Comfort vs. Truth

I apologize in advance as I know this pondering may upset some people. That is not my intent. I believe that if someone may be jeopardizing the intimacy of their walk with God, then we should desire to help them get back on track. I have heard many people speak of loved ones that have passed away as if they were still watching over them. The first thing I want to say is that humans that die do not become angels. Angels are one type and humans another. A human can no more be an angel than a human can give birth to a dog. They are not compatible and have different purposes. If we die, having faith in Jesus, we are promised perfect unity with God as He created us to have in the beginning. Angels on the other hand (according to Hebrews 1:14), “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” The second thing is that those that have died are not watching over us. The Bible says we die once and then face judgement. No intermediate job or function. Also, in heaven, there is no more weeping, pain, or suffering. How could one in heaven look at earth and not feel pain and sorrow. It is understandable, shortly after a tragic loss, to struggle with letting go and desiring to still be connected more intimately than just memories, but it doesn’t make it true or right. Why am I bothering to write this? We unknowingly exchange the worship and attention that we owe God toward “false hopes”. When I am thinking of loved one’s watching over me, I am replacing the function of the angels, and more importantly, I am not honoring God as I should. He says, “I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other God’s besides me.” That means not looking to idols, or angels, or anything else that gets our worship and devotion. Also, loved ones do not return in any other form. They do not come back as ghosts or wander the earth because they have unfinished business. We are specifically told not to consult the dead. They do not take on the form of cardinals, hummingbirds, or butterflies. We have our memories to comfort us and stir our hearts. If we need someone watching over us, Scripture points to the Holy Spirit. It is ok to deeply mourn their loss, but our hope is in Christ. Father, help us to mourn those we have lost. Give us faith to see our comfort comes, not from the world, but from Your presence. Amen

Glimpses into Heaven

You have probably heard or read about individuals that claim to have died and gone to heaven, and then God sent them back to earth again. Is that real? First of all, the question should be is it real to them. If it isn’t, it is clearly a hoax. Could they believe they went to heaven and back and not be right? Well, Paul talked about a vision that he had of heaven that he couldn’t determine if it was real or just a vision. Why does that make a difference? If we glimpsed into heaven, we get a chance to see and hear everything. If it is a vision, we are only receiving what the sender wants us to see. Why do I say sender and not God? I know that the Devil can cause people to speak in tongues...perhaps he can conjure up visions as well. How can we know the difference? First of all, the content. If it is contrary to God’s word, it is not from God. Second, we all called to test the spirits. This might include praying that God would validate it if it is from God. If it feels wrong, this is most likely an indication that it is not from God. I guess a good question to ponder, if you received similar vision or if you felt you were taken to heaven is, “Why did God allow you to see that?” Was the return for you or for others? How is this experience going to impact your faith and walk with God? If these events do indeed happen, I believe God has a purpose that will likely have to do with faith. I know it wasn’t an accident because that is impossible with God. I know it wasn’t because God wasn’t ready yet because you will never catch God unprepared. It could be an answer to prayers. God may have wanted to encourage someone so that they could minister more confidently. We don’t receive such an experience to make money, but rather to impact lives. If one’s life is not changed, then they did not see heaven for we could never forget such a powerful image. That being said, I believe that God does allow some to get a glimpse of heaven so that we all might be encouraged. If you expect to be able to explain heaven, forget it. God always says, “Heaven is like...” because we have no earthly words that can truly describe what awaits us. The focus should not be on what heaven is like but rather what will worshiping God be like. Is there a place waiting for you? Father, help is distinguish between truth and lies. Encourage us in faith. Prepare us for ministry today and heaven tomorrow. Amen

Born Again

There are many terms used in the church that might be labeled “Christianese”, if that were a word. What I mean is that so many use it generally without a clear definition. In some circles, that tend to be more charismatic or Holy Spirit focused, being born again often carries the idea of a specific moment in time when the individual has a “moment” with God. People often refer back to such an event as the moment I became a true Christian. I struggle with the concept of a feeling because, I have had half a dozen such moments when I was so filled with God’s presence that I desired to stay in His presence. These are good moments... powerful moments... Holy Spirit moments, but I didn’t become a Christian each time I felt God’s presence so powerfully. I know of many faithful believers that have had no such moment, but rather a gradual growth over the years. I don’t believe one is better than the other if the faith is genuine and the submission is from our hearts. I believe that there are many who see being born again as dying to ourselves and surrendering fully to God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that the heart of faith is obedience, just as Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will obey my commandments”. It is wonderful when the overwhelming sense of God’s presence rests on us, but feelings can be very fickle. Does that mean if I don’t feel God, I am not walking in faith. That would be silly. A passage that is often quoted on being born again is John chapter 3. Nicodemus went to Jesus to seek His direction. Jesus says, “...no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Jesus goes on to say, “...no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”. I believe this refers to baptism, a covenant in which God ties physical elements (water) to His word and the outcome has spiritual benefits. The phrase “born again” can also be translated “born from above”. Since Nicodemus didn’t know what being born again meant, versus 5-8 are not sufficient and Nicodemus asks, “How can this be?” There is no more mention of the Holy Spirit but there is a continued focus on believing what Jesus did on the cross. Believing, aided by the Holy Spirit, seems to be the bases of rebirth. Father, fill us with the Holy Spirit... with faith, wisdom, and understanding, that we might die to the world and live for You. Amen

The Sound of Music

Music has always been an important part of my life. My mom played piano since long before I was born. We had devotions in the evening and would sing a few hymns. Actually, in the mission field, many of those nights were lit up by kerosene or hurricane lanterns. Our family formed a barbershop quartet. I learned to sing harmony by listening to my dad. I sang in church choirs and college choirs. I even took a year to be on a music ministry team. I could even say one of my favorite movies was the Sound of Music. By the way, some of the original Von Trappe family that the movie was based on went to Papua New Guinea as missionaries and taught some natives to sing many classical pieces. Music is a way of expressing our soul. When our spirit is broken, there usually is no music left... until healing can be found. A whole book of the Bible is based on music... the book of Psalms. This same music can either praise God or express the depravity of man. Many secular pieces today speak of things that should be unspeakable. When we listen to that music, part of its message resides in our heart as music has a profound way of planting itself in our lives and memory. Many people have important memories that are tied to specific pieces of music... wedding, first date, or other important events where music was being played. We have to make sure we are not giving the Devil access to our heart by opening ourselves to all this secular music. On the other hand, music can minister to the heart and sooth the soul of those that listen to worship music... and sometimes classical pieces of music. If we could put Bible verses to music, we would all probably be able to memorize these passages. So how will you use music in your daily life. Do you sing songs of praise and worship... when you are alone... even in the shower? Do you play it in the car or home when others are around so that they might be uplifted? Today, we used music to minister to a retirement home. It was a real joy to use that which is so precious to me to share with others... even if they don’t fully get it because I believe the spirit within us always responds to it. I would love to sing in a choir or quartet again... maybe even barbershop music. Father, help us to use music as a way to lift our heart and voice to You. Help us to bring this glorious music to others others. Amen

Who Should We Tell?

We have a lot of different things that we like to tell others. Sadly, if it is gossip we will tell whoever will listen. If it is about a new baby, we will tell almost anyone... except for those that are a little creepy. For jobs, sports, politics, etc. we probably have a much smaller group. Especially with politics as it becomes an "us and them" situation instead of civil conversations about our country. Sometimes when we talk about church, that circle is smaller yet. If it isn’t someone we are comfortable with or has something positive to add to our community, we often steer clear. The one who smells funny, has awkward social skills, hangs out at the bar, or wears clothes that are unacceptable by our standards are usually left alone. O, we are fine with sending money and items overseas to people there because we probably won’t actually see them or have to interact physically with them. If someone does come from the mission fields to here, it is likely someone that has done pretty well and thus would fit in... if nothing else, be a charity case. What does Jesus say? You might be saying, “Why did you have to go down that road?” You might feel that way because you know Jesus accepted people from all walks of life. The gospel lesson today was from the book of Matthew chapter 9. Jesus calls a tax collector to follow Him. Tax collectors were about as vile or hated as any man could be. By the way, his name was Matthew. He became one of the twelve disciples. Jesus went to Matthew's house to eat and many tax collectors and “sinners” joined them. The leaders of the church asked, in shock, how Jesus, who was meant to be a good teacher, could eat with such sinners. Jesus response was that he didn’t come to rescue the righteous, but the sick. Sometimes we spend so much time trying to keep the “good people” in our church happy that we have no time or energy left to reach out to the “sick”. I knew a pastor that didn’t want the “drunks” to hear the gospel because they might sully God’s name. Can you imagine that? Jesus says, "Go! Tell the drunks, the promiscuous, the awkward, the loner, the unkempt, foul mouth, the gender confused, etc. We are not to accept actions contrary to God’s word, but we are to love them. Father, Help us to welcome all people into your house and share the gospel with whoever will listen. May they find peace in You. Amen

Vacation

This is vacation time for families with School for the summer and the temperature hasn’t gotten too hot. We may travel to see family, go to a family cabin, or just set out on an adventure we have always dreamed about. I know someone that created a realistic bucket list for the year. There were places and activities that they would be near and so the idea was to keep pushing forward and experiencing all they could see and do. It makes activities throughout the year more intentional, and it allows the greatest opportunity to succeed in doing them all. In the midst of all the plans, we must continue to think about our time with God. During travel, we might be able to find Christian stations on the radio or take some digital or even a CD with to keep God in the midst of it all. If possible, have a devotion book or the Bible with and make intentional time to read it. Like the bucket list I spoke of, if we don’t specifically plan it, it will likely not happen. Sunday mornings are particularly important, even if you are a visitor in an unfamiliar church. Check what the church stands for and what its basic beliefs are. Double check the time of worship (maybe even call ahead) because many churches go to a summer schedule with few services and changed times. If you are with family, you especially need to set a good example. Let them see how important that time with God is. Faith is not a on again off again proposition. It is a daily walk with God. The point is, summer doesn’t change our need for God’s leading. If anything, we should have more time to spend with God personally and professionally. Maybe if your church records the service, you can all sit around the computer screen or TV to participate with them. When it comes to living out our faith this summer, let us look for opportunities to encourage others. It might be worth spending a little extra time looking for the places of worship in the towns you will be in so that you have a great experience. I’ve said it before...thank goodness God doesn’t take vacations. We sometimes are guilty of falling into a rut and finding a new church on vacation seems too hard. No one will know if you don’t go, right? Understand, God, who we claim to worship knows it. Father, even on vacation my heart longs for that Christian community. Help us make our time with You a priority. Amen

Practice Make Perfect

Have you ever been required to go to a meeting you didn’t want to go to or do something that you weren’t really interested in? Were you at the top of your game? Did you pour everything you had into it to get the most out of it? If you were asked to help someone that you really didn’t care about, were your efforts the best that you could give? We make choices all day long. I’ve known of a number of pastors in my lifetime that I can truly say would have done the as much preparation and effort for one person as they would have for a hundred. It has been said that integrity is confirmed or discredited based on how you act when you don’t think anyone is watching. In order to do our best, even if the recipient of our action won’t notice, we need to be prepared... and some of that preparation includes practice. If you are called to read Scripture in church, it is good to practice... to make sure you are familiar with the content, know how to pronounce all the words, and practice, practice, practice. When we are sharing our gifts with others, it might be important how they receive it. It might, however, be more important what your heart is like when you give it. Are you doing it for your glory or for the benefit of the one you are helping? Are you using every opportunity you are given to honor and serve God? What do I mean by that? When you commit to something, are you doing the best you can with the gifts God has given you or are you just going through the motions? It doesn’t matter if you are preaching in church or talking with friends, the desire of your heart effects what you do. I may have shared this before, but I remember a maintenance worker at a camp I worked at in North Dakota saying something that impacted me in many ways. At a campfire, after all the campers had returned home, she declared that she cleaned the toilets to the glory of God. Would you consider cleaning toilets as God’s work? She knew that if the toilets were clean, the campers would be in a better place to receive God’s word. Even if she never verbally shared her faith, she glorified God by doing the best she could with what she had been asked to do. It shouldn’t have to be listed as a ministry for us to do it for the glory of our Father. Almighty God, we haven’t always given our best. Help us to do everything in life, with Your help, to the best of our abilities. Amen

Preparing for Tomorrow

We do it all the time. If we have family and friends coming over, we make sure we have enough food, lodging, etc. to meet the needs. If we are going to purchase a costly item, we make sure that we have all our paperwork in order. If we have to do a presentation at work, we make sure we have all our ducks lined up in a row. How well do you think we prepare for eternity? The problem with that question is that it seems to indicate that we have something to add to make our eternal future more secure. The fallacy is that if we sit around and do nothing, we have already determined our future. So where does that put us? It is true we can not earn our salvation, but we can submit to the One that holds our eternity... Jesus Christ. If we simply acknowledge Jesus, but our life remains longing for the same things as the rest of the world, our future will likely be hot and unpleasant. If our heart hungers for God, as it should for every believer, it will have a desire to worship Him. Not just to worship on our own, but to gather with other believers that we may spur one another to good works. Confession is not a work we perform to gain points with God, but rather it is an admission of our inability to earn salvation and fall on our face before God confessing our failures that He might remove our sins. Prayer is not a ticket to heaven that is measured by the time we spend on our knees, but rather it is a communicating and worshiping the One who holds our eternity in His hands. Bible studies are of no value to us if we are not seeking to know God and what His desire is for His people. Jesus tells us that when He returns, He will separate the faithful and the unfaithful by how they live their lives...by how they treated others. Jesus says, “When I was hungry, you fed me...when I was sick, you visited me...when I was in prison, you visited me.” The faithful do not look at Jesus with pride in their hearts for all the good works they had done, but rather asked, “When did we do [that]?” It is not that we are judged by what we do, but rather that we do what God has put in our hearts to do without any benefit because it is the right thing to do. Father, We measure a man’s worth by what we see, but You judge a man by the spiritual condition of his heart. Fill us with an unconditional love that comes only from You. Help us! Amen

The Power of Music

Whether you are a believer or not, I think everyone knows, to some degree, that music carries great power. It can cause a grown man to cry, but also lull a baby to sleep. It can heal the wounded soul, but also put fire in the heart. It can express the best that a community has to offer, but it can reflect the depravity of the soul. The words can add great depth, but often the music alone can stir one’s spirit. When we look at the Scriptures, music is woven all the way through it. There is a whole book of the Bible dedicated to this art... the Book of Psalms. This was their hymnal. A great musician leading the worship service can have an enormous influence on drawing hearts to God. Many of traditional hymns were grounded in great theology, while some even recounted specific passages from the Bible. When there is zeal in the life, the spirit often expresses itself in music. Even if one doesn’t have a perfect voice or hasn’t been trained to sing, we often sing in the shower. There is something so therapeutic in that. Some musical styles have come from necessity, such as chanting. Without sound systems, the leader would have struggled to be heard, but tones of the chant match the same tones as if we were shouting from the mountain tops. Other music is borrowed, such as “A Mighty Fortress” that many believe was originally a bar tune. Luther, the author, asked why should the world get all the good music? No matter what the style of music is, it is the message that the music conveys that determine to a large part, how good the music is. So, how much is music part of your worship at church, home, or in the car? How do you use it? ... to stay awake, to lift your soul to the Lord, to be background noise, or is there another purpose? I pity the believer who is unable or doesn’t use music often. How can we worship without music? Even heaven speaks of music there. Churches often argue more about the style of music that is played rather than debate the content and its theological message. Even though I often like to drive in silence, music is always near and dear to my heart. On Sunday, study the words of the hymns, allow the words to minister to you, and take the joy of worship with you when you leave. Father, may godly music fill my heart and mind each and every day. May music minister to hearts of many. Amen

Opening Up Conversations

We had a wedding recently and we use an area in the basement for changing. It is roped off and curtains are hung for privacy. Those curtains are temporary and so they are pinned together and the old-fashioned clothes pegs keep them hanging in place. When I was taking them down, I took the clothes pegs off and put them in my pocket. After the first curtain was down, I put the clothes pegs in a bag for storage. Then I took the next curtain down... put the clothes pegs in the bag. Then the third curtain. After I had put everything away. I ended up at a store. I reached in my pocket to get my wallet, only to find out there were a bunch of clothes pegs in that same pocket. That’ll start a conversation. For once I was at a loss for words. I guess there is a whimsical song that speaks of sunshine in our pocket as a symbol of happiness. I don’t know if I will do this, but I am seriously contemplating painting the clothes pegs into beautiful colors and then putting a picture of the sun on one side and writing sunshine on another. The thought is if I got in a conversation at a checkout, or with a person, etc. I could clip one of those pegs on something near them and simply say that I wanted to share some sunshine with them... maybe putting a smile on their face or giving them something to think about. I haven’t quite figured out how to make it cute and not creepy. Behind my thinking is simply a way of opening up conversations. That sort of thing gets remembered and can be a catalyst for further conversations, which hopefully will deepen. The point is that we need to find ways to open conversations with others other than, “Nice day, isn’t it?” or political observations. We need to connect with people, for until we want to know them, they don’t want to know what we have to share. Tracks are great to start someone thinking, but it doesn’t help with the questions raised. We are called to make disciples, not just to greet them in passing. Making disciples requires investing time and caring for their eternity. It takes faithful prayer. It takes patience. Is there someone God is calling you to invest in? Is there a way that you can begin a new conversation? Pray that God would prepare your heart for such an opportunity. Father God, open our eyes to see the people that are hurting or hungering. Use us to begin that vital conversation. Amen

Don’t Get Fixated

When going to the same place as another driver, I don’t like to be right behind the car or have the other car right behind me. Why? I tend to fixate on them. If it is ahead for a while, I can lose my alertness to my surroundings. If they are behind me, I always want to know where they are in case a deer runs out in front of me or another car brakes quickly. Either way, I can fixate too much on them and not enough on my surroundings. I had an interesting experience recently. I was at a red light and there was a cement truck that appeared to be coming from the left and making a left turn in front of me. He was waiting on the traffic. As I looked at the cab, it seemed smaller than normal and then I realized I couldn’t see a side window. How could he make safe turns in traffic. I had fixated on the cab, or at least what I thought was the cab. It ended up that the cover over the motor and controls was shaped very much like a cab. On the other end of the truck, there was an actual cab with windows and doors etc. I must admit I was a little embarrassed. I wonder how many times we do that in life. We get so focused on a particular aspect of life that we miss other things that are taking place. I imagine that we can be guilty of doing that in our faith walk as well. How often do we determine, without faithful prayer, what we should do as a church, what we should do with our budget, or what we should do with our day? Then we wonder why God doesn’t seem to be present or why He doesn’t cause our ministry and outreach to be successful. We fixate on what we think we should do without going to God and seek His will and direction. Joshua, in the Old Testament, tried to do that when they were going to battle against Ai. God’s people were whooped... until they turned back to God. God is not to be consulted only when we run into a wall, but is to be the first place we seek each day and in every plan. So what are you fixating on today? Is there something that is consuming a lot of your time and energy that you have not consulted God about? If you set goals, are they your goals or Gods? God tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you as well. What do you think that looks like for you? Will you do it? Father, help us to seek Your will every day and redirect us what we try to take the drivers seat. Amen

Visiting the Sick

There are many different levels of sick. One can just be worn down and indicate that they are feeling sick. Someone might be in the hospital with a disease or physical limitation. Others might be struggling with sin and guilt which can cause a spiritual breakdown. We might talk about someone who does depraved things as being sick in the mind. Even though there are varying degrees of sickness and brokenness, the end result is a need for healing. All these are kind of covered in James 5:13-16, “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” We sing praises when our heart is light, but there is healing with the heaviness of heart too. The healing seems to be tied to the elders, and yet it says to confess to each other and the prayers of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Too often we think of visiting the sick as the pastor’s job. I believe every believer is called to minister to others... just maybe in different ways. We also read about the how Jesus, when He returns to judge the world, was going to separate the faithful and unfaithful. So who will be saved? Matthew 25:34-36 tells us that those who fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, invited the stranger, clothed the needy, cared for the sick, and visited the poor would enter the kingdom of God, for every time we served others, it was as if we served Christ. So, how do we visit the sick? We could bring food to their homes to sooth the spirit, offer to get things from the store, send a get well card, or even take them to doctor appointments. Better yet, we can encourage them (body), read from God’s word and pray for them (soul/spirit). One doesn’t have to be a pastor, or even an elder, to read God’s word and pray. Listen to them and what their needs might be (spiritual and physical). Lord, give me ears to hear their need. Give me words to minister to their hearts. Give me faith to lift them up to Your gracious care. Amen

How Precious Is Marriage?

We know that there are several places where God tells us that a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two will become one flesh. There were a few reasons given where, because of the hardness of man’s hearts, divorce was permitted... not encouraged. This included marital unfaithfulness and an unbelieving spouse leaving the marriage. In general, I think it is clear to say that God hates divorce. Marriage is important enough that we have a book of the Bible that is devoted to the courtship, dating, marriage design. That book is the Song of Solomon or Song of Songs. It may take a little cultural understanding to the comprehend the illustrations, but the picture is powerful. Unlike the world today, they didn’t use the phrase 'boys will be boys' when it comes to justifying sexual encounters outside marriage. On multiple occasions, the woman offers her body to the man, and each time he restrains himself, and points to the time when all will be freely given... marriage. When looking at the image of marriage, God uses it to describe the relationship of the church with God. The church is the bride, and the groom is Jesus Christ Himself. Christ lays down His life for her that she might be presented to the Heavenly Father as one without blemish or spot, cleansed by Christ Jesus. I don’t believe that God would use the image of marriage to describe the church if there wasn’t already great value placed on marriage. Going back to the decree in Genesis about the man leaving his father and mother, we see the design of a new family unit, not one hanging onto the past. The groom builds their new home and the bride joins him there where they will start their life together bringing new life into the world. Indeed, Christ has laid the foundation upon which the church is to be built. In 1 Corinthians 13, it says, “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” The Apostle Paul speaks of love and a time when we will all enjoy the depth of this unconditional love in Heaven. We have a foretaste... we know in part, but the day will come when we will fully know God and be fully known. Father, thank You for the precious gift of marriage. Draw husbands and wives nearer to each other and to You. Amen

Ruts and Roadblocks

I was driving on the highway today and so I decided to set the speed control so that I didn’t have to keep my foot on the gas pedal. I didn’t ask for this feature and I’m still not sure whether I like it or not, but my car has a speed control setting that slows down when other cars slow down. It is a nice feature when I am not paying as close an attention to the road as I should and keeps me a safe distance away. It has a drawback too. If I am on a two lane highway and I want to go at a certain speed for a long period of time, I just set the control. Too often, I am watching the traffic, but not the speedometer, since the speed is set. Problem is, if the car in front is going slower, my car gradually slows down to that speed and I often don’t realize it for miles. If I’m not in a hurry it is no big deal. If I am trying to make time, it becomes very frustrating to slow down without knowing it... especially since I could just pull out in the next lane and pass. We do way too many things out of habit (coasting), not out of service (to God). Our commitment slows down. Our Scripture reading and devotions slow down. Our faith slows down. We begin to follow that “vehicle” ahead of us instead of going around and doing what we were meant to do. That “vehicle” can be worldly desires, complacency, habit (even if they are not bad), others expectations, and the like. They are not always bad, in and of themselves, but they pull us away from doing that which is good. We are blindly following the crowd, but we are failing to focus on our destination as we should. Because we have convinced ourselves that we are heading the right direction, we fail to stay focused on God, His word, and His leading. As the old slang goes, we are stuck in the mud. If we follow that “vehicle” too long, we may not even notice that it has exited the highway and we are still following. We might need to see a roadblock before we realize we are on the wrong road. Don’t expect tomorrow to be like today. Be on your toes, alert for opportunities and aware of the Devils attacks. Surrender your worldly wants and pray that God’s Spirit would direct your way. Make sure you are staying tuned to God, His word, and how God might be calling you. Father, strengthen us in faith and help us to avoid getting caught in ruts and roadblocks. Help us to grow, stay fresh in our faith, and dependant on You. Amen

Heart Desire vs. Reality

On Memorial Day, we took a trip to Door County to check out the cherry blossoms, some unique stores, and just see the sites. We planned to use a good chunk of the day and were looking forward to just enjoying it. The beauty didn’t fail us. The flowering orchards, the quaint towns, the specialty stores, and seeing the bay and all the beauty. As we though it couldn’t get better, we hadn’t considered if it might get worse... which it did. We discovered that a few of us had allergic reactions to the cherry blossoms. All our best plans and desires didn’t look so amazing after congestion started setting in. Even though we left the area, the allergic reaction lasted for the rest of the day. Our plans seemed well thought out until a wrench got thrown into the mix. What our heart was desiring seemed to be much less valuable than the reality of the situation. I think that there are many with a romantic view of faith, figuring that everything will just fall into place, all struggles will cease, and we will live happily ever after. We don’t consider what God is calling us to do and that there may be suffering involved. God promises an amazing eternity if we walk by faith, but He doesn’t guarantee what day to day will look like. If we live in perfect harmony with the community, especially those that aren’t walking by faith, we have to ask ourselves if we are truly living out our faith. Has our faith become so private that those around us don’t understand how important and life changing it is or do we not realize how important it is and out of fear of rejection, choose to make our faith private? We have to ask ourselves where our hearts desires come from. After all, God says that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. Are our spiritual conversations saved for church and Bible studies, or do we boldly live out that faith for the world to see? Sometimes, even our best plans must be changed. Even though we must always test to see if our desires are in line with God’s will, we must also know that God tells us that if we delight ourselves in Him, He will give us the desires of our hearts... not the selfish ones, but the ones that come from delighting in God. Reality can be harsh, but life would be very depressing if we didn’t have the desires that only God gives. Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and change our hearts to align with Your word so that our hearts might truly rejoice. Amen

O, That They All Could

One of our readings today, the Day of Pentecost - when the church celebrates the Holy Spirit being poured out in a new way in the church, showed the relationship between us and God. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given to the prophets and those that spoke on God’s behalf. One of our Scripture readings today dealt with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the leaders of the God’s people while they were in the wilderness. The Holy Spirit was taken from Moses and split up between the 70 men. They met on the outskirts of the community and began to prophesy. Two of these men hadn’t gone out with the others and so were prophesy within the community. Someone told Joshua, who told Moses of the two men that were prophesying elsewhere. Joshua told Moses to quiet them, but I love his response. Are you so jealous for me that you would silence them? I wish that all people (were filled with the Holy Spirit) could prophesy. Today, we have leaders and members who want to be in control. Maybe it is the Pastor that feels people must follow his every desire. Maybe it is a big financial giver that feels their voice is more important than others. Maybe it is the person who has an agenda that they feel everyone else should follow. Moses isn’t concerned about himself or his recognition. When he sees the Holy Spirit poured out on so many, he realizes the benefits of more people teaching God’s word. Now imagine when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost what the possibilities were. The prophesying wasn’t outside the camp but proclaimed to large crowds that were in the city that week. Along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit were the fruit of the Spirit for all which was love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control. There were also given, as the Holy Spirit chose, the manifestation of the Spirit, the message of wisdom, the message of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. So what is holding us back from being the church God called us to be? O Holy Spirit, You have given these gifts so that Your church might grow in faith and obedience. Fill to overflowing. Amen

The Joy of Serving

We live in a time where so many people feel like the rest of the world owes them something. We have Lawsuits because we don’t like an outcome. Kids expect to get what they want when they want it. Workers who do basic labor somehow think that they have a right to share in the riches of the CEO and management. Many teens don’t even look for work, expecting to be taken care of. That is not the call God put on our hearts, and it is not the example that He set for us. Jesus’ own words claim that He didn’t come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. Think about that... Jesus came to serve. In contrast, there many who pray, mainly when they are in need, for God to help them. Help me get a job. Help me to score well on a test. Don’t let anyone find out what I did. Help my team to win. Does that seem to line up with the example Jesus left for us? Now, I’m not saying we can’t pray for those things, but it should not be our main focus. We hear about the gifts of the Spirit that include teaching, leading, serving, being generous, etc. These gifts are not given for the benefit of the one who receives it but rather puts a greater responsibility on the one who has the gift to use it in service to God. King David was a great king, but he knew where his power came from. He tended sheep, fought Goliath, played the harp for King Saul and wrote many Psalms (hymns) about who God is and how much we depend on Him. There are many others that illustrate the need for us to serve God. Even the great Prophets were called by God and were required to share what God spoke to them, even if they were killed for sharing that word. I would also like to share that serving the Lord isn’t a punishment or hard labor. It is an honor to be about God’s work. One of the Psalmist clearly describe the desire to serve God... “Better is one day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Psalm 84). We get lost fighting for our rights rather than living in service to God. The world might bring momentary joys, but in the end, it brings eternal condemnation. The joy of serving is not about personal gain, but rather a privilege to serve the Creator God. Father, You have gifted each person differently. Fill our hearts with a joy and satisfaction as we use those gifts to honor You. Amen

Is War Acceptable?

We are approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the USA. Many see it as a sign that the summer is officially beginning. Its meaning is much deeper and more personal. It is a day to remember those serving in the military that paid the ultimate price... they never came home. We have a number of holidays to remember the men and women that serve our nation through the military. Some feel that we shouldn’t go to war and may even go so far as to believe that fighting is wrong, after all one of the Ten Commandments says that we should not kill, right? Wrong! It says that we should not murder. What is the difference? Murder is a premeditated intent to harm another for personal gain. When a life is taken protecting ourselves or others, it is not murder. I will admit that there are some wars that are wrong... those that seek to destroy other nations so that they may grow larger and stronger. This would likely fall under murder and greed. There are wars against people because of hate. Again, this is not acceptable. There are other reasons that would be unacceptable too. A country has the right to go to war to protect its own citizens. If a country threatens another nation and has shown resolve to carry it out, that nation can go to war preemptively to defend itself. Romans even says that the ‘government doesn’t carry the sword for nothing’ meaning that it has the right to take life to maintain order. Our first allegiance must be to God... no other option comes close. Then I believe we serve our families, and then our nation (assuming the nation isn’t operating contrary to God). Very few countries can have order and peace if have no way to defend themselves. Some nations depend on others to defend them. Some are able to defend themselves. Without protection, eventually someone will overtake that nation. The nation (and those under its protection) that has a strong military, doesn’t desire to conquor the world, and continues to have the latest technology and equipment will likely enjoy the greatest peace. Those that serve in their military to protect that nation deserve great respect. This is why we honor those that died while serving. We owe them a debt of gratitude. Take time to remember the price of freedom. Father, thank You for the men and women that have served to protect us over the years. Watch over those that have lost loved ones. Amen

Spring Is Here... Almost

I grew up where the only change of season was rainy or dry season. You could set your clock by where the sun was... 6 am, noon, and 6 pm, with sun straight above for noon. Now Spring is coming, though I have still heard of snow, ice, and hard freezes. There are more leaves on the trees, the apple trees are almost ready to blossom, and yet the tall grass on the edge of the lawn is still brown and flat on the ground. That too will rise. I hear the frogs out at night now and unfortunately, the mosquitos are starting to come out too. It’s the blooms and the leaves that really get me excited. Still a little early for the garden with tomatoes and warmer weather plants. The earth seems to testify to power and glory of God. We read in Psalm 19, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Again we read in Psalm 97, “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols — worship him, all you gods!” His creation declare His creative power. His creation declares the glory of His name. His creation is a witness to power of of God. We join with the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 25, “To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.” We often look at what we see around in light of what it does for us. We may not truly comprehend the beauty of the birds and flowers. We might not see how God provides for us in all His creation around us. We notice what helps and often ignore everything else. One person notices one part of creation while another sees something else, but if both of them look, they all point us to God, the Creator of heaven and earth. Romans 1 talks about how we are without excuse because God is revealed in all that He has given to us. Whether you see it in the Spring or Fall, lift your voice in praise and worship. Heavenly Father, to You we lift up our soul. In You we will trust all day long. May our hearts sing praises to You and about You. Amen

Graduates

I don’t know how many people reading this know of someone who graduates this year. I don’t know if you have had any influence on their lives... parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, and friends. The high school graduates have put in at least 12 years of their life studying to get to where they are now. They have learned many things, some of which will be beneficial and some things that may become obstacles they will need to overcome. College and tech school graduates are put in an even more important position where they must determine what they are doing. Some have a great faith, some a minimal faith, and some no faith at all. What is the future going to hold and where do we fit in? The most valuable thing that we can be doing is praying for those that are preparing to embark on a new adventure. Pray that God would give them great wisdom and insight into what the future will hold for them. Pray for the Spirit to surround them with good and Godly friends. Pray for churches that are in the area these students might end up so that they can find that church home that can be so invaluable. Even pray for those that may not be believers that God would draw them to Himself. Continue to pray for them. On top of that, encourage them. Make sure they know there are people that care for them so that when they are tempted or overwhelmed, they know that there are those praying for them. The closer your relationship, the more depth those encouragements might be. We are not talking about stalking, but a positive interaction. If you are family, be involved as you are able. We don’t want to send these folks out alone because we know that opens them up to being influenced by others. They need other friends, but colleges or going out into the workforce full time have its own challenges. It’s not too early to begin praying for the Juniors in high school and college. There are many decisions that will be made before they reach graduation. Both present and future graduates should be praised for their hard work, be challenged to weigh carefully what they will do, and be encouraged to make God a priority. Pray generically or specifically, but know they need to be anchored in healthy habits. Father, thank You for allowing so many graduates to complete their study. Prepare them for the future and guard their hearts. Amen