is itself a light." Ephesians 5:12-14 (NJB)

“anything illuminated is itself a light” another translation says “anything illuminated (even sin) turns into light”
Wow.

Here it is again. Each time (God) said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

October 4, 2009

Take this opportunity to get to know your Bible. Here’s Luke’s account (Dr. Luke wrote Acts) of Paul’s experience in Philippi. You’ll notice that Paul’s brief comments to the Thessalonians were an understatement!

Paul and companions cross the Agean Sea from Asia (Turkey) to Europe . . . . . .

“From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us. 16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. 19 When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family. 35 When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." 36 The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace." 37 But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out." 38 The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39 They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40 After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left." Acts 16:11-40 (NIV)

October 3, 2009

“The Lord's message rang out”

“Rang Out”. Isn’t that an awesome phrase? The Lord’s message reverberated. I think of a rock concert where the band’s music pulsates. Attenders feel its power. They are physically moved and they begin to move to it’s beat. Something like that must have happened in Thessalonica when they received the word with power. And the power they felt, experienced, received “rang out” reverberated to countless others, so much so that when Paul got Corinth in Achaia (southern Greece which was another country at that time) people were already talking about God’s work in Thessalonica!

Wouldn’t you love for your life to be one of overflow, having experience receiving God’s word with power? Ask for this, just ask and don’t quit until God gives you what He wants to give you. Then receive and don’t keep it to yourself.

I like to skip stones and I imagine my poor but God filled life touching others like the stone hit’s the water and leaves ripples going out, so that it’s not just a touch but it has reverberating effect. And each touch of the stone to the water brings more of the reverberation of the power of the Holy Spirit.

I fall so short of this, but it’s what I imagine and it’s what I want. I imagine this happening when I see each of my family members at home, or each of those I encounter at church.

Isn’t that a beautiful picture of the Christian life? Do you want this also? Ask, ask, keeping asking and never quit. God may delay, even a long time, but whoever knocks, the door is sooner or later opened.

October 2, 2009

It will always be true that Christians will suffer. Christ does not promise an escape from suffering, rather improbable help, peace and even moments of joy in the midst of it. Remember how Paul yearned, “I want to know Christ, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings".

One of you recently wrote to me from a devotional by Charles Stanley, “Every morning when you and I wake up, we are at war. Many believers simply fail to take this reality seriously” When we speak about the battle between God and the forces of evil we are in the middle because Satan’s battleground is humanity, you and me. We live in the midst of a very real and very personal battle that we must fight. Often our defeats are simply a failure to recognize this truth.

Jesus faces the realities of this battle and therefore so also everyone in whom Christ lives.

This is why it is so critical that you remain in Christ, through the “60 60” experiment (one person does it with reminders from his GPS). Through this daily reflection, through daily Bible reading, and continual prayer. Jesus said his yoke is easy and gentle (Matt 11), but only when we are yoked and walking with him step by step, not when we are pulling the other way.

When we are in step, then moments of joy will arise, moments of serendipity will come, God will make ways where there is no way.

October 1, 2009

The following is from a devotional entry by Oswald Chambers:

"Do not quench the Spirit." 1 Thessalonians 5:19

There was a very cautious man
Who never laughed or played;
He never risked, he never tried,
He never sang or prayed.
And when he one day passed away
His insurance was denied;
For since he never really lived,
They claimed he never died!

We are told that in order to have an amazing life we should go sky diving, travel the world, and experience all that we can. But the real secret to an extraordinary life is heeding the call of Christ and following Him wherever He leads. Sadly, many of us miss out on this life because we are almost persuaded, but ultimately we choose to do what we want to do.

When we put off the invitation of salvation through Christ Jesus, tell the Lord we'll start serving Him tomorrow, or ignore the Holy Spirit's prompting to live a more godly life, we are missing out on really living.

Let us not miss one more moment. When we hear God's calling in our life, let's dare to see what He has in store for those who choose to live life to its fullest with Him!

September 30, 2009

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you.”

I bought my watch. It has an hourly chime function on it. This means that every hour it will “chime” and I will then ask God, depending on the day and hour, if I’m where he wants me to be doing what he wants me to do, thinking the thoughts he makes available to me, speaking the words that would honor him.

This will be interesting. I feel like my main mode of praying is 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray without ceasing mode”, but the hourly chime will reveal whether or not my mind is actually on God as often as I think it is.

I so much want, more than at any other time of my life, to “know Christ”, not only the “power of his resurrection”, but also the “fellowship of his sufferings”.

Kathy pointed out to me this morning the September 28 devotion from her devotional “God Calling”. In essence it said that we are built not for ourselves but for God and for others and inevitably that will mean unrequited love and much pain. Love is unavoidably vulnerable to suffering. Yet in the midst of that suffering exists moments of joy, moments of rest, moments of reward that are only available to those who choose to abide in him, regardless of the cost.

I hope many of you will do this experiment and see it through to the end. Don’t quit.

September 29, 2009

What else might I say to God at my daily, hourly, “60 60” reminder?

Am I where you want me to be, when you want me to be there,
doing what you want me to be doing,
why you want me to be doing it?

Thirty days after the journal entry posted on yesterday’s blog, Laubach wrote:

“This sense of cooperation with God in ltttle things is what so astonishes me . I need something and I turn round and the thing is waiting for me. I work to be sure, but there is God working along with me. God takes care of all the rest. My part is to live this hour in continuous inner conversation with God and in perfect responsiveness to his will, to make this hour gloriously rich. This seems to be all I need to think about.”

It seems that Laubach was learning to “let go and let God”. It seemed that he was experiencing the trusting, loving relationship with God which led not to a striving, fitful, force fit, effortful attempt at trying to be a “good Christian”, rather he began to discover an easy desire to simply be “responsive to His will”, because God had become not only his Savior and Lord, but also because God was with him as lover and friend.

September 28, 2009

“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.”

There are many ways to respond to the beep on your watch. Saying the above passage is one of them, but it’s a very good one. To “know” in the biblical languages is the same word used when a man and woman consummate their marriage. It’s deep and personal and free and unrestrained and empowering. And . . . . . it includes times of suffering.

Paul was very honest about what it means to follow Christ. We follow and know him in both the good times and the bad. There will be times when God appears to be absent, yet we must remember, trust, that he’s there and that whatever we face, we face not alone, and also that he will redeem even the worst.

Below is a journal entry from Frank Laubach who at 45 years old, reflected in his journal that the first part of his life was “average”. “ I no longer have the sense that life is all before me” “Part of it is behind and a miserable poor part it is” But then something changed.

In the last forty years of his life his influence spread worldwide. He was named man of the year in America. He developed the “Each one Teach one” literacy intiative teaching 60 million people to read in their own language. He wrote over fifty books and became an international presence in literacy, religious and governmental circles, having an influence on poverty, injustice, and literacy world wide. His influence spread not only throughout the underdeveloped part of the world but also to presidents.

What changed in 1930 at 45 years of age? Why did his life begin to “overflow” after 45?
In his own words he began to experiment with a reorienting, revolutionary kind of prayer.

Here’s a paragraph from his journal, now published under the title, Practicing His Presence:

“Two years ago a profound dissatisfaction led me to begin trying to line up my actions with the will of God about every fifteen minutes or every half hour. People said it was impossible. I judge from what I heard that few people are really trying even that. But this year I have started out living all my waking moments in the conscious listening to the inner voice asking without ceasing “what Father you desire this minute”. It is clear that this is exactly what Jesus was doing all day every day.”

More tomorrow . . . . .

September 27, 2009 - "60 60" Challenge

€ I accept the “60 60” challenge, to go through my days seeking a continuous conversation God, using every 60 minute beep of my watch (or something similar) as a reminder to reorient myself into a continuous conversation of willingness.

I suggest you do this. It will not be easy to do, but it’s all you have to do.

The point is not to “do one more thing” to “become a good Christian”. Not at all. Rather the point is to be reminded to be attentive to God once each waking hour and then let God do the rest. Jesus said simply, “follow me”. When your watch beeps, allow God to put whatever thought he wants into your mind, and then see what happens. Notice these words of Jesus

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

You may fail more than you succeed in this hourly experiment, but no successes come without failures along the way.

Simply practice the presence of God and then see what God does. I hope you’ll share your experiences with this "challenge" with the rest of us both on this blog and also on the message center at http://www.clcfamily.net/ .

September 26, 2009

Imagine living a life that is not only characterized by words . . . . .

“but also with power”

What does it mean to have the power of God at work in you?

I think we all know of people who are “all talk”. We instinctively know that substance is lacking. On the other hand we know of those whose words are full of integrity, meaning that the works and the character and the actions of the person are “integrated”, they are of a piece, that person is “whole”.

The power of God is the power by which Jesus was raised from the dead. Christ in you, means that very same power that raised Jesus from the grave is also resident in you. Believe this.

Imagine:

Imagine your life not just being words that talk about God’s love but being filled with power that comes from the actual first hand feeling and experience of knowing you are safe and loved by God.

This is what it means to be born again. For some it’s immediate and powerful, full of tears and joy. For others it’s a life long journey of being baptized and re-birthed into God’s love. But if you take the journey, IMAGINE . . .

Two years from now can you imagine yourself free from whatever plagues you now? Loneliness, fear,anxiety, anger, bitterness, insecurity, lust and keeping up with the Joneses.

Imagine yourself free of the need for praise or approval from others.

Imagine that worry and stress no longer overpower and push you down under their weight.

Imagine a life where joy errupted from your spirit at surprising times?

Imagine a life in which you can enjoy each moment thankful and content and relishing the gift of life with the people around you.

Imagine feeling so well off that you don’t need more money or stuff to feel content. You might even find yourself becoming more generous.

Who wouldn’t want to be the kind of person who is loving and more loving year after year and the kind that others are grateful for and grateful to have around because you’re making a lasting difference in their lives? Imagine being able to act lovingly toward the unloveable people in your life.

Is this possible?

Only if Jesus is telling the truth!

“If the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free”. John 8:36 (AMP)

Can you imagine a lifelong journey of being increasingly free of things that separate you from the abundance of life that God offers. The job will not be complete until we meet Jesus face to face, but . . . . . . . .

This freedom is what happened to Paul and it overflowed . . . . . . . .
This freedom is what happened to the Thessalonians and it overflowed . . . . . . . .
And it overflowed to others and still others, it just couldn’t be contained.

Christ lives in you and he has so much he wants to give you.

"What father among you, if his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!" Luke 11:11-13 (AMP)

September 25, 2009

“Something happened in you.”

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is probably the apostle Paul’s first letter. In chapter one, verse one, he addresses the Thessalonians as being “in” Jesus Christ.

“In” is a huge word for Paul. If there is one single thing that Paul summarizes everything that Paul wrote and all that his life entailed it would be the phrase “in Christ”.

“In”.

Are you aware , as a believer, not a perfect, doubt free, sin free believer, but the normal messed up, sinful, imperfect kind, like me, that Jesus Christ actually lives in you? And that you are “in” Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ, the Creator and sustainer of the universe (see Colossians one if you don’t believe that) lives in you. He loves you, not in spite of your sin, but with it, just as you are, no strings attached. He’s working on you, for you, and nothing that happens in your world happens without his permission and without his working it all for good.

In fact, listen to this astonishing verse which I noticed for the first time ever just this week.

"The things which are done in secret are shameful even to speak of; but anything shown up by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated is itself a light."
Ephesians 5:12-14 (NJB)

Paul writes that Christ turns even the worst and most shameful sins into light, they actually get transformed from evil to beauty. This is beyond comprehension, but it is also true! This is what the Christ in you is doing right now with your life.

Allow yourself to believe. Allow yourself to be amazed. Allow yourself to say “thank you” over and over and over again. Allow yourself to imagine being loved and cared for and to be covered by God your Father in this way.

Allow God to put into you the full impact of his love for you. God’s word to You? “I love you.” “I love you.” “I love you.”

September 24, 2009

Welcome back to my Scripture Reflections! I’ve been away from my computer but not away from the Lord, quite the opposite.

“Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me.”

What Jesus said in todays passage is, I think, so profound. He speaks of “overflow”.

I just love waterfalls. I love getting under them and getting wet. I want to be refreshed, cleansed, renewed and invigorated. I can’t wait to tour the falls in Ricketts Glen and Yosemite. I love my annual climb to the Glen Onoko falls in Jim Thorpe.

Jesus says that people who get filled with the Spirit of Christ “brim over” and others are touched by the overflow. This is the foundation of all “evangelism”. It’s one thirsty soul finding drink that quenches and satisfies and then telling others where to go to have their thirst quenched.

Jesus says it starts simply with believing. Just believe. If you are full of doubts, don’t try to fight them, instead simply find that tiny “mustard seed” of belief and be amazed. Be amazed that God has given it to you, planted it in you, even that tiny amount, even if it’s only the remote possibility that God is actually with you and for you and loves you. Even if it’s only the faint hope that God exists. Thank God for the thought, for whatever measure of belief you do have and feed it. Ask God what is needed to nurture it and then do whatever thought God puts into your mind. If He’s put the seed there, he’ll also show you how to nurture it.

September 15, 2009 - 1 Thessalonians 1:1

If you were running a marathon, you’d need running partners to help keep you motivated, keep pace, and encourage you to keep going. In the same way, you need “Spiritual Running Partners” you trust who are going the way of Christ, willing to accompany you on your journey through life with Christ.

I have two and they have become crucial to my life. Paul had Silas and Timothy at the time of this letter. God never intended anyone to be a “lone ranger” Christian. Is that you? Do you have someone in your life, to whom you can tell the deep parts of your life and who will listen, care and pray for you?

If not, I strongly suggest that you ask God who that person might be for you. Then muster the courage to ask the person to whom God leads you. Ask him or her (your partner needs to be a person of the same sex) to meet with you weekly or bi weekly so that you can talk about your life and pray for one another. There are 51 “one anothers” in the New Testament. God wants each of us to experience this dynamic where two or three are gathered in His Name, there is Christ among them.

September 14, 2009 - Overflow - 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Although the early believers were obviously a lot different than we are culturally and in terms of the challenges they faced, nevertheless they struggled with sin and failure just like we do. Yet Paul sees in them what I am certain he would see in believers today who simply do their best to follow Christ even while they struggle mightily.

“Your wok produced by faith” I’m not exactly sure what Paul is referring to here, but his words cause me ask myself, “of all the work I do in my life, what aspect of that work is being done differently because of my faith in Christ from what I would be doing and how I would be doing it were I not a believer?”

“Your labor prompted by love” This is a constant theme of Paul. We must love people. How much of what I do is genuinely prompted by non-self serving, other centered, concern for the highest and best for others? Am I truly living “beyond myself”? Or is too much of my life still “all about me”?

“Your endurance inspired by hope” The primary theme of First and Second Thessalonians is Christ’s coming back to “set the world to rights”. Paul says that it is in this hope that we are saved . . . . .the hope that every failure, sin, broken part in the world will be healed and that we have a part in that eternal reparation project, not only as active fosterers of it, but also as recipients. Humpty Dumpty will be put back together and only Jesus Christ can do it.

September 13, 2009 - Overlowing - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2

I think God wants each of us to live a life of overflow . . . . . . a life that overflows with gratitude, joy, exuberance and the Life of God. It’s not a standard of behavior to attain to, rather a gift that the Father wants to give his child. Paul certainly had it. He just overflowed with his passion for God and for people.

“we always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers”. His words don’t read like an effortful striving to attain an attitude by effort. Rather his words just flow out of what is in his heart and his prayers simply follow. It’s as if he can’t not be grateful and as if he can’t not pray for those he loves so much.

Overflow. Sometimes I feel like a dry well. And no matter how hard I pump on that handle nothing comes out. That’s because overflow comes from the Life of God within and the Life of God within has to be given as a gift.

How do I get this Life of God? Whether you’ve never had it in the first place or have had it but have lost it, the way to get it is simply to ask. Ask the Lord to fill you with himself. And if you really want him he’ll come and His work within you will have begun.