Adversity is a frequent visitor. She can he intrusive, appearing at the least convenient moments and staying longer than politeness allows. You and I have known the unwelcome one and wish for hardship’s last trespass to be her last. As we see it, adversity’s sole mission is to bring us to low spots. We cannot see above what appears to be insurmountable barriers. A chasm of hopelessness is fixed between today’s reality and a better future.
Pat and I have passed through many valleys in our journey together, and have been present with others in memorable low spots. We have several friends who have recently lost immediate family members. Several others are battling an array of cancers. The world’s economy has found a way negatively affect good, hardworking, honest, God-fearing people. And, those who treat Him with contempt and use his name with glib disdain often continue to thrive.
While rereading the Judges, I discovered something which refreshed and instructed my spirit. A delegation of 3000 Judeans, Samson’s fellow countrymen, had come to arrest him and deliver Samson to the Philistines. The Philistines were enraged because Samson had embarrassed them in the most creative case of arson in world history. He captured 300 foxes, tied them in pairs at their tails, set the foxes’ tails on fire and set them running. The loss of crops was devastating to the Philistine economy and food supply.
The 3000 Judeans, fearful and preoccupied with self-preservation, were willing to arrest a fellow Israeli to protect their interests. As the Israeli posse bound Samson and prepared to deliver him to their enemies, the Philistines approached. Samson snapped the ropes that bound him, grabbed the jawbone of a donkey and killed 1000 Philistines. You can read the whole story in Judges 15.
The deed done, Samson was very thirsty, and cried out to the Lord for water. Before the bodies of the conquered were buried, Samson was in despair for his life and feared he would die himself. His immediate need overwhelmed a correct perspective. When this happens, our view of God shrivels up and His power is reduced to less than enough than our need.
“Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.” (Judges 15:19)
At our lowest points, God digs deeper. We all experience moments of great thirst, severe challenge, and daunting despair. The victories of the past are meaningless when our throats are parched, our strength is spent. Then, God digs a well. The water we have never tasted is as life-sustaining as the manna and quail Israel ate in the wilderness. We drink, our thirst is quenched and our strength is restored! If you are in a low spot, thirsty, and anxious about the outcomes of the challenges before you, hold steady and the Lord will dig a well for you!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Stewardship of Self
Stewards of self
A mentor who influenced me greatly often repeated, “We all want to be saved from sin because we don’t want to go to hell. But, we put up quite a fight resisting the Lord’s insistence to being saved from ourselves.” The great battlefield of the world is not geographic, but is the arena of struggle between my ears and between my elbows, the places where I decide who is in charge.
No one is more vulnerable than the person who is unable to control self. “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28) In short, the person without self-discipline is open to attack on every side. In contrast, no one is more valuable than the one who knows how to say “no” to self and “yes” to Jesus. Self-controlled people make the best employees, never using a bit of fatigue, a dose of laziness, or lurking flu bug to interrupt their reputation for being reliable and industrious. Self-controlled church members are able to allow others to be who they are without losing their own passion and fervor for following Jesus.
The hedonism of our culture cries out demanding privilege and entitlement. In direct contrast, the call of Jesus is, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) The collision between hedonistic demands and Jesus’ entry level requirement should not surprise us. Paul wrote to his prodigy, “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self–control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God ...” (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
I have concluded –
• There is no way to baptize world values, immersing them into murky waters of ambivalence. There isn’t even any basis for beginning the conversation as there are no values held in common.. The world says, “Me first!” Jesus says, “Deny yourself.”
• As cultures naturally slip downward ethically, morally, and spiritually, the differences between the society and Jesus’ disciples escalate. The people of God invariably become the object of scorn, ridicule, and blame. Historically, as the struggles between culture and Biblical truth intensified, Jesus’ disciples have often been martyred. While today’s focus is on protecting Judeo-Christian values in the culture, courts, and congress, we might serve one another better by reinforcing each other in our resolve to follow Jesus at any cost.
• We ought to be alert to attempts to synthesize the world’s values with self-denial. We can begin the process by asking several questions. First, “Am I reading the Bible with an insight into the historical setting and empathy with the ‘first readers?’” The Bible is more Oriental than Western. We cannot speed read literature which was processed over centuries. It deserves greater attention and care. Some authors wrote from prison, served time as plitical prisoners, an faced martyrdom. Do we attempt to feel the passion required to write under adverse conditions? Second, “Am I worshiping Jesus, the Word which became flesh and lived among us so that we could know God’s glory?” (John 1) All have gods. But Jesus is an offense and stumbling block. (1 Corinthians 1) Is my preacher leading me to Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, ascension and second coming? Or, am I presented a generic god? Third, “Am I making decisions with Jesus’ pleasure and approval as my first consideration?” Or, do I make decisions about time, money, activity, and attitudes which are acceptable in the world?
We are stewards of our selves, and self is wild, and can only be tamed as we yield to Jesus’ authority over us one decision and one moment at a time.
A mentor who influenced me greatly often repeated, “We all want to be saved from sin because we don’t want to go to hell. But, we put up quite a fight resisting the Lord’s insistence to being saved from ourselves.” The great battlefield of the world is not geographic, but is the arena of struggle between my ears and between my elbows, the places where I decide who is in charge.
No one is more vulnerable than the person who is unable to control self. “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28) In short, the person without self-discipline is open to attack on every side. In contrast, no one is more valuable than the one who knows how to say “no” to self and “yes” to Jesus. Self-controlled people make the best employees, never using a bit of fatigue, a dose of laziness, or lurking flu bug to interrupt their reputation for being reliable and industrious. Self-controlled church members are able to allow others to be who they are without losing their own passion and fervor for following Jesus.
The hedonism of our culture cries out demanding privilege and entitlement. In direct contrast, the call of Jesus is, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23) The collision between hedonistic demands and Jesus’ entry level requirement should not surprise us. Paul wrote to his prodigy, “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self–control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God ...” (2 Timothy 3:1-4)
I have concluded –
• There is no way to baptize world values, immersing them into murky waters of ambivalence. There isn’t even any basis for beginning the conversation as there are no values held in common.. The world says, “Me first!” Jesus says, “Deny yourself.”
• As cultures naturally slip downward ethically, morally, and spiritually, the differences between the society and Jesus’ disciples escalate. The people of God invariably become the object of scorn, ridicule, and blame. Historically, as the struggles between culture and Biblical truth intensified, Jesus’ disciples have often been martyred. While today’s focus is on protecting Judeo-Christian values in the culture, courts, and congress, we might serve one another better by reinforcing each other in our resolve to follow Jesus at any cost.
• We ought to be alert to attempts to synthesize the world’s values with self-denial. We can begin the process by asking several questions. First, “Am I reading the Bible with an insight into the historical setting and empathy with the ‘first readers?’” The Bible is more Oriental than Western. We cannot speed read literature which was processed over centuries. It deserves greater attention and care. Some authors wrote from prison, served time as plitical prisoners, an faced martyrdom. Do we attempt to feel the passion required to write under adverse conditions? Second, “Am I worshiping Jesus, the Word which became flesh and lived among us so that we could know God’s glory?” (John 1) All have gods. But Jesus is an offense and stumbling block. (1 Corinthians 1) Is my preacher leading me to Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, ascension and second coming? Or, am I presented a generic god? Third, “Am I making decisions with Jesus’ pleasure and approval as my first consideration?” Or, do I make decisions about time, money, activity, and attitudes which are acceptable in the world?
We are stewards of our selves, and self is wild, and can only be tamed as we yield to Jesus’ authority over us one decision and one moment at a time.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Stewards of the Story
The last time I preached, I told a story. A lady preacher had taught, “Anyone can count the seeds in an apple, but we can know the God who knows how many apples are in a seed.” People are still repeating the lesson delivered in story form. Unfortunately, they are not repeating much of the rest of the message!
Jesus followers are stewards of a story, a story which stretches from before the beginning of man’s experience and continues to be written today. The story is often simple, but sometimes confusing. Some stories are full of details, other parts are abrupt with little explanation or particulars. The Book of Judges is like that. Gideon’s leadership is described with ample anecdotal support, but of Shamgar we know almost nothing.
Storytelling is an important responsibility, and the consequences of repeating how God has acted can result in either salvation or devastation. Judges 2 reports that after the death of Joshua and those who were eyewitnesses of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian oppression, “Another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. (V. 10) A generation didn't know the story! For lack of remembering, knowing and understanding the story, the people began worshiping false gods and provoked their Deliverer to anger (v. 12).
Too much is at risk to fail to repeat the story well, or to present it with revisions which minimize the awe-inspiring miraculous means God employed. Efforts to make the God story relevant must not strip away the very ingredient which was included to fill us with hope, lead us to faith, and allow us to see deliverance today.
Proper, well-executed story telling also includes the gritty details of human failure. When reading Gideon’s experiences with angels and God, one notices faith-building material in nearly every paragraph. But, a sobering detail closes his biography, “Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” (8:27)
My parents were my first storytellers. Others followed. The Holy Spirit retells Jesus’ stories Holy Spirit-to-human spirit. I am reading and rereading the story again and again, and Holy Spirit makes sure I learn more.
I'm off to find someone to whom I may tell the story.
Jesus followers are stewards of a story, a story which stretches from before the beginning of man’s experience and continues to be written today. The story is often simple, but sometimes confusing. Some stories are full of details, other parts are abrupt with little explanation or particulars. The Book of Judges is like that. Gideon’s leadership is described with ample anecdotal support, but of Shamgar we know almost nothing.
Storytelling is an important responsibility, and the consequences of repeating how God has acted can result in either salvation or devastation. Judges 2 reports that after the death of Joshua and those who were eyewitnesses of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian oppression, “Another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. (V. 10) A generation didn't know the story! For lack of remembering, knowing and understanding the story, the people began worshiping false gods and provoked their Deliverer to anger (v. 12).
Too much is at risk to fail to repeat the story well, or to present it with revisions which minimize the awe-inspiring miraculous means God employed. Efforts to make the God story relevant must not strip away the very ingredient which was included to fill us with hope, lead us to faith, and allow us to see deliverance today.
Proper, well-executed story telling also includes the gritty details of human failure. When reading Gideon’s experiences with angels and God, one notices faith-building material in nearly every paragraph. But, a sobering detail closes his biography, “Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” (8:27)
My parents were my first storytellers. Others followed. The Holy Spirit retells Jesus’ stories Holy Spirit-to-human spirit. I am reading and rereading the story again and again, and Holy Spirit makes sure I learn more.
I'm off to find someone to whom I may tell the story.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Justice: Stewards of God's Desires for His World
As I paid for my copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday my eyes fell on the bold print immediately below the masthead. It read, “Mistakes in life and death cases.” The investigative reporter documented what many who live in a large city already know, people accused of capital crimes and, who must depend on public defenders, are far more likely to be convicted than those who can afford their own counsel.
The facts as revealed in the report are staggering. Nearly a third of those convicted and sentenced to death have their convictions either overturned or are retried because of the ineptness of a court appointed defense attorney. The reporter cited more than one public defender who argued that their performances were poor in court because they were underpaid. One said he had earned an average of only $10 per hour in defending a man who had been sentenced to death. (Some earn a better wage working at a fast food store.) Another made a huge error in quoting Exodus 21:34, “If there is an assault on a woman and that woman is pregnant, and that woman loses the child, and there is damage beyond that to a woman, then an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” The woman that the defendant was accused of killing was pregnant! The inept counsel practically asked the jury to impose the death penalty! More than one attorney cited for ineptness in his defense of an accused felon has been made a judge! You may read the whole report at http://philly.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx.
The purpose for referring to the obvious injustices is to call for a new sensitivity to a reality with which too many of our neighbors live. Many American Christians insist on personal rights and freedoms. We are frequently active and vocal. The push-back is strong when anything impinges on our best dreams and desires. But, little is said0 and less is done about justice. Please remember, the God we serve is just!
The Holy Spirit still calls out through the prophet Micah, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8) At least ten calls for justice are found in the Pentateuch alone. “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) Don’t you think the message is straightforward and unmistakable?
While the church is often adamant about prayer in schools, circulating petitions, informing members how to contact their representatives, and threatening politicians with whom they disagree, the voice for justice is muffled, and unintelligible. As one who has lived and worked in large cities, I know first-hand of those who accepted a plea bargained sentence for a crime they did not do in order to escape being sentenced to a more serious offence of which they are also innocent.
When we are called to noble challenges we move forward daringly, sacrificing, gladly accepting any necessary deprivation. But, when people feel they have been betrayed, they will riot in anger. The overthrow of several governments this year ought to be an object lesson to all Americans, especially Christians.
A final word, justice is something we are to “do!” The rightness of doing justice needs to be applied to access to excellent education. Continuous poverty reaching from one generation to another is far more complicated than most superficial assessments. For instance, how can a parent read to their children when they are illiterate after going to school for more than ten years? Or, how does one apply for employment without reading and writing skills? Shouldn’t the church see the opportunity for doing justice in addressing such an obvious inequity?
Doesn’t the Bible address the care of the orphan and widow as a high priority, a clear way of “doing justice?” (James 1) How can people living in the shadow of the best research hospitals in the world fail to benefit from the health care provided there? Why should the poor and those unable to access health care distribution systems die prematurely? Do we dare ask ourselves the questions which may expose our insensitivity to the injustices in our culture and too often ignored in the church?
Sometimes reading the newspaper reminds me of just how much this world needs the church to be at its very best. I am determined to do justice in every way I can.
The facts as revealed in the report are staggering. Nearly a third of those convicted and sentenced to death have their convictions either overturned or are retried because of the ineptness of a court appointed defense attorney. The reporter cited more than one public defender who argued that their performances were poor in court because they were underpaid. One said he had earned an average of only $10 per hour in defending a man who had been sentenced to death. (Some earn a better wage working at a fast food store.) Another made a huge error in quoting Exodus 21:34, “If there is an assault on a woman and that woman is pregnant, and that woman loses the child, and there is damage beyond that to a woman, then an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” The woman that the defendant was accused of killing was pregnant! The inept counsel practically asked the jury to impose the death penalty! More than one attorney cited for ineptness in his defense of an accused felon has been made a judge! You may read the whole report at http://philly.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx.
The purpose for referring to the obvious injustices is to call for a new sensitivity to a reality with which too many of our neighbors live. Many American Christians insist on personal rights and freedoms. We are frequently active and vocal. The push-back is strong when anything impinges on our best dreams and desires. But, little is said0 and less is done about justice. Please remember, the God we serve is just!
The Holy Spirit still calls out through the prophet Micah, “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (6:8) At least ten calls for justice are found in the Pentateuch alone. “Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) Don’t you think the message is straightforward and unmistakable?
While the church is often adamant about prayer in schools, circulating petitions, informing members how to contact their representatives, and threatening politicians with whom they disagree, the voice for justice is muffled, and unintelligible. As one who has lived and worked in large cities, I know first-hand of those who accepted a plea bargained sentence for a crime they did not do in order to escape being sentenced to a more serious offence of which they are also innocent.
When we are called to noble challenges we move forward daringly, sacrificing, gladly accepting any necessary deprivation. But, when people feel they have been betrayed, they will riot in anger. The overthrow of several governments this year ought to be an object lesson to all Americans, especially Christians.
A final word, justice is something we are to “do!” The rightness of doing justice needs to be applied to access to excellent education. Continuous poverty reaching from one generation to another is far more complicated than most superficial assessments. For instance, how can a parent read to their children when they are illiterate after going to school for more than ten years? Or, how does one apply for employment without reading and writing skills? Shouldn’t the church see the opportunity for doing justice in addressing such an obvious inequity?
Doesn’t the Bible address the care of the orphan and widow as a high priority, a clear way of “doing justice?” (James 1) How can people living in the shadow of the best research hospitals in the world fail to benefit from the health care provided there? Why should the poor and those unable to access health care distribution systems die prematurely? Do we dare ask ourselves the questions which may expose our insensitivity to the injustices in our culture and too often ignored in the church?
Sometimes reading the newspaper reminds me of just how much this world needs the church to be at its very best. I am determined to do justice in every way I can.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Stewards, not owners!
Have you discovered, as I have, that there are only two kinds of people in the world, getters and givers? The getter never has enough and the giver is surprised with what he has and is continuously looking for new ways to express generosity. “The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.” (Proverbs 21:25)
The issue of ownership goes to the heart of the matter. John Wesley wrote, “When the possessor of heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, placed you here not as an owner but as a steward.” Stewards, or managers, serve at the pleasure of the owner. Stewards understand that they are not the one who is to be satisfied, but the owner.
God’s people are assigned the responsibility of demonstrating His great generosity. Our Heavenly Father was under no duress when He sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins and suffering. He freely gave, held nothing back. If we fully embrace that truth, everything in our care is to be shared freely and widely. The burden of the steward is not in the sharing, but in discovering the most appropriate way to make the best possible use of the Owner’s property and abilities with which he endows us. One thing is clear, selfishness is never an option. If we err, we ought to err on the side of generosity.
All who have been born of the Spirit are stewards of truth. At the risk of being “preachy” I suggest that all stewards of truth ought to –
• Live lives consistent with the truth. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7) A man who shared wisdom with me when I was young repeated often, “If the way I live is different than what I say, the best prayer I can pray is, ‘O, Lord, help me keep my mouth shut.’” Our confessions of faith ought to be reinforced with our behavior.
• Live as generously as we know how. Giving, sharing, living with an ever-increasing capacity to trust others, to empower others, to bless others without any reluctance. Of course, some will abuse our willingness to share, but if we try to possess and refuse to share, we will be misused anyway!
• Remember grace! Isn’t it true that, if we received what we deserved, we would all have been in hell long ago. But, God pours out grace, unearned, undeserved favor. Others, likewise, need not deserve our generosity. Haven’t we squandered the grace of God on occasion? Isn’t it possible for our generosity expressed toward others to be similarly wasted?
In short, we might need to periodically do a bit of introspection and ask, “Am I living life as a steward of God’s possessions? Am I making the best use of God-given abilities? Or, am I behaving like those who have never tasted of the grace of God?”
I’m off to find a new way to give away my day to someone. Maybe we will meet in the same marketplace confounding onlookers with our generosity.
The issue of ownership goes to the heart of the matter. John Wesley wrote, “When the possessor of heaven and earth brought you into being and placed you in this world, placed you here not as an owner but as a steward.” Stewards, or managers, serve at the pleasure of the owner. Stewards understand that they are not the one who is to be satisfied, but the owner.
God’s people are assigned the responsibility of demonstrating His great generosity. Our Heavenly Father was under no duress when He sent Jesus to be the sacrifice for our sins and suffering. He freely gave, held nothing back. If we fully embrace that truth, everything in our care is to be shared freely and widely. The burden of the steward is not in the sharing, but in discovering the most appropriate way to make the best possible use of the Owner’s property and abilities with which he endows us. One thing is clear, selfishness is never an option. If we err, we ought to err on the side of generosity.
All who have been born of the Spirit are stewards of truth. At the risk of being “preachy” I suggest that all stewards of truth ought to –
• Live lives consistent with the truth. “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7) A man who shared wisdom with me when I was young repeated often, “If the way I live is different than what I say, the best prayer I can pray is, ‘O, Lord, help me keep my mouth shut.’” Our confessions of faith ought to be reinforced with our behavior.
• Live as generously as we know how. Giving, sharing, living with an ever-increasing capacity to trust others, to empower others, to bless others without any reluctance. Of course, some will abuse our willingness to share, but if we try to possess and refuse to share, we will be misused anyway!
• Remember grace! Isn’t it true that, if we received what we deserved, we would all have been in hell long ago. But, God pours out grace, unearned, undeserved favor. Others, likewise, need not deserve our generosity. Haven’t we squandered the grace of God on occasion? Isn’t it possible for our generosity expressed toward others to be similarly wasted?
In short, we might need to periodically do a bit of introspection and ask, “Am I living life as a steward of God’s possessions? Am I making the best use of God-given abilities? Or, am I behaving like those who have never tasted of the grace of God?”
I’m off to find a new way to give away my day to someone. Maybe we will meet in the same marketplace confounding onlookers with our generosity.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
"Plan B"
Life presents frequent “Plan B” scenarios. The unexpected seems to be part of every decision, all relationships, and each expectation. The unplanned is a common denominator in life that often proves to be as insignificant as a flat tire, a missed appointment, or getting lost en route to a casual social event. Right now Pat and I have several friends who are battling cancer. By definition, disappointments are the opposite of what is anticipated. No one we know has planned to contract a serious disease or deliberately looked forward to defeat. Sicknesses and disappointments call for “Plan B.”
Joshua needed a “Plan B” solution immediately after a terrific victory at Jericho. The people were excited and feeling invincible. The walls of Jericho fell without the loss of a single Israeli life. Ai was smaller, less fortified, and more vulnerable than Jericho. The report of the spies was accepted, “Two or three thousand warriors will be more than enough.” (7:3) Hours later, Israel was demoralized and mourning the loss of 36 soldiers, Ai was angry and ready for a fight, and Joshua suddenly was called on to exercise yet untested leadership skills. Until Ai, everything had gone as planned. The people were now second guessing Joshua and he cried out, “If only we had been content to stay on the other side of Jordan.”
Most of us can relate to Joshua’s dilemma, even if our challenges are of lesser magnitude. Wisdom says, “Learn from others and apply the “Plan B” solutions which have brought victory. Notice –
• While Joshua was one of the two faithful spies sent into the Promised Land, he failed to remember that ten out of twelve spies were unreliable. Joshua simply was listening to the wrong counsel. As soon as Joshua humbled himself, he heard from the Lord!
• Joshua’s concern was broader than his personal reputation. He prayed, “What will you do for your own great name?” (7:9) Desperate prayers are often self-focused. Joshua is a proper example pointing to the Lord’s reputation among Israel and her enemies.
• The Lord introduced a war strategy never employed by Israel before, a ruse, which minimized the effectiveness of the enemy army. That is a huge lesson! God’s ways are full of innovation. In a copycat world, the Sovereign of the universe keeps creating, planning, equipping, and succeeding without duplicating a previous scheme! “Plan B” is most often new, creative, stunning, surprising, full of ingenuity.
• Achan serves as a prototype of all who will crave or covet the wrong thing. Skewed priorities twist the straight paths promised to God-followers into gnarled dead ends and frustrating detours. In retrospect, some of what I wanted have proven to be the least important of all. I personally have come to value the “Plan B” experiences as much other God provisions and interventions.
• While taking plunder from Jericho was forbidden, Israeli armies were ordered to take all they could carry from Ai. (8:2) Living by rote, unthinking, without listening to the Lord’s instructions, will end with the wrong results. Each stage in life, each event or circumstance warrants a new word, a fresh insight into the Lord’s counsel.
Pat and I are facing unplanned circumstances. We never anticipated Parkinson’s Disease, but we are listening for the Lord’s counsel daily. “Plan B” is frequently a daily need as changes occur – unexpected, unannounced, and unwanted. But, with God, “Plan B” is satisfying and full of victory.
If you are in “Plan B” mode, enjoy the moment. Expect a new intervention. Listen and look for the One who speaks and acts!
Joshua needed a “Plan B” solution immediately after a terrific victory at Jericho. The people were excited and feeling invincible. The walls of Jericho fell without the loss of a single Israeli life. Ai was smaller, less fortified, and more vulnerable than Jericho. The report of the spies was accepted, “Two or three thousand warriors will be more than enough.” (7:3) Hours later, Israel was demoralized and mourning the loss of 36 soldiers, Ai was angry and ready for a fight, and Joshua suddenly was called on to exercise yet untested leadership skills. Until Ai, everything had gone as planned. The people were now second guessing Joshua and he cried out, “If only we had been content to stay on the other side of Jordan.”
Most of us can relate to Joshua’s dilemma, even if our challenges are of lesser magnitude. Wisdom says, “Learn from others and apply the “Plan B” solutions which have brought victory. Notice –
• While Joshua was one of the two faithful spies sent into the Promised Land, he failed to remember that ten out of twelve spies were unreliable. Joshua simply was listening to the wrong counsel. As soon as Joshua humbled himself, he heard from the Lord!
• Joshua’s concern was broader than his personal reputation. He prayed, “What will you do for your own great name?” (7:9) Desperate prayers are often self-focused. Joshua is a proper example pointing to the Lord’s reputation among Israel and her enemies.
• The Lord introduced a war strategy never employed by Israel before, a ruse, which minimized the effectiveness of the enemy army. That is a huge lesson! God’s ways are full of innovation. In a copycat world, the Sovereign of the universe keeps creating, planning, equipping, and succeeding without duplicating a previous scheme! “Plan B” is most often new, creative, stunning, surprising, full of ingenuity.
• Achan serves as a prototype of all who will crave or covet the wrong thing. Skewed priorities twist the straight paths promised to God-followers into gnarled dead ends and frustrating detours. In retrospect, some of what I wanted have proven to be the least important of all. I personally have come to value the “Plan B” experiences as much other God provisions and interventions.
• While taking plunder from Jericho was forbidden, Israeli armies were ordered to take all they could carry from Ai. (8:2) Living by rote, unthinking, without listening to the Lord’s instructions, will end with the wrong results. Each stage in life, each event or circumstance warrants a new word, a fresh insight into the Lord’s counsel.
Pat and I are facing unplanned circumstances. We never anticipated Parkinson’s Disease, but we are listening for the Lord’s counsel daily. “Plan B” is frequently a daily need as changes occur – unexpected, unannounced, and unwanted. But, with God, “Plan B” is satisfying and full of victory.
If you are in “Plan B” mode, enjoy the moment. Expect a new intervention. Listen and look for the One who speaks and acts!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Memories and Future
This past weekend Pat and I attended the centennial anniversary of Bethany Church in Northern New Jersey. We pastored that flagship congregation from late 1977 to early 1988, years filled with delightful experiences, the material from which happy, faith-building memories are built.
The thriving congregation knows how to celebrate, how to joyfully give thanks to Jesus for His faithfulness and blessing. One of the most interesting events of a very full weekend was the Friday night “music of the century.” Hymns and choruses from each decade was sung with joyful memories. The contrasts were primarily in style, the message was consistently centered on personal testimony and the character of God.
Millions of Israeli citizens walked on dry riverbed, even though the river was cresting. The riverbed was dry because of God’s miraculous intervention. One may read the whole account in Judges 3 and 4. The Lord then told Joshua to have a representative of each tribe of Israel remove a stone from the river’s path and erect a monument so that the children would ask, “What do these stones mean?” The monument was to be a teaching tool, a visual aid.
Monuments to God’s past actions are too important to coming generations to ignore their meaning and use.
• Monuments that remind us are effective when God’s actions result in His Name being praised. To fail to remember, is to misplace the object of our hope and trust. We begin to think we have achieved things in our own strength or with our own ingenuity. The pile of stones was to be a call to worship!
• Monuments may not always be made of stone, but they ought to have a high likelihood of permanence. Computer images safely stored is a contemporary manner to build a monument of remembrance. The stones speak of permanent reminders that guard against jettisoning valuable memory. Some instrument to jog memory is a powerful tool!
• The past ought to be part of the faith-building equation. It remains true, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) To anticipate Jesus’ future actions, it is helpful to be well versed in how He has acted in the past. The Jordan Riverside monument’s reason for being was to serve as a frequent reminder that God acts miraculously.
A brief caution is appropriate here. Occasional seasons for reflecting and renewing memory are profitable, but must not become the main activity. One who looks too long in the rear view mirror eventually rear ends someone! Children seeing the monument at the Jordan River were intended to go back to living life practically and presently.
The Older Testament used concrete, visible, tangible things to represent the Newer Testament’s internal, intangible truths. The Law given through Moses was etched into stone. God’s message is written on the fleshly parts of our heart in the Newer Testament (2 Corinthians 3:2). Our recent visit was not focused on the buildings where the church gathers, but on the warm, living members of the spiritual building. The memories are etched for safekeeping in our hearts until Jesus comes.
In heaven there will be no monuments because Jesus will be in the center of everything for all eternity. Sheer, unadulterated gladness will remain endlessly for in His presence is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11)
I suggest, we take time to remember! In memory excursions, visit the places where the Lord did wonders in your life and never forget! Then, move forward!
The thriving congregation knows how to celebrate, how to joyfully give thanks to Jesus for His faithfulness and blessing. One of the most interesting events of a very full weekend was the Friday night “music of the century.” Hymns and choruses from each decade was sung with joyful memories. The contrasts were primarily in style, the message was consistently centered on personal testimony and the character of God.
Millions of Israeli citizens walked on dry riverbed, even though the river was cresting. The riverbed was dry because of God’s miraculous intervention. One may read the whole account in Judges 3 and 4. The Lord then told Joshua to have a representative of each tribe of Israel remove a stone from the river’s path and erect a monument so that the children would ask, “What do these stones mean?” The monument was to be a teaching tool, a visual aid.
Monuments to God’s past actions are too important to coming generations to ignore their meaning and use.
• Monuments that remind us are effective when God’s actions result in His Name being praised. To fail to remember, is to misplace the object of our hope and trust. We begin to think we have achieved things in our own strength or with our own ingenuity. The pile of stones was to be a call to worship!
• Monuments may not always be made of stone, but they ought to have a high likelihood of permanence. Computer images safely stored is a contemporary manner to build a monument of remembrance. The stones speak of permanent reminders that guard against jettisoning valuable memory. Some instrument to jog memory is a powerful tool!
• The past ought to be part of the faith-building equation. It remains true, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) To anticipate Jesus’ future actions, it is helpful to be well versed in how He has acted in the past. The Jordan Riverside monument’s reason for being was to serve as a frequent reminder that God acts miraculously.
A brief caution is appropriate here. Occasional seasons for reflecting and renewing memory are profitable, but must not become the main activity. One who looks too long in the rear view mirror eventually rear ends someone! Children seeing the monument at the Jordan River were intended to go back to living life practically and presently.
The Older Testament used concrete, visible, tangible things to represent the Newer Testament’s internal, intangible truths. The Law given through Moses was etched into stone. God’s message is written on the fleshly parts of our heart in the Newer Testament (2 Corinthians 3:2). Our recent visit was not focused on the buildings where the church gathers, but on the warm, living members of the spiritual building. The memories are etched for safekeeping in our hearts until Jesus comes.
In heaven there will be no monuments because Jesus will be in the center of everything for all eternity. Sheer, unadulterated gladness will remain endlessly for in His presence is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11)
I suggest, we take time to remember! In memory excursions, visit the places where the Lord did wonders in your life and never forget! Then, move forward!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Christ, The Center
Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890) reinforced a foundational truth using a simple analogy, “A circumference cannot be established until a center is known.” Similarly, radio preacher and writer, C. M. Ward stated, “No one can play a simple scale until he knows middle C!” In his colorful illustrative style, while preaching Ward walked from various points on the church platform, returned to the piano and sounded the middle C, illustrating the truth that middle C key must be found before music could be played.
Cardinal Newman’s manuscripts are among my current reading. I heard Reverend Ward’s illustration in the late 1960's. The single, simple lesson is enduring. Without a center, one simply drifts without an “homing” orientation. Several Scripture passages reinforce the centrality of Jesus, the Christ.
• In a burst of Holy Spirit given insight into Jesus’ identity essential to saving faith, Peter declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
• The Apostle Paul taught the centrality of Christ to the philosophers at the Areapogus in Athens, “For in him we live and move and have our being.’ (Acts 17:29)
• In response to a church distracted with secondary issues, Paul wrote, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
• In personal testimony, Paul sharpens the focus on Christ’s centrality, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
• And, Paul’s sweeping, all-encompassing declaration is the centering truth of which the Spirit convinces all who will believe. “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)
• Finally, Jesus said of himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.” (John 14:6)
Without Jesus in the center, life is disorganized and hopeless. The picture of a center-less person is like one gathering feathers to fill a pillow while a fan runs at its fastest speed, scattering the feathers. Centering on Jesus brings peace, order, contentment.
Our prayer list has a growing list of names of those battling cancer, unsaved friends, those we know who are unemployment and broken marriages. Ones we love contend with nasty diseases. The list is long. Caring is demanding. Some burdens are extraordinarily heavy. The challenges of life cast a long shadow. If the center, Jesus, the Christ, is in focus, faith remains. Hope endures. The future remains positive. Salvation is present.
A favorite hymn captures the truth well. I sing it often! It will help us both if you will sing along!
My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
Refrain:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.
Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.
My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's name,
Salvation through His blood.
My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.
Cardinal Newman’s manuscripts are among my current reading. I heard Reverend Ward’s illustration in the late 1960's. The single, simple lesson is enduring. Without a center, one simply drifts without an “homing” orientation. Several Scripture passages reinforce the centrality of Jesus, the Christ.
• In a burst of Holy Spirit given insight into Jesus’ identity essential to saving faith, Peter declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)
• The Apostle Paul taught the centrality of Christ to the philosophers at the Areapogus in Athens, “For in him we live and move and have our being.’ (Acts 17:29)
• In response to a church distracted with secondary issues, Paul wrote, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
• In personal testimony, Paul sharpens the focus on Christ’s centrality, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
• And, Paul’s sweeping, all-encompassing declaration is the centering truth of which the Spirit convinces all who will believe. “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17)
• Finally, Jesus said of himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.” (John 14:6)
Without Jesus in the center, life is disorganized and hopeless. The picture of a center-less person is like one gathering feathers to fill a pillow while a fan runs at its fastest speed, scattering the feathers. Centering on Jesus brings peace, order, contentment.
Our prayer list has a growing list of names of those battling cancer, unsaved friends, those we know who are unemployment and broken marriages. Ones we love contend with nasty diseases. The list is long. Caring is demanding. Some burdens are extraordinarily heavy. The challenges of life cast a long shadow. If the center, Jesus, the Christ, is in focus, faith remains. Hope endures. The future remains positive. Salvation is present.
A favorite hymn captures the truth well. I sing it often! It will help us both if you will sing along!
My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device nor creed;
I trust the Ever-living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.
Refrain:
I need no other argument,
I need no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.
Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He'll never cast me out.
My heart is leaning on the Word,
The written Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior's name,
Salvation through His blood.
My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Anticipation!
Anticipation can be a powerful, positive word, more influential or motivating than we usually consider. A great deal of energy is released as we look forward to special events, the fulfillment of a promise, or being with a special person. Haven’t you rested uneasily waiting in anticipation for the morning? The fulfillment of expectations that comes with daylight is energizing! Our lives are energized when we are awaiting a visit from our children and grandchildren. It is as if we are standing on tip toes! In the next few days, we will entertain several friends in our home. We await them with an excited enthusiasm. The waiting season has merit and is designed to embellish the hoped-for moment. Special preparations are being made. We want everything “ship shape!”
The Spirit’s counsel to the Prophet Habakkuk was, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3) Habakkuk became an expert in “Hurry up and wait!” Pat and I occasionally reflect on how long we waited for a shared dream to be realized. The wait was over 21 years! The promise was worth the wait as what we held secretly began to unfold for all to see. Our counsel to those in a hurry, take your time, allow the waiting season to form you, prepare you for the moment the thing anticipated becomes reality
Jesus is often misunderstood and some even accuse Him of frustrating people when His time line fails to match up with our schedules. Jesus told those who had seen him following the resurrection, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5) The term “tarrying” has fallen into disuse, even declared theologically incorrect. However, waiting for God may have more merit than we realize if it is God’s season for conditioning our soul, preparing our heart. Have you noticed, those who waited in Jerusalem made no mention of having wasted their time waiting.
Those who expect to see Jesus are energized in anticipation. The Apostle Paul writes clearly, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self–controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14) The waiting season is filled with cooperative, redemptive activity as we are separated from the world and united with Jesus, step-by-step, day-after-day. The church once sang –
There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
Look up friends! We are on the verge of something much better than we have ever known! Just wait!
The Spirit’s counsel to the Prophet Habakkuk was, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:3) Habakkuk became an expert in “Hurry up and wait!” Pat and I occasionally reflect on how long we waited for a shared dream to be realized. The wait was over 21 years! The promise was worth the wait as what we held secretly began to unfold for all to see. Our counsel to those in a hurry, take your time, allow the waiting season to form you, prepare you for the moment the thing anticipated becomes reality
Jesus is often misunderstood and some even accuse Him of frustrating people when His time line fails to match up with our schedules. Jesus told those who had seen him following the resurrection, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5) The term “tarrying” has fallen into disuse, even declared theologically incorrect. However, waiting for God may have more merit than we realize if it is God’s season for conditioning our soul, preparing our heart. Have you noticed, those who waited in Jerusalem made no mention of having wasted their time waiting.
Those who expect to see Jesus are energized in anticipation. The Apostle Paul writes clearly, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self–controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:11-14) The waiting season is filled with cooperative, redemptive activity as we are separated from the world and united with Jesus, step-by-step, day-after-day. The church once sang –
There is coming a day,
When no heart aches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye,
All is peace forever more,
On that happy golden shore,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
Look up friends! We are on the verge of something much better than we have ever known! Just wait!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
How and what ought churches promote?
During our last year in Michigan I was privileged to have an older minister, a former district superintendent, on our pastoral team. The dear brother taught me daily as I observed and listened. On one occasion my friend and mentor sorted the church mail. More than fifteen promotional pieces announcing television specials, large events featuring bigger-than-life personalities, and appeals for money to fund the events filled our mailbox. Each piece was replete with photos of the featured personality as speaker, miracle worker, or poised to impart blessings. The publications reported the great works for which the minister took credit. After sorting, my mentor dropped the mail on the corner of my desk and shrugged as he left my study saying, “We really wouldn’t know much about these people if they didn’t tell us themselves.”
Self-promotion is frowned upon in business. People who boast of their accomplishments are frequently ostracized. But self-promotion has become acceptable in the church world. I understand the value of good advertising. The challenge is to discover the proper way to get the Message to the marketplace without omitting the One who actually does the saving, healing, hope giving, delivering, etc.
Macy’s prints photos of their merchandise. Ford promotes its product. Restaurants boast of their tasty menu entrees. Should the church omit Jesus in her advertising? The apostles serving in their first weeks of ministry declared to those who had power to kill them, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Is it possible that we could lose our way when “The Way” is overlooked or inadvertently relegated to a secondary tier of importance?
At a workshop designed to inform attendees about those being persecuted and martyred for the Faith, one presenter said, “People everywhere have gods. In my country people worship several thousand different gods. But, if they worship Jesus, or declare Him as Lord, they are killed!”
Occasionally we sing a song in church which captures the truth of Jesus’ rightful place.
Jesus, be the center
Be my source, be my light Jesus
Jesus, be the center
Be my song Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide, Jesus.
© 1999 Vineyard Songs
Self-promotion is frowned upon in business. People who boast of their accomplishments are frequently ostracized. But self-promotion has become acceptable in the church world. I understand the value of good advertising. The challenge is to discover the proper way to get the Message to the marketplace without omitting the One who actually does the saving, healing, hope giving, delivering, etc.
Macy’s prints photos of their merchandise. Ford promotes its product. Restaurants boast of their tasty menu entrees. Should the church omit Jesus in her advertising? The apostles serving in their first weeks of ministry declared to those who had power to kill them, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) Is it possible that we could lose our way when “The Way” is overlooked or inadvertently relegated to a secondary tier of importance?
At a workshop designed to inform attendees about those being persecuted and martyred for the Faith, one presenter said, “People everywhere have gods. In my country people worship several thousand different gods. But, if they worship Jesus, or declare Him as Lord, they are killed!”
Occasionally we sing a song in church which captures the truth of Jesus’ rightful place.
Jesus, be the center
Be my source, be my light Jesus
Jesus, be the center
Be my song Jesus
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in my sails
Be the reason that I live
Jesus, Jesus,
Jesus be my vision
Be my help
Be my guide, Jesus.
© 1999 Vineyard Songs
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