Things Aren’t Always as They Seem

Something scary happened a few days ago. I’m not exactly sure what caused it, but I began to see double. Looking back, it probably had started two to four weeks ago but just became obvious. There were construction barricades across half the road. As I approached it, it appeared to be across both lanes. I had to close one eye in order to see where to drive. I tried to limit driving as it took a lot of concentration. I would close one eye whenever another car came near me so that I was safer. I would find myself mentally exhausted by the end of the day. At one point, my wife drove me since I couldn’t focus. When I wasn’t concentrating, I saw one pickup truck in the correct lane and I saw the double of the truck driving in the ditch. It was very disconcerting. I went in to see an eye doctor and was told this could last a few months. My first thought was, “How will I be able to survive?” After making sure it wasn’t something more dangerous, I was informed that they would put a prism on my one eye glass lens to “bend” the image from one eye to match the other. This should help my eyes return to normal. Are my eyes working right? No. Can I see correctly? Yes. The prism they put in enables me to have clear vision. I couldn’t help but see the correlations with my vision and our spiritual life. If I have surrendered to God, I am still sin and fall short, and yet, because of what Jesus did on the cross for me, God sees me as a saint. As a result of faith, God doesn’t see me for who I am, but who I have become through Christ. I am righteous in God’s, again not because of my amazing character, but because Jesus’ sacrifice changes how God sees me. If, however, I were to fall away from God, backsliding in my faith, I become completely fallen (spiritually). Right now, without the prism, my vision would not be good. Without Jesus in my life, I would be a spiritual disaster. The big difference is that with my vision, I could close an eye to regain clear sight. When it comes to our spiritual walk, there are no temporary fixes or shortcuts. It actually is when God opens our eyes that we see things as God sees them. I don’t want to have spiritual double vision because I already see too much that is wrong. Father, thank You for rescuing us from our near sightedness. May the joy of knowing what Christ did fill my heart. Amen

Faith Has No Auto Pilot

I had forgotten to take my water when I went to town so I stopped at a gas station to day to get a fountain drink. There was a young gentleman at the counter. As I approached him, he said all the right things. He asked how my day was going, if I found everything I needed, if I had a rewards card to use, if I would like a receipt with my order...? I was impressed with how well he was doing until he asked the next question. He asked me if I would like a bag for my order. I fought hard to keep a straight face, politely said, “No thank you” and then wished him a great day. In case you didn’t catch it, I ordered a fountain drink (with a flimsy plastic lid) and he asked if I wanted a bag for that. I really don’t think he was that foolish. He simply was so committed to what things he was meant to say that he failed to think about what his words meant. How many times have you gone to “church” (instead of gone to worship) and “said” (instead of connected with) the liturgy, “sang” a song (instead of worshiped), allowed your mind to wander during the message, complained about giving (instead of being a joyful giver), or do you say Amen (meaning the prayer is done) or Amen (I am in agreemente with you) etc. I may not have used all the right words, but you get my drift. Like the cashier, we blindly do what we have been taught to do, but it has little meaning. If we share our faith often, sometimes we are more interested in saying our spiel than listening and interacting with the hearer. Why would they care what we have to say if they don’t think we care about them. They become a conquest instead of becoming a brother or sister in Christ. Understand when we go to worship, we come into God’s presence, not into our house. When we pray, it is not a means to find out gossip in other peoples lives, but through prayer, we come into the very throne room of God. God is not distant or unattainable. He is near to you... even in our hearts. If we are guilty of any of the above, what can we do? In church, don’t just listen to the Scripture reading, but read along silently so you are using more of your senses. Don’t just listen to the message, but take notes to make sure you are actively listening. Change how you do it is it gets old. Father, forgive us when we worship without engaging our hearts and minds. Open our minds and speak to us. Amen

Ever Feel Invisible?

There are times in life that I have been in the middle of a crowd, but feel invisible. Nobody notices me. If I walked out the door, no one would miss me. It is one thing to feel alone when you walk away from people or live by yourself. It is entirely another thing to desire to be someone of worth, only to be ignored and pushed away. I think most, if not all, have gone through those hard times when we desperately want to matter, but seem invisible. In Genesis, Abram had been promised that, even though he was getting old, he and his wife would have a son. His wife Sarai was baren and, even if she wasn’t, was past the age of child bearing. After a while, with no child conceived, Sarai told Abram to take her servant Hagar and bear a child. Even though the law recognized such a child as Abram's, this was not what God had promised. Hagar became pregnant and, because she was carrying Abram’s child, started looking down on Sarai. Long story short, Sarai, with Abram’s permission, began to mistreat Hagar, so she ran away, still carrying Abram’s child. Had Hagar not despised Sarai, none of this would have happened. An angel of the Lord spoke to Hagar and told her to go back and submit to Sarai. Before returning and submitting to Abram and Sarai, she experienced something amazing. In Genesis 16, we read, “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."... So, Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.” Even though Ishmael was not the child God had promised, he still watched over and caused Ishmael’s descendants to be fruitful. What struck me the most, however, was Hagar’s words, “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." A foreign servant who had no right to expect God’s mercy understood that she was not alone in her suffering, but that God saw her, understood her circumstance, and watched over her. Never forget that just like Hagar, God sees you too. He knows your heart and your struggles, your life and your circumstances. Beyond that, He knows you. Father, it is so hard to comprehend Your compassion for people. Help us also to see those that have been forgotten or rejected. Amen

The Sweet Taste

I received a gift recently of choke cherry jam. I have tasted choke cherries before and there was nothing appealing about it. It was very tart with some strange after-taste. I decided I should try it anyway. I was so surprised at the flavor. It might even be one of my favorite jams. It is amazing how something so ordinary can have such extraordinary flavor. God’s word tells us to taste that the Lord is good. What in the world is that supposed to mean? When you taste something, you take in everything. If that jam didn’t have any sweetener, it would taste like much. I would have no desire to have any more. Tasting that the Lord is good indicates experiencing the depth of who he is and having that desire to know Him more... His goodness, grace, mercy, teaching, love, joy, understanding, etc., and that doesn’t even begin to describe Him. So often, when we try to explain what something tastes like, what we say may sound good to us, but doesn’t really bring out its depth. The only way to truly know is to try it. We need to take Him at His word and not try to assume our ideas are sufficient. When I cook something new, I always want my family to taste it, experience it, and determine if it taste good to them without knowing what all is in it, for we often decide, before we taste it, whether or not we will like it. We do the same thing with other things in life. We often have a picture of who we think God is and so we keep trying to squeeze Him into that image. The truth is opposite to that, for we were made in the image of God. Through sin, that image is broken, but the Spirit stirs in our heart a desire to learn more about who He is. God also has described His word or a scroll as being sweet as honey. It is filled with the good news from the beginning (in Genesis) to the end (Revelation). Each book, each chapter, each verse is filled with new information or reinforces what has already been said. The more ways that God and His desire for His people is described in the Bible, the better our understanding of who he is. We will not know the sweetness until we have tasted it for ourselves. Sin has dampened our ability to taste it. If it is not appealing to you, maybe there’s another taste in your soul that sours it. Father, I don’t just want to know You exist, but I want to grow in my knowledge of You, always hungering for Your truth. Amen

Copy Machine

We have a nice copier over at church so we can get the bulletins done. I believe it has the ability to automatically print one side, turn the paper over, and print the other side. It usually takes longer to do it that way so I never really use it. It is easier for me to do it manually... plus less likely to get papers jammed. I have a printer at home which pretty much is able to do the same thing only it is much harder to get it ready. When I bought it, I thought it was worth the savings to not get the touch screen, which would make it much easier to enter all the information I want it to do. I regret it now, but it doesn’t make sense to buy another as that would be wasteful. The printers are able to do the same things, but the harder it is to program, the less use it will get. When we read God’s word, it also tells us about coping. Not duplicating what is written on a paper, but seeking to be more Christlike. Wishing to be Christlike is not the same as walking with Him by faith. As we copy Christ, there are many ways that we can live that out, however, sometimes getting back to the basics is what needs to be done the most. The Apostle Paul (and others) call us to imitate them. They are both meant to lead us to the same place, but following another person can be much more challenging as they too are struggling with sin and making mistakes. Then God looks at us and tells us that we are meant to be living examples of faith. As we live out, duplicate, imitate, our life after Christ, there are others that are watching what we do. You may be the only message about God they may ever hear, see, and know. Like my copier at home, sometimes it is hard to be the right example to imitate. We have to understand, our lives should not be a series of activities that we do by our own power, but rather, led by the Holy Spirit, we become (are transformed) to be who God has called us to be. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5, “ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” It goes on to say we must walk away from worldly longings and be filled with things that are from our God. Father, We talk about being imitators, but too often we reflect the world better than we declare You. Help us! Amen

Live Everlasting!

Death is an uncomfortable topic for so many people. I have heard of many that put off writing a will because they have to come to grips with death. I have even heard some say that if they make a will, it is indicating that they will die shortly. The same thing is true for life insurance. As a people that have been made in the image of God, we sure hang on tight to the world. Death is a natural part of life. One of the most beautiful expressions of that was done by a funeral director. He was a large man (not fat) standing in the cemetery in His nice suit. People were still gathering and there were quite a few young children that were gathered there. One of the kids walked up to the funeral director and asked what happens when someone dies. This large man squats down at the level of those children and very matter of factly talks about what death is, what the funeral home does, and what God’s word has to say about it. Those kids weren’t terrified or confused. They listened to what was said, were satisfied with the answer, and went back to their group again. I have rarely seen a child that was afraid of death. Missing their family member? Yes! Those kids that I have seen that were afraid usually had an adult that they were close to who was also afraid. If we have true faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross, there should be no room for worry about death. The way we die? Yes! That we will die? No! When the Apostle Paul spoke of death, he said, “To live in Christ. To die is gain”. In other words, if he lived, there would be fruitful labor. If he died, well, eternity had arrived. Win...win! Later on Paul tells believers that this weak mortal body will be replaced with a imperishable immortal body. It is possible only because death is swallowed up in victory. Sin, death, and the law lose their power because of Jesus' death, and His resurrection gives us the victory that death and the Devil could never destroy. Then the Apostle John reveals the revelation that he was given which paints a picture of coming before the throne of God in heaven and worshiping where sin cannot touch us. There will be no more pain, death, tears, mourning, etc. Let us talk freely about eternity and death amongst each other. True victory! Father, thank You for sending Jesus to rescue us from our own sin. May we long for the day you will call us home. Amen

We Are Precious In His Sight

I was thinking about my younger years recently. There were some definite ups and downs. There were those that bullied me and those that were good friends. How I saw myself depended on who was standing by my side. When it was my friends, it was much easier to see my value, but when those that didn’t like me were around, I felt weak and vulnerable... not courageous. Now, if those same people were around me when my folks were around, I wasn’t afraid. When someone trusts us, believes in us, and loves us, we are much more likely to be able to face the world than we are on our own. The weakness in this scenario is that there were times that my parents couldn’t be there. I was alone. Even though I tried to do what was right, I was much more likely to fail when I was on my own. On the flip side of that coin, if someone was always watching, I might get paranoid or think that I was being judged. Even the most honest person can have issues with emotions and assumptions that interfere. Now let us consider God. I have the most precious identity because I belong to God... I am loved, precious to Him, holy, a saint, part of the royal priesthood, justified, and set apart for His work. Wow. That’s a pretty amazing identity. The bullies?...the Devil, the world and my own sinful desires. The closer my walk with God, the less these enemies influence me. I never have to fear being alone with a bully if my heart is surrendered to God. I need to constantly remember that He is with me. I would not misbehave if my parents were watching me. Consider, however, that your Father is watching you. How does that change what you do with your life? My heavenly Father can never be influenced by untrue factors or emotions. He sees me for who I am...and He still loves me... and you. If I stumble, He is there to help me. If I sin and my heart is broken, longing for our relationship to be renewed, there is forgiveness. If I experience great anguish in life due to living in a sinful world, He will comfort me and bring healing. We need to break this mind-set that God is disconnected from our everyday life and realize, for good or bad, that He is right by our side. Does that bring you comfort or indifference? Father, thank You for always being with us, in all our seasons. May we always recognize Your presence and serve You faithfully. Amen

What’s Next?

After the 100th Anniversary Celebration for Community Lutheran Church, I finally got a little time to rest. I know I wasn’t the only one. Dishes were done, furniture put back in its right spot, food distributed, etc. I got a little rest in, but then I needed to make sure I did the download, conversion, etc for the different services we recorded. Today, I ran into town to make sure I could get it on the internet for others to see. The service got done yesterday at about 3:30 pm, but the work was not done. I also had to take my robe in to get it cleaned as I spilled some communion wine on it. Thirty five years in ministry and I spill something on it within a month of being gifted a new robe. The event is done, but the work is not. We sometimes treat our ministry in that way. We look at the work and schedule that we believe is necessary and when it is completed, we consider that we are done. We go to church, and consider that our service for the week, not considering our need to be in constant worship with God. We serve on council and consider that our contribution and then go back to our own schedule. We go through confirmation and then assume all our learning and “class-work” are complete, not understanding the great power of God’s word to teach, equip, and discipline us. So... we just finished celebrating 100 years of serving God and seeking His direction. We have to ask the question, “Now what? Add it to the church history and then go back to normal again? We only have one member that would have been alive at the time the church began, even though she wasn’t coming here at that time. 100 years is a very long time. It would not be possible without the hand of God upon us. So, celebrating 100 years is celebrating God’s provision and direction. We can’t put this celebration in the books and forget the significance. As the congregation leaned on God, He was faithful to lead, bless, encourage, and prepare us. Are you ready? How far are you willing to go for God’s sake? It was nice to see the church full, and it can be again, but probably not without your help. The vast majority of members in a church come because a member invites them to come. Who are you going to call? Who are you going to invite? Who has God put on your heart? Outreach is a large part of, “What’s next?” Father, keep us from looking back and patting ourselves on the back for what we did. Help us to look forward to help lost souls. Amen

Celebrating 100 Years

Today we celebrated 100 years of the Lord's faithfulness. When the church was built, the community came together to help. Deep down in our DNA, there was a desire to be there for the community. So, you see, the name Community Lutheran Church was no accident. There is an emphasis on community. It was amazing to see both services pretty full. The voices filled the building when hymns were sung. Our Presiding Pastor of our association shared a message with us from Hebrews 13 declaring that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He shared how, through the Old Testament, Jesus is woven through it all. The message was followed by the hymn, “The Churches One Foundation” which it goes on to say is Jesus Christ, our Lord. There has to be a realization that this is not our church, but rather the house of the Lord. We are to be His stewards carrying out the work that needs to be done... directing, maintaining, and declaring the good news. After the worship, we enjoyed a wonderful lunch of fried chicken, potatoes, meatballs, etc. There was the feeding of the soul and then the feeding of the body. After dinner was done, we joined back again to celebrate God’s grace and faithfulness. We started with some special music, a prayer, a reading from Psalm 84 where the Psalmist declares, “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than live a thousand years elsewhere.” It was a reminder that there is no better place to be than walking with the Lord and serving Him in any way He calls us. After that, there were memories shared which consisted of laughing, tearing up, remembering dear friends, and especially remembering how precious it was to grow up in a church that gave such a solid foundation in the lives of many. It was a good day to spend with brothers and sisters from years gone by and be reminded of all that God has done. We closed sing, “To God Be the Glory”. That is our prayer that everything we say and do would glorify Him. Now the seriousness of the day should rest on us... what will the next 100 years look like? Will we reach out to bring our community into God’s presence or will we sit and watch the church slowly fade away. Father, You have entrusted us with the task of making disciples of all nations. Help us to begin with our families, friends, and community. Amen

Have We Forgiven?

Forgiveness is not a worldly thing. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe we can truly forgive without the help of the Holy Spirit. Why do I say that? Forgiveness isn’t part of our flesh (sinful nature). The world often uses forgiveness when there is a benefit. Maybe we don’t want to burn bridges or offend someone that may be helpful to us in the future. We tend to see people forgiving those that are of a higher standing. Much less often are those who forgive others of low community standing. Do we apologize to the child that we felt ran into our path (without knowing) or do we expect the child to apologize to us? Are we quicker to judge someone that doesn’t look like us? Do we ever not seek complete healing because we want to feel like we have something to hold over them. This could happen with a family member that we want to have an upper hand with. Maybe we go through the outward appearance of forgiving, but we somehow still continue to hang onto the anger or frustration. When we look at true forgiveness, it will bring healing to any relationship. We don’t really hear too much about forgiving others, especially in the Old Testament, because only God had the ability to forgive sin. Yet, there was the expectation of healing amongst one another. When Joseph’s brothers, who had sold him into slavery found that he had become the second most powerful person in the world, they feared him. Joseph forgave them, but when their father died, they pretended he had written a letter asking Joseph to forgive them. Joseph wept because they had not trusted his motive. On the other hand, Peter asks Jesus if he forgave someone 7 times, if that was enough. Jesus replies, “Not 7, but 70 times 7". In other words, our actions are not based on law or repetition but rather on the condition of the heart. If healing is needed, it should be offered. The world often offers forgiveness with motives (intentional or unintentional). The only motives with God are a desire to see us in a right relationship with our brothers and sisters, and that our lives might be right with God. Carrying sin can be exhausting and wear the body down. I can’t force someone else to act as God desires, but I must... I must act by faith according to the grace and mercy God has given me. Father, remove my pride and ego and replace it with the spiritual gifts that we all need to serve. Amen

Have We Forgotten

Humans are a fickle part of God’s creation. Think how many times God commands His people to obey Him. It is not just that they forgot that they had promised to follow Him, but that they had started following false god’s. When it got really bad, God would allow enemy nations to take His people captive until their hearts were completely changed. We throw out those words so causally, but they have great significance. When we turn our hearts to God and surrender to His mighty power, we are promising not to forget. We might try to justify that not everyone believes in God and so the memory is short. If it has to do with our everyday life, then it would be easier to commit. If any of you carry such a mind-set you don’t know the human heart. Let’s take the destruction of the two Trade Towers in New York 25 years ago. There were many that went back to church and even more that promised they would not forget. I saw a notice of how we should explain it to our children. There was a list of things to do and things not to do. The one that floored me said, “Do not blame the collapse of the Trade Towers on Islam or the Muslim people”. Wow! I would say we not only forgot, but we are entering an Alzheimer stage. The very basis of the attack was that radical Muslims attacked America, who in their eyes was the great Satan. Are all Muslims radical? I imagine not, but if we are not allowed to address the philosophy of those that committed such an atrocity, where 3000 people died, then we have forgotten. The Islam teachings are in direct conflict with our constitution. Then, there are all those “peaceful Muslims” that might get caught up with the radicals. When a people refuse to condemn the radicals within their people, they become part of the problem. Also, the ridiculousness of calling Muslims a peaceful people flies in the face of logic. If Islam was a peaceful religion, why is the middle east, ground zero for Muslims, such a place of unrest. I don’t want people going out and terrorizing the Muslim people, but we must not forget, and if they are a peaceful people, they must not forget either. Shariah Law is contrary to almost everything Americans have believed. Electing those that believe this is OK is the beginning of our own destruction. Father, give us wisdom and boldness to stand for the truth and to expose any lies that interfere with Your will. Protect the innocent of all people. Amen

Worshipping God

The Psalms can be an amazing book to read. It was their song book and was written somewhat poetically and so there is some artistic license to what is recorded. I wanted to glance at Psalm 115 today. It starts, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” The Psalmist is clearly identifying worth to God and to us. He is making it clear that there is a glory and awe that we owe to our God, the Creator of Heaven and earth. Too often the world searches after that glory, which is not rightfully ours to take. As a matter of fact, we must never seek that glory for ourselves. The Psalm continues, “Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” The Psalmist is very bold to declare who God is, but we know that God will never be bound by our rules and desires. Then the Psalmist makes a comparison between the living God and statues. “But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.” The idol is nothing. How can man think that He can create something that he must then bow down to? Clearly, the idol is nothing. “O house of Israel, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the Lord — he is their help and shield.” We see the Psalmist shift again, pleading with God’s people, not to get deceived by false gods but to trust in God. “The Lord remembers us and will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, he will bless those who fear the Lord — small and great alike.” We see that there is hope again. “May the Lord make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to man. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore. Praise the Lord.” Father, You are an awesome God, above all gods. Amen

End of the Summer

Often, Labor Day is considered the end of the summer. School has started, summer student help is disappearing, the weather begins to change, camp sites start to close down, and some people are starting to retire their summer activities. I headed up north with my wife so that we could visit my mom. As we were driving, we noted all the campers that were headed south as people were getting ready to back to the normal flow of work. Going back to normal. There is a strange statement. What is normal and why do we so easily accept that our life is somehow bound by this normalcy? When I read about God’s people in the Bible, there were some things that were consistent, but there was so much that was different. I don’t believe that God calls us to a boring monotonous life. His mercies are new every morning. His promises are unshakeable. His forgiveness is healing. His grace is wonderful. His love is unconditional. His word is inerrant and infallible. His joy is overflowing. The list goes on. When is the last time you shared with someone what God was doing in your life? Every time you share, there will be a different reaction and new conversations. I think we go to normalcy because we are afraid to change or what God might call us to do if we were fully devoted to Him. As believers, if you are not going to Bible studies, now is the time to begin. If you go to church and are not praying and expecting that God will reveal something new for you, you may be dying inside. We indeed have a faithful God, but typically, He isn’t going to force us to do anything. He does however call us to follow Him... to make disciples... to teach people obedience... and to gather around the word and the sacraments. So, if your life is feeling too normal, ask God if that is the way you should be feeling. Are you willing to be used by God? Do you see yourself as an ambassador for Christ, representing Him wherever you go? If not, why? And then there is the reading of God’s word. How can it get boring. There are so many treasures that God is revealing for us, but it requires that we are in that word. The older we get, sometimes the more set we are in our ways. As life unwinds, where is our urgency to declare God? Heavenly Father, forgive me for wanting everything predictable. Help me instead desire to be useable... by You. Amen

Day of Rest

I often stay up fairly late on Saturday as I prepare the sermon and service. That being said, I often take a nap on Sunday afternoon. Today was no different. It feels so good to be able to let the body recuperate and be energized once again, Rest is very important for health, alertness, and renewal. As I get older, I find that I often do not sleep as long as I used to, but when I get a good night of sleep, it shows. When we look at God’s word, when it comes to rest, it is not taking a day off without any work but rather a Sabbath rest to the Lord. What’s the difference? One is a physical rest while the other is spiritual. Taking a day off so that we can finish up the jobs and chores that need to be done is not a Sabbath rest. We get a couple pictures of this Sabbath rest in the New Testament. Jesus says, “Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest”. The rest is not found in our lack of work, but rather our coming before God with a humble heart. Jesus says when we surrender all our struggles, sins, emotions, etc. that it will be replaced by the peace of God which gives true rest. Just refraining from work does not bring that true rest. Another key passage is when Jesus states that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. So, if we go to Jesus to find that rest and Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, the logical conclusion is our Sabbath rest is found when we rest in Jesus. If our rest is found in submitting to Jesus, then every day is a Sabbath rest, for every day we are to submit to Him. Is it good to have one day specific to find our rest in Jesus? Yes. Should we take that rest on Sunday? In the Old Testament, the Sabbath was on Saturday. We speak of our day of worship to the Lord as being on Sunday, the day Jesus rose from the dead. Is the Sabbath limited to the one day? No. The commandment tells us that we are to “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and our Sabbath rest. So, the Sabbath is kept when God’s word is taught in its truth and purity, as that Word ultimately points to Christ. The Word should not just be received on one day of the week, therefore, the Sabbath rest refers to each and every day that we hear, read, and ponder its truth. The command is not about keeping the law. It is about knowing Jesus. Father, it is easy to get buried under rules and regulations but help us to find true meaning and freedom as we find our rest in You. Amen

How Do We Prepare for Worship

As I considered this question, I was drawn to the Psalm that was picked for tomorrow. When we think about preparing for worship, we usually think about what we do to get ready instead of what Christ has already done. We see it as our effort instead of realizing that we must humble ourselves before God and receive what He gives us. Back to the Psalm... chapter 32. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.” I think the first thing is coming before God with a clean heart. How is this done? In 1 John 1 it says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” We come before God and confess... He purifies us from all stains. What happens if we don’t acknowledge our sin, or worse yet, try to deny that we are guilty of wrong-doing. Back to Psalm 32, “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.” Ignoring, walking away, or denying that sin is pure foolishness. For the believer, it begins to destroy our intimacy with God. For the unbeliever, they have become so hard of heart that they don’t recognize sin, and therefore there is not confession or forgiveness. Psalm 32 continues, “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" — and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” When our heart is truly broken by our disobedience and we finally get honest with God about our pitiful state, God not only forgives us, but even removes the guilt of that sin. Psalm 32, “Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” The call is for us not to run, but come to God, our hope, our salvation, and our home. Father, draw us ever near you and surround us with Your protection. Let us always seek refuge and deliverance from You. Amen

Being Flexible

There are times that all of this road construction gets really frustrating. They are replacing culverts, which is great. The problem lies in not knowing when they are working at any specific spot along the way. On Monday, I was able to drive to within visual sight of the church but ended up having to drive an extra 3-4 miles to get around it because I had to drive a different route. More recently, I drove to church on my normal route, slowing down for where the construction was. On the way home, I had to back track and find another way as they dug up some of the road again. Right now, I’m never sure what road to take to get there and whether I can use that same way home. I just have to be willing to adjust to something different than I had originally planned. It is good to be prepared. It is good to know the options. It is good to be willing to adjust if circumstances change. If you didn’t guess, I am not just talking about road construction anymore. I have heard people that want to have a conversation with family or friends about faith... about their behavior... about responsibilities. I think it is good to be prepared and to consider what you want to say and what you want to avoid. They write it down on a piece of paper to outline how things are going to go. The problem is that conversations rarely follow the exact path that we think they will take. When something unexpected comes up or there is a detour that we were not expecting, we can be left uncertain of of what we should do next. That’s where flexibility comes in. It is good to understand what is at stake, but we can’t control what is in someone’s heart. If we control the feelings, we will find no true answers. Ask yourself first, “What is the issue that needs to be addressed?” Make sure you understand it well enough for a conversation, not to win. Pray as you seek the answer, and for God to prepare you for the task at hand. Second, have that conversation without raising your voice. If you need to raise your voice, they weren’t listening in the first place. Make sure you are willing to listen and not just speak. People can sense and respond better to sincerity. Be flexible enough to adjust your approach based on what is discussed. Father, there are so many people that we should share our faith and other things with. Give us the words to speak and ears to hear. Amen

How Sure Are You?

We had carpeting put in at church and it was completed today. All the things we had to move so that the carpeting could be put in, now had to be put back. We used so many of those items every week, or at least we saw them. Since everything was being moved around the same time, there was little time to note what was taken from where. We moved things back to their general place, but at least my confidence that I knew where everything went was a little shaken. Some things had to be thrown out, and some things might have ended up with new homes. If you had asked me if I could put everything back in the right place before we moved it, I would have given a resounding, “Yes!” Now? It is a resounding... “Maybe?” We, as humans, have a way of thinking we have the answers to life that we need. Why? Because it either hasn’t been tested or we just fall into a trap of assuming it will work out in the end. With day to day choices, we might be able to get away with it, but when it comes to spiritual or eternal matters, sometimes we are not as confident. When asked about the origins of life, many think they can explain things away using a perverted version of science rather than trust the creative power of our God, the Master Designer. For those that push the idea of asking the question, “What Would Jesus Do?”, it is often said with such confidence. I wonder how many know God’s word well enough to answer that question with confidence and knowledge. I’ve seen way too many people make what they want to see happen into some personal version of God’s will. We sometimes say it with confidence, but are we really sure? Then in matters of eternity, there are so many different versions of what is necessary. Unfortunately, most who indicate who will go to heaven base that on one’s goodness and righteousness rather than that of faith and God’s graciousness. No, we are not going to heaven because we were good, but rather because we have absolute faith in the One who truly is Good. Without faith, you will not end up in a better place. Our goal of eternity with God is not primarily to see past loved ones or to find eternal “fun”, but rather to see God face to face and worship Him. Father, replace our confidence in our own wisdom with a humble spirit that longs for You. Help us, above all things, to serve You. Amen

Momentary Troubles

Everyone experiences troubles. How one deals with those troubles can define a person. Do we crumble or do look for solutions? Do we try to pull ourselves up or do we lean on God? I was reminded of a trip to Colorado with some youth about 7 years ago. There was a trail that led to an overlook called Bible Point. Every time I went out there, I always made it to the top one or two times to enjoy the amazing view and to spend some time with the Lord in prayer as I gazed at the majestic beauty that surrounded me. I was a little out of shape and with the thin air, everyone got tired more quickly. I was struggling but determined to make it to the top of the mountain. On the way up, I ran into a woman that had wanted to make it to the top, but she was so tired and was ready to give up. I told her that I had been up there before and that it was well worth the effort. With some encouragement, she set her focus on the final destination and worked her way to the top. She made it there before I did, but we both made it there. That evening, after the worship time, she came up to me and thanked me for my encouragement and indicated how much she was blessed by making it there. Even though I was struggling, didn’t mean I couldn’t help someone else in their journey. The truth is that we both made it because we kept our eyes focused on the end goal. In 2 Corinthians 4 we read, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” My experience was just a hike and a view, but in life we also face struggles and obstacles. We can get so wrapped up in our own trials that we don’t noticed others along the way. We don’t have to wait until we overcome before we aid others. Sometimes it is in helping each other that we find added hope. Instead of dwelling on the troubles, we must focus instead on the One who can lead us through the trials. We are ultimately not struggling for earthly gain but rather are longing for what is eternal. Father, it is so easy to keep our eyes on the world in the good and the bad times, but the world can’t save us. Help us, dear Father. Amen

Faith is Believing

Yesterday, I had to get a few things from the store. My knees had been bothering me and since there were several mobility carts by the front of the store, I decided to use one to get a few items toward the back of the store. The speed wasn’t terribly fast, but it got me to where I needed to be... kind of. I went to make a left turn, and it was as if the wheel locked up. The cart jolted to a stop. I was thankful that my reason for using it wasn’t for a bad back or neck. That would have likely re-injured things. It happened multiple times, always when turning to the left. After going through checkouts, I told the worker that the cart needed to be looked at because someone could really get hurt. Without thinking twice, she said, “Someone will look at it later”. She didn’t have any way of knowing which cart it was. She didn’t trust my assessment. As I turned around to the left, the cart jolted to an awkward stop. I tried to move two more times with the same result. She immediately got on the phone and called someone to come and get the cart so that it could be fixed. The cart hadn’t changed. My story didn’t change. The truth became real to her. We want proof. We want a sign to convince us... even when it comes to faith. This is strange because in Hebrews 11:1, we are told that faith is believing what we do not see. When the Pharisees asked for a sign, this was Jesus’ reply in Matthew 12:39-41 - “... "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.” Jonah was a foreshadowing of Jesus and the crucifixion. Jesus would be three days in the tomb. Jesus’ judgement of the Pharisees burned deep as He basically said that those from Nineveh were more noble than the Jewish leaders because at least Nineveh recognized their wicked ways and repented when Jonah preached. Our hearts will not be comforted by signs, but rather having an unshakeable faith in God. Lord, give us a faith that doesn’t waver or doubt, but trust You and Your word fully and lives it out with great joy. Amen

A Big Job

New carpet is being put into the church, starting today. They can’t just put the new carpet over the old. It would be too thick and bulky. It would likely wear out faster and become a hazard to walk on. The only way things can be done right is to remove all the old carpeting and replace it with the new. Since parts of the church were built with carpet in mind, the floors are not nice woodwork. I have seen some homes, when the carpeting was removed, that had beautiful wood flooring underneath. There are times the family chooses to sand the floor a little bit and varnish it to bring out a wonderful warm feel. Replacing the carpeted areas in the church is a big job that will take a number of days to complete. It has to be torn down before it will be built back up again. Imagine, as an illustration, that the carpet represented our human body and the church represented Christ. Well, that isn’t hard to imagine since He is the head of the church. The decision wasn’t to replace the carpet just because we got bored with the color. It was replaced because it starting to bleach out and there were places where the carpet had become unraveled beyond repair, and other places that had holes in it. As we were created (like when the carpet was last replaced), everything was as it should be. When God originally created humans, they were without sin. Sadly, after Eve had disobeyed God in the garden, we were no longer as we were created to be, but sin caused us to become broken and far from the original design. God tells us in 1 Peter 2, to “... rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” God clearly calls us to get rid of all the sin in our lives that so easily entangle us. Other places in God’s word speak of not giving the Devil a foothold in our lives so that He can manipulate us. Romans 12 speaks of “not conforming to the world”. Once the sin is confessed and forgiven, we must replace it with that which is good and pleasing to God. According to Peter, we are to crave pure spiritual milk... recognizing, like infants, our need for nourishment from above. Father, remove that which is broken and worn out in our lives and replace it with new hearts committed fully to You. Amen