Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation is one that everyone seems to like to discuss and have an opinion on. Actually one of the first questions my in-law's asked me was what I believed about it. It's something some people refuse to read, and something others force down the throat of others as events that will take place in the next few weeks. And still others believe that the events of the book happened during the time of the first century.

But maybe all of our thoughts about it are wrong, or rather, maybe our focus with it is misplaced. This past Sunday my mentor, one of the wisest and most Christlike men I will ever know, shared some insights into this book, focusing on the question, "So what?"

Below is a link to the media section of the church's website. The date is 11/25/12, and it is titled, "Revelation". If you've ever wondered, if you've never read it, I invite you to listen, and see what it's really about.

http://bcn.org/social.php

Side note: Near the beginning he mentions a couple pieces of art. What happened here is he showed small individual sections of a picture, trying to point out that we can't see the whole painting in individual small sections. Then the whole picture is revealed.

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Mankind, the Story of All of Us, Error

Last week the History Channel started a six part, twelve hour series about the history of humanity. I've always enjoyed history and so I've been looking forward to the series for the past few weeks. Today I'm watching the second part, and the beginning caught me by surprise. Part two began with the crucifixion.

As i think about it I don't know why I'm surprised, we're talking about a man who has influenced billions of lives over the last two thousand years, so it only makes sense that they would spend a few brief moments talking about Jesus. But all they talk about is his death by crucifixion, that didn't surprise me.

For the History Channel Christianity is the result of the crucifixion. Billions of people have committed their lives to a dead man who was brutally murdered. While martyrs do inspire followers of their cause, I don't know if any have continued to inspire almost two millennium after their death.

The crucifixion is an essential part of Christianity, but it is not the most essential part. It is important, but it is not the most important. Christianity does not hinge on the crucifixion, and Christianity is not based on the crucifixion. Because as the Bible tells us if all we have is the crucifixion, our faith is useless.

Even the early followers of Jesus had given up after they had seen Him killed. In Luke 24 we find two headed to Emmaus in defeat. Those who have stuck around in Jerusalem are hiding behind locked doors because they are afraid they are next. But then something happens that changes everything. Men who head home in despair return to Jerusalem to celebrate. Those who have gone into hiding begin to boldly proclaim the message publicly.

If Christ is dead that change isn't going to take place. If Christ is dead there is still no hope because the source of that hope was dead. If Christ is dead then faith is useless. The foundation of Christianity is not on the crucifixion, but in the Resurrection.

"But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15.13-17.

The crucifixion is nothing without the Resurrection. The Resurrection of Jesus is what Christianity is all about. Christianity only means something if Jesus has been raised to live, because they ultimate hope of Christianity is new life with God after death. If Christ has not been raised to life, then there is no new life for any of us.

Christianity comes down to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Billions of lives have been transformed because God became man, died on a cross, and rose from the dead conquering sin, death, and Hell forever. It's all about the Resurrection.

The History Channel, to no surprise, left all of this out. And as I'm watching the rest of the episode their idea of the point of Christianity is mistaken. It isn't about people getting what the deserve, the wicked being punished and those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior being blessed. It's about entering into a relationship with the risen Jesus, and in that receiving new life. It's all about the Resurrection.

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Older Brother

First, I want to apologize to those who read this blog. November obviously hasn't been a very productive month for me. There has been a lot going on and I've been dealing with both family and personal issues. There hasn't been a lot of motivation to write and the things that have been on my mind are too personal to post all over the internet. All of that being said, what I'm about to share is personal.

For several weeks, maybe months, now I've been angry. It's been something that builds, as anger usually does when it isn't dealt with. Part of the problem is there are things I've needed to say to people, but I can't say to them for one reason or another. There have been people who have hurt me directly, those who I have allowed myself to be hurt by indirectly, and for most of it I've blamed God, or more, questioned why God was allowing all of the hardships to happen.

I've written and thought a lot about the Romans 8 verse, "God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him." And the verse in Philippians 1 that states, "It is for Christ's sake that you will suffer." Hardships are part of the life of any Christ follower, and God will cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. But it seems, especially of late, like my life has a lot more suffering than some people I know. It feels like I've gotten the short end of the stick, while others who haven't worked as hard as I have have gotten all the breaks.

I know I'm not the only one who has felt, or is feeling, like this. I know that there are those out there who would trade their hardships for mine in a heartbeat. The point of this is not to evoke pity, but instead to put it all in perspective.

Yesterday in church, my mentor preached a sermon that hit me. I'm not usually one who gets hit by a sermon. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but much of the preaching I've heard has been shallow, hard to follow, or just really bad. Honestly, my mentor is one of the only people I can actually listen to. He's one of the few people that I get new and deeper insights from. I have a hard time sitting in Sunday services. But yesterday was a sermon that hit me. He gave a twenty-first century version of Luke 15.11-31, the Prodigal Son.

The message hit me because it spoke to exactly where I was. He pointed out after his narrative that there are three characters, the younger brother, the older brother and the father. That is obviously nothing new, but the way he presented the older brother was. And it all comes down to the fact that I am the older brother.

We have a story of a man with two sons. One wishes his father was dead and asks for his share of the inheritance. His father gives him his share and he takes off to live it up. The older son remains with his father, working hard and being faithful. When the younger brother's share is spent and his life is falling apart he returns home, and to his complete shock, is welcomed back by his father as his son. A celebration takes place, but the older brother is absent.

He refuses to join the celebration because in his mind it isn't fair. He has never betrayed his father, but has obeyed everything he has been told to do. He has worked hard and earned what is his. His brother has spent his share and deserves nothing more, and yet his father has welcomed him back, even after all the pain and worry he has caused him, and continues to pour out more.

I am the older brother. I have worked hard and been obedient. I've committed to things God has asked even though I had absolutely no desire to do them. And even with all of that, life has been harder than I ever thought it would be. In many ways, it's been harder than most of the people I knew in college and have met in ministry. Again, I know that others have it so much harder, and I am not in anyway trying to make this bigger that it is, simply showing the attitude I've had.

I graduated college with a 3.92 GPA. I was the only religion major in my class to graduate Summa Cum Laude. I've had a few incredible internship experiences in mega churches, I was on staff at a church when I was 19, and I am the only member of my graduating class to be ordained. I've put the time and work in, and in my eyes, I am the most deserving of achievement, I've worked hard and earned it. And yet I find myself living in my parent's basement, with no ministry position, and I couldn't even get a job stocking shelves at a toy store during Christmas.

I've had a bad attitude, and in a way I've basically said to God, "How dare you put me through this and bless them." I don't want to be the older brother, but I have to admit with embarrassment that I am.

So what happens now? Where do I go from here? Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that out. I don't want to have the attitude of the older brother, where I am "owed" blessings and favor for my work and effort. I don't want the attitude of anger, bitterness, and resentment when others receive the things that I've worked for instead of me. I want the attitude of the father.

We have a man who gives unconditionally and joyfully. He gave his youngest son his share of the inheritance and let him go his way. And even though the youngest son treated him as if he were dead, when he came home he ran to him, embraced him, and poured out more blessings on him as he welcomed him home. He went out to his oldest son. In spite of the sons anger he talks with him, he reaches out to him. That is the attitude I want.

I don't know how long this stage of life is going to last. Honestly, I don't know if another professional ministry position will ever open up for me. It's hard for me to say that, because it's the call that I have on my life and I've invested so much into it. Honestly, I don't know what else I would do with my life if the door never opens up. But I do know that no matter what happens, I want to pour out the love of the Father.

No matter where I am I can show the love and compassion of God. I can be joyful in spite of my circumstances because I am a son of God. Ultimately that is reason I am to rejoice. The only thing that matters in the end is that I belong to God, and that I show His love to everyone I come in contact with. That is the attitude I want, so God, I'm asking you to help me.

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Two Thoughts

Yesterday I was able to spend some time with my mentor. As usual I walked away from the conversation with a good thought from him. We met at the local coffee shop but it was somewhat loud so we ended up driving around for a little while.

He took me to the local high school where he serves as the coach of character development for the football team. He introduced me to several players and the coach, and you could see their love and respect for him.

As he was taking me back to my car he said something, the thing that has stuck with me. "There is no batting practice in life." My mentor can find a sports analogy for just about every situation. He went on, "People live today as if it's preparation for the life they'll live someday."

I've thought about that a lot. I've seen that to be true in my own life. Right now life isn't at all like my wife and I thought it would be. We're living in my parent's basement, and I'm still looking for a job. We've had three interviews with churches, two we've said no to, and the third didn't give us the chance to say no. A few resumes I've sent out have either not been answered or have come back with the response, "We decided to go in another direction."

It's a really frustrating time. And in this time it's easy to think about the life we're hoping to have someday. In a way we treat this time like practice, something we have to go through in order to get to the game, or for me, the front lines of battle. But that's not how life works. In life there is no warm up, there is no practice, it's all the game, it's all battle. I don't mean that in a negative "Life sucks and then you die" way. What I'm saying is we only get one go at this, this is all real. All of this counts. All of this matters.

A few days ago I had a scary moment, we had a cancer scare. Everything is fine, it ended up being nothing, but for about two days as we waited to get into the doctor we didn't know. I remember that night just lying there holding my wife, fighting back tears, telling her it was all going to be ok, not knowing if it would be. And the only thought that was on my mind was, "Just hold her. Soak this all up because it might not be here forever."

Needless to say I was extremely relieved when everything came back clean. But it's put a lot into perspective for me. Reality has hit me that this moment is all there is. The life we hope for may never come, so don't waste this time preparing and holding out for what is never guaranteed. There is no practice in life, we born and its go time.

Thought number two hit me yesterday as I was driving. President Obama has been re-elected, and many are less than thrilled. I woke up Wednesday with a knot in the pit of my stomach. I am concerned about the future of my country. The change he's brought so far hasn't been for the better, and four more years really doesn't look good. It's a bit scary to think about the things he can do and say now that he doesn't have to worry about running for office again.

But as I wrote before the election, God is still in control. President Obama is just a man with no power except what God has allowed him to have, and he will one day have to stand before God and answer for how he used that power, just as all of us will.

As I've thought about some of the statements he's made, this thought came to my mind, "Sin legalized in the eyes of man is not righteous in the eyes of God." I realize that could come across as offensive, or attacking a particular view, but that is not how I mean it. I am focusing on sin in general, not one in particular.

Any law can be passed to make anything legal or illegal. The government can say that this is ok while this is not. But that doesn't change the truth and righteous standards of God. No governmental authority can overturn His standards. No one can take what God says is wrong and make it right. God is the final and absolute authority of holiness, and His standards are what all will be measured against.

As I conclude this I realize that these two thoughts tie together. We only have one shot at life, and there is only one standard of righteousness for us to live by. Let us live today fully in the moment. Let us commit ourselves to God, and strive for His righteousness. He sent Jesus to show us how to live, to die and rise again so that we could be righteous and holy. He sent His Holy Spirit to fill those who strive after Him so that they could live as Jesus modeled. We have one life, how will you live it?

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you

Monday, November 5, 2012

Election 2012

Tomorrow American's who haven't voted early or by absentee ballot will head to the polls to cast their vote for the man who will lead America for the next four years. People have said this is the most important election of our time, which is also what they've said in the last three or four that I've been old enough to remember.

My vote has been cast already, and it's been based on more than the simple fact of I don't like the other candidate. I've voted based on who I believe will be the best leader for our current situation. But even as I voted I've remembered that no candidate has all the answers. No candidate can fix everything, no matter what they claim they will do.

Many people are anxious, some are even fearful about the outcome of tomorrow’s event. Part of me is worried for the future of my country. But as I think about all of that I'm reminded that the future of this nation and the rest of the world is not in the hands of any man.

No matter who is elected tomorrow, God is still in control. God knows who is going to win, and God knows what the next four years hold. God knows the trials that we are going to face. He knows the needs of the people. He knows the hearts of both men running, and God's will is going to be done. The results that we learn tomorrow will not catch Him off guard or by surprise.

And as we look at the future we must remember that no president or policy will be able to fix everything. There are problems that lie at the heart of man. Problems that can, and will, only be resolved by the transforming power of Jesus Christ. No matter who is elected our job is to pray for our leader (1 Timothy 2). Our job is to strive to become like Christ, to show the love of Christ to all people. Our job is not to worry, but simply to fall back into God's arms and trust Him.

The Bible says in Romans 8, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."

All things work together for good, not just good things, but all things. God will use all that takes place in the next four years to work together for the good of those who love Him. All things that take place in the next four years will serve to make those who are striving after Him, become more like Christ. All things that take place in the next four years will serve to fulfill His purpose. Regardless of who is elected God is in control.

Ultimately, sin will be punished, evil will be destroyed, and God will be glorified. So for now, join me in praying for our leader, for our country, and for God's will to be done.

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread."

To God alone be the Glory!

Peace be with you