Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Grieve

As I've talked about a lot this month, today is the five year anniversary of the death of my good friend Linda Russe. Less than a week ago I performed my first funeral, and it impacted me in a way that no other death has. For the first time I was deeply involved in the death of someone that wasn't extremely close to. I had known the man for nine months, and for more than a third of that time he was unable to be at church.

I spent time with him, ministered to him, talked with him about death, dying, and heaven. But I didn't develop the deep relationship that I had with Linda. The family members are now the ones who need the focus. They are in a process of grieving now, and life will not ever be the same. There is pain and sadness, it might be there for a long time, and that's ok, but it can heal. Part of they key to healing is to grieve.

Crying is ok, totally breaking down is ok. Being angry is ok, asking questions is ok. Being alone is ok, but you can't stay isolated. Part of healing comes in sharing the good memories of the person, talking about who they were and what they taught you. Laughing with others about the good times you celebrated with them brings healing, so we must not stay isolated in our grief. Prayer is an important part of grieving and healing. When Linda was diagnosed with cancer countless people were in prayer for her. One of the things I didn't understand was why God didn't answer them. I asked Him why many times, and He finally showed me that there was a lesson for me to learn. I think learning is part of grieving, seeing how God is good, and how all things work for His glory.

Through experiencing the death of someone close to me, I experienced death in a real way, and was able to walk with this family through this time a little better. I don't know what they are feeling, because I haven't experienced the death of a father, or grandfather yet, but I have experienced death. I have experienced grief, and I've come through it and been healed. Life is not the same, and I it never will be, but I am still alive. Because I have grieved, I have been healed, and I am able to continue living. The danger we face in not grieving is being swallowed up by it.

We must grieve, and know that you do not grieve alone. Jesus wept. In John 11, He knew what He was about to do, but He took the time to grieve with the sisters of Lazarus. He knew that Lazarus would live again, but He saw the need of Mary and Martha and met them there. Jesus sees your need, and He will meet you there. He will grieve with you, death is something He knows about. And He will bring healing in time.

Peace be with you

Friday, January 27, 2012

The Attack

Yesterday I performed my first funeral. Honestly, it went really well thanks to the grace of God and an incredible mentor walking me through it. Funerals are an important time, my mentor said that funerals are when a pastor bonds with his people. They are one of the best opportunities for ministry as well. People are grieving, and it is an opportunity to show the love and compassion of Jesus. All that being said, I can't believe it took me so long to realize what was happening Wednesday night.

My wife and I were getting ready for bed, and suddenly we were really frustrated with each other. Honestly it was out of no where. It was getting late, neither one of us was looking at sleeping very well, we had both left the room on separate occasions not wanting to be around each other. And finally when we were both back in the same room it finally hit me, this is an attack.

I don't remember which book John Eldredge talks about this in, Wild at Heart or Walking with God, I really think it's in both. But he talks about how the enemy attacks us. As I was laying there listening to my wife, and thinking about the events of the following day, it hit me. Satan was trying to put me in a bad mood, to divide my wife and I, and put my heart and mind in a bad attitude for the funeral.

Immediately we stopped and prayed. God gave us a great night sleep, and the funeral went really well. My wife and I have become a stronger couple because of it. Our marriage has received some more welding and that has made it more unbreakable.

The Bible says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5.8). Satan doesn't want anything good to happen, and so he sneaks in at the right moment, and tries to destroy things before they happen. We were both tired, and it didn't take much to push us to fighting. Had we not realized what it was and immediately begun to fight against it as a team who knows what would have happened the next day. The family, and the church, needed their pastor, and I was able to be there.

Satan does prowl like a lion waiting to devour us. If we don't recognize the attack and simply continue to let it happen many things will suffer. My marriage could have been negatively affected because I might have said things that I didn't mean out of anger. Again, I don't know what would have happened at this funeral. I know I would have apologized to my wife the next morning, but there would have been a lot of damage done that wouldn't be able to be fixed by a simple, "I'm sorry."

We must be on the alert at all times, but especially when Kingdom work is near at hand. We must be prepared for battle at all times. This is why prayer and Bible study is crucial, our minds are focused on God and we are able to better recognize things that aren't of God. It's important to read other things as well. John Eldredge is a favorite author of mine, I've found several of his books to be very relevant at this stage of my life. Honestly, I don't know that I would have realized it was an attack and responded as I did without having read his books.

We must be on the alert, waiting for the attacks of the enemy. We must be ready for battle and end them as quickly as possible. God will be with us as we work for His Kingdom. Satan is looking for someone to devour, be on guard so it isn't you.

Peace be with you

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Philippians 2.1a

"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ,"

The word "Therefore" has been hitting me for a few days now. It's part of a paragraph that begins at 1.27, and ends at 2.11. It's a transitional word. It implies that something has come before it that we need to pay attention to, and our reaction to that thing follows this word, "Therefore".

Philippians 1.27 begins with Paul telling the Church at Philippi to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ. He tells them to be united in Spirit, working as a unit to advance the Gospel. He tells them that there will be hardships and opposition. And therefore they must look to Christ.

In Christ there is love, fellowship, affection, and compassion. In Christ the mindset of love, unity, and focus is possible. They are to follow the example of Christ, and humbly and selflessly serve others. Christ did, and to live in a manner worthy of Christ and His Gospel, they must live in the same way that Christ did. Paul tells them how to act and doesn't expect them just to know how, therefore he gives them an example to follow.

Paul wrote to the a group of people nearly two thousand years ago. His instructions were to them, in their culture and time. But the instructions are to act like Christ, and therefore they are applicable to us.

I reflect on the different churches I've been apart of as a laymen, intern, staff, and leader. Some of them have done very well, while some haven't. Some are thriving, while others are barely surviving. Some are impacting the community and building the Kingdom, while some you wonder what they are there for. The big difference between them is the mindset, the unity, the focus on the Gospel of Christ and it's purpose. The ones that are doing well are unified, they are intent on one purpose, striving together for the Gospel of Christ. And the ones that aren't have missed this. There isn't unity or vision, and therefore no impact.

How do we become unified when so many people have an opinion about how to do things? How do we be intent on one purpose when so many people have ideas about what needs to be done? Paul tells us, have the same attitude of Christ. Humbly put others before yourself. Humble yourself to serve others. For some this requires letting go of things we've held onto for years. For others it means letting go of preferences and comforts. What does it mean for you?

As I write, I keep asking myself what does it mean for me? What can I do to be more like Christ; to live and serve as He did? I think that's part of what I've been looking for in Philippians, and now that I see that, I think the study is almost done, for now. The next step I believe is looking at what God has shown me so far, and searching the pages a few more times for anything else, and seeing how it's all related. And then it's moving on to the next section of Scripture, not sure what that is yet, and seeing what God has to show me there, studying those pages over and over until God moves me else where.

Peace be with you

Monday, January 23, 2012

Philippians 2.3-4

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

The thing that prompted me to read Philippians is the nature of the letter. It is a joyful, encouraging letter written in the mid first century. I had had a rough couple of days, and deiced to turn to some well worn pages in my Bible for comfort and encouragement. As I've been doing this study usually a single verse or small group of verses stands out to me. But today it wasn't the case. I read it expectantly, looking for what God wanted to show me, but the lesson for today wasn't really found in the specific verses I have at the beginning.

I was talking to my mentor, something I've done frequently, but I sometimes feel not frequently enough. At times after we hang up I realize that I didn't even need to call him because I already knew what he was going to say. And other times I have no idea what to do, but I know he does, and so I call him to find out. Recently, I've had several of those situations.

And as we talked last week (remember I am writing these insights a few days later so that I first share my thoughts with my wife) I told him about my study of Philippians. I shared with him the insights I had gotten, and in our conversation I ended up getting the lesson God wanted me to learn from Philippians that day. My mentor pointed out to me something that I had never noticed about this letter before. Philippians is very others focused. It isn't concerned with self at all. Thus the emphasis I have put on the verses used in the title.

Paul wrote this letter from prison. It wasn't his final imprisonment, but he had no way of knowing that. And yet in his letter, his main concern is for the church of Philippi. In chapter two he gives them the example of Christ, who is not focused on Himself in anyway. He denies His right as Lord, and instead comes as a servant to die on the cross. His focus in upon God and others. It clearly in verses 3-4, to do nothing from selfishness, but to consider others more important than ourselves. And then it gives the example of Christ. If anyone had the right to focus on themselves it was Him, but even He, Christ the creator of the universe, was fully focused on others. Paul's concern was not for his needs or well being, but on those of the church in Philippi.

Philippians is a joyful letter. And I think the key to joy in unselfish concern for others. The key to being truly joyful is to be others focused. When our main concern is for the needs of others, we are freed from worry about ourselves, and empowered to be joyful in our lives. Let us do nothing from selfish ambition, but humbly put others above ourselves, just as Christ did.

Peace be with you

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Philippians 2.13

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

God is at work to will and work for His good pleasure. God is at work in me. God is at work in the situations I face. God is at work in all of this for His glory. He is working for His glory both now, in this moment, and for His glory in the future. Everything that takes place ultimately must result in the glory of God. The universe exists to glorify its Creator.

No matter what happens God is at work for His glory. God is at work for His glory in every situation that takes place. Because of this, He will strengthen me. When He strengthens me I can endure all things that I must suffer for His sake. It all leads to the glory of God. Everything must lead to the glory of God.

I really began to think about this a few years ago. The verse that really made me see this was Philippians 2.11, "and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." All of creations declares Christ as Lord, not for the glory of Jesus, but for God the Father. Everything that happens must ultimately end in God's glory. He is the almighty Creator of the Universe. He is the standard of Love, Holiness, Righteousness, Truth and Purity. God must be glorified. Creation exists for that one purpose.

When I think about life and the stuff I deal with in that light, with God being glorified through everything, it makes it all seem worth it. It humbles me, and makes me realize my true place and purpose in the universe. I'm really not too big, or important, but God has decided to let me glorify Him. He works in me for His good pleasure. And not just in me, but in you as well. What an honor to be able to glorify God almighty.

Peace be with you

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Philippians 1.29

"For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,"

It has been granted for Christ's sake, that I will suffer, that all who bear His name will suffer. Jesus said that in this world there would be trouble (John 16.33) for His followers. But then He assured them, "but take courage; I have overcome the world." We will face hardships and persecutions as believers,it is part of following Christ.

Jesus dealt with difficult people. They attacked His teaching, His intelligence, His methods, His friends, and everything else He did. Jesus had people looking for some way to kill Him, and it wasn't a quick death they were seeking, but crucifixion, a long, slow, painful death. Jesus faced hardships and difficulties. Jesus suffered, and because of that I will face the same things. As far as I know, no one is wanting to flog and crucify me, but many of the other things are true.

It has been granted to Christ that His followers would not only believe in Him, but also suffer for Him. He has paid a great price to save us, and if we accept His gift of life, we must be willing to pay an equally high price. Jesus said that there would be trouble in this world. But I must take heart, you must take heart, because Jesus has overcome the world.

Christ endured far worse than most of us ever will have to, and He has overcome. I love Chris Tomlin's song, I Will Rise. "Jesus has overcome, and the grave is overwhelmed. The victory is won, He is risen from the dead. And I will rise when He calls my name; no more sorrow, no more pain. I will rise on eagles' wings, before my God fall on my knees and rise. I will rise"

Jesus has overcome, and He calls my name to join Him in victory. Because He has overcome, I can and must. He lives in me. He strengthens me and carries me. He will never leave me through any of the hardships I face. I am His beloved child, and He will not abandon me. And the promise is not just for me, but for all who accept Him.

There will be troubles in this world, it has been granted to us to suffer for Christ's sake, but take courage, Jesus has overcome; and He calls us to rise and join Him. Rise.

Peace be with you

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Philppians 4.11-13

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."

This is a passage I have read so many times over the last few years. I've studied it, preached it, but how do I apply it? Paul is saying that in all things he has Christ. That he is content in all circumstances because he has Christ. In Romans 8 Paul says that nothing can separate him, or us, from the love of God in Christ. No matter what we go through, we will always have the love of Christ, that nothing can separate us from.

Verse 13 is probably the most misquoted verse of Scripture. People use it to mean just about everything but what it really means. The idea Paul is talking about her is enduring anything. Paul says I can endure anything that life brings because Christ is with him, Christ is strengthening him. No matter what life brings there is nothing the Christ cannot and will not carry him through. Because of Christ we can endure, survive, and ultimately victoriously conquer every situation.

My wife has told me many times that I need to learn to be content. Part of my problem is that there is so much I want to do for God, there is so much that I want to do to build the Kingdom and help people. Life is short, I'm already a quarter of a century old, and can't believe that so much time has passed. Many times I feel like I have done nothing that matters. Part of me feels stuck. But then I must remember the different things that my mentor has told me. That God places us in different places for different reasons, and the reason for us being here might not be the reason we think.

But the important thing is realizing that no matter where we are in life is that we always have Christ. Nothing can take Christ away from us, and because of that we can endure every situation we face. Christ is the one who strengthens us, and there is nothing that Christ cannot handle.

Peace be with you

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Thoughts on Sexual Sin

In the last few months I've been asked to give my thoughts on how we deal with homosexuality in a Christian setting twice. As I've investigated the two different scenarios that I've been asked about, part of me is in shock, and the rest of me is calm and confident about my stance on it. This is one of those subjects that some people are afraid to tackle because they don't want to offend anyone, and that some people take too far and condemn those who are involved.

I don't know why people have homosexual feelings. I don't believe that God makes a person gay or lesbian. I've heard different things from chemical imbalances, to neglectful or abusive fathers. I don't know why people are. But I do know that far too often we, as the Church, do not handle the situation correctly.

I think too often we go on the offensive and take things too far, attacking only homosexuality as the only sexual sin. Mark Driscoll, a pastor in Seattle, Washington, once responded with this when asked if homosexuality was a sin, "All sex, now I want to be clear on this because what can sometimes happen is that it seems like Christians are only picking on one group of people, and the Bible says that sexuality is intended to be within marriage. Marriage is between one man and one woman... homosexuality, fornication, which is sex before marriage, adultery which is sex outside of marriage, are all sexual sin. Pornography is a sin... Sex is for marriage, and marriage is for one man and one woman. What that means is that all sex outside of heterosexual marriage is a sin." (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSGIPqXhofE)

I think Driscoll's approach is the one we need to take. It isn't an attack on sexual sin, but a defense of marriage and what God created sex to be. We don't let it slide, we don't ignore it like it isn't there, we stand in defense of the truth. When Christians go on the attack we end up with the crusades, killing and damage done by the Church in the name of Christ. But when Christians stand firmly in defense of the truth laid down in Scripture, that's when lives can be changed, the Kingdom of God can be expanded, and God can be glorified.

Paul said in 1 Timothy 3.15b, "I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." The Church is a place where are all welcome, regardless of their past or present lifestyle. But at the same time the Church belongs to God, and as such it has the standards of truth that it must proclaim and stand firm upon. We present the truth, not one aspect of it. We love people regardless of who they are, but we don't sugar coat the truth of the Gospel so we don't offend anyone.

The Bible says in Genesis, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good" (1.1, 31a). In John's Gospel he tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being" (1.1-3). Satan does not have the power to create, all he can do is work with what God has made. Everything that God makes is good and perfect, because God is good and perfect. What Satan does is takes what God has made good and perfect, and corrupts it, twists it, makes it work for his purpose. Satan did not create homosexuality, fornication, or adultery; he simply took something beautiful that God created and corrupted it. Anything that Satan corrupts is sin, because it is used in a way God never intended.

The Church must take a stand on sexual sin, but we must respond biblically so that that we glorify God. If we handle this issue incorrectly we do harm, and discredit and dishonor Christ and His Gospel. Ephesians 4.15 says to speak the truth in love so that we can grow up into all aspects of our head, Christ. 1 Timothy 1.5 says, "But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." Our purpose is to build the Kingdom of God and bring glory to Him. God is love, and so we love all people because God first loved us (1 John 4). But we must also live lives of integrity before Him, we must live out the truth, and stand in defense of it.

Any sexual act outside of the God ordained marriage covenant between a man and woman is sin. Paul said at the end of his life in 2 Timothy 4.3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." And so he charged Timothy, and I believe all who would take up the name Christian, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction...But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" (2 Timothy 4.1-2,5).

We must stand firm on the truth of Scripture. We must live lives that are molded by God into the image of Christ. We must proclaim the truth in love. Let us stand in defense of what God has made good.

Peace be with you

Monday, January 16, 2012

Joyful Letter

My favorite book of the Bible is Philippians, Paul's letter to the church at Philippi. Of all of his epistles, Philippians is characterized as a joyful letter, one full of encouragement and affirmation to the church there in the first century. My love for it began as a junior in college.

It was very early New Years day in 2008. I had just gotten home from a friend's house, and wasn't tired at all. As I began to reflect on 2007 my mind kept thinking about how rough it had been. And during my time of reflection my mind kept going to the words of Philippians 3, "forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Over the next several months I poured myself into the four short chapters of this wonderful letter. The pages of my Bible are covered in highlights, the margins are filled with notes. If you flip through the other pages you'll see countless references to the verses in Philippians. If you study the words of Paul in it you will see the whole of scripture contained in its 104 verses. In it you find the story of Christ's life on earth. The road to salvation, and the path to holiness and the call to Christlikeness. Paul gives instructions for life and death, for good times and bad, for dealing with people and with yourself. It is an amazing letter.

I've preached from it several times, written papers and Bible studies on it, and I'm working on memorizing it. It is a letter I turn to frequently, and the words of truth that it contains fill me with joy, courage, and hope every time. Recently I've found myself facing a difficult situation, and once again I've turned to the pages of Philippians. Each day I've been reading the entire book, and each day God has drawn my attention to a different part. My wife and I are studying it together, reading it in its entirety each day, and seeing what God reveals to us.

This blog is titled, "Give me words... searching and sharing", and I know in some posts I get away from that. Sometimes I post my thoughts, my words, not things God is showing me. I want to get away from that, I want everything I do to be lead by Him, to be guided by His hand, including the things I write. I don't know how long my wife and I will be in Philippians, but as we study it, I'll be sharing what God is showing me here. I've been studying since Friday, and so I am able to share with my wife first, these postings will be a few days behind our study.

I invite you to join us. Read the book in it's entirety each day. Write down what God has showed you, and focus on how it applies to your life. Share it with someone, if you're married, share it with your spouse, if not share with a friend. Feel free to leave what God has shown you here, leave your comments, and share what God has revealed to you. Search and share.

Peace be with you

Thursday, January 12, 2012

December 21, 2012

Last night at church one of the girls in the Kids group mentioned that her dad said the world will end on December 21, 2012. There are many who feel this way, I even found the official website that has a countdown, and a list of celebrities who believe the world will end this year. Normally I just blow stuff like this off. Last year we had two predictions about the end of the world, and both of those dates came and we're still here. Many people have made comments about the end of the world, but let's look at the authority, and the standard of truth.

Mark 13.31-37, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’"

Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour but God alone. In other places He says that He will come as a thief in the night, and we must be prepared. The world could end this year, it could end in the next hour, or it could be thousands of years from now. No one knows. Jesus simply tells us to be on the alert.

Billy Graham said, "Live everyday as if Jesus will return today. But live everyday like we have to plan for the next thousand years." I've talked about this in other posts, and I truly believe this is the way we live. We live ready to go. If Jesus comes back right now, then I'm going with Him. And if not, I continue to live my life here on earth for Him and the expansion of His Kingdom, ready for Him at any moment, but preparing for a long wait if that is the case.

The world could end this December, and if it does I'll be ready. But I'm planning to wake up on December 22 and call my sister wishing her a happy birthday. If I never get to make the phone call that's fine, because I'll be worshiping God Almighty before His throne. Either way, I'm not worried, and if you have the peace of God in your life that comes from a relationship with Christ, then you don't have to be either.

Live like Jesus is coming back today, but live like we still have to wait for another thousand years.

Peace be with you

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Did Jesus lie?

I'm working through John on Sunday mornings, and this week we are in the beginning of chapter 7. This section contains a verse that could possibly impact the truth of Christianity. In it we have a section of three verses that make it seem like Jesus lied.

John 7.8-10, "'Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.' Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret."

I've heard the argument before that Jesus was a liar based on these three verses. His brothers are telling Him to go up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths in order to show off His miracles, and prove Himself as the Messiah. But Jesus says you go, I'm not, and then later He does go. It would seem that Jesus lied to His brothers. He said one thing but then did something else. So did Jesus lie?

No, if Jesus had lied He would have been guilty of sin, and therefore, being a sinner, could not have died to pay the price for sin as a perfect sacrifice. So how do we take these verses of the Bible, that seem to indicate a lie from Jesus' mouth, and then hold to the truth that Jesus lived a perfect life? We have to go back to the original language, and look at the words spoken by Jesus.

In this one section of Scripture Jesus uses a word for time that is only spoken by Him here. Usually He uses the word, hora (long o), like when He spoke in John 2.4 to His mother when she told Him that the wine had run out. Hora refers to a destined period or hour. William Barclay talks about how this word means the destined hour of God. It is the time that God has decided part of His plan must be carried out. It is not movable or avoidable. Jesus uses this word many times in reference to revealing Himself as the Messiah, and being glorified as the Christ, but here, for the only time, He uses a different word.

Here in John 7, Jesus uses the word kairos. This word means an opportunity, or an opportune time. It refers to the best time to do something. It is a moment that is waited for, and when it comes, it is seized. Jesus tells His brothers, that it is not yet the opportune time for Him to go to the feast, and so at this moment, He is remaining behind in Galilee.

But as the feast begins and carries into the week, that moment does arrive, and Jesus goes to Jerusalem secretly. The people are looking for Him, there is confusion about who He is. The people are wanting to do the right thing, but they are confused as to what that is. And so Jesus, waiting for the opportune moment, goes to Jerusalem once the crowds have gathered, and the people are ready to listen to what He has to say to them.

Jesus was the perfect, spotless, lamb of God who died for the sin of the world. As such He could not be a liar. He was the Son of God who came for a purpose, and took advantage of every opportunity. He had to because as He said in verse 7, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil." He had an essential message that He had to proclaim, and so He had to wait for the right moments. His message has been handed down to us to proclaim. The world will hate us for it, but it is a message that must be proclaimed. We must wait for the right moment, the most opportune time. Matthew 10.16, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves." Proclaim the message, seize the opportune moment what it comes.

Peace be with you

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

366 days to go

2012 is a leap year, so February has an extra day making the total number of days for this year 366. Today, January 10, 2012, marks the beginning of the one year count down until I get to go back to Israel. It's been three years since I was there, and I've wanted to go back since the moment I got home.

It's been a busy three years. I graduated from college,moved to Michigan and back to Ohio; I traveled to Turkey and Greece, I took my first church as a senior pastor, and I got married. It's gone by fast, but I've been waiting for next January for three years.

This time my wife will be going with me, it'll be her first trip out of the country. I'm excited to share this time with her. In the next year we're hoping to learn Hebrew through Rosetta Stone, to be able to enhance the experience by being able to communicate with people in their own language.

I'm so pumped to be going back, even as I talk about it now the excitement is building in me. To be where Jesus was again. To watch the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee, to stand in the Garden of Gethsemane, to walk the Via Dolorosa, to knee at Calvary and praise Him at the empty tomb. I can't wait to smell the scents of Jerusalem again. The memories I have from the last trip are still so fresh in my mind, but in spite of that, I find myself being incredibly open minded.

With the trip to Turkey and Greece I found myself very disappointed. I was expecting it to be like Israel. To have the same feel that the country has, to experience the same revelations as I did. But Turkey and Greece are completely different places. Jesus never walked there, and the feel of the land is different. The mistake I made with that trip was expecting it to be the same as my time in The Holy Land, it wasn't.

But this time, with this trip back, I have once again the simple expectation that I had with the first trip, I'm going to walk where Jesus walked. Honestly, I think that's the point of the trip. Whenever I talk to people about Israel I always tell them if you have the chance to go, go. It will change you, and you will not be the same.

The awe of travel is gone, I've lost the need to take a picture of everything I see, and for that I'm really looking forward to going back. This time I'll be able to soak up so much more, I have background knowledge that allows me to focus on new and different things. And in the coming year I get to review and study as much as possible so that when I get there I can focus on the things that I can't read in a book. I can focus on the land itself.

366 days and counting, I can't wait.

Peace be with you

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Crown of Righteousness

Paul concludes his statement, "in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."

Paul had fought the fight, finished the course, and kept the faith, and God gave him a crown. My mentor has shared many insights with me over the years, recently we've been talking about death. He said often times we look at death as a defeat, a loss, and a failure. We say things like, "We lost dad." or "She lost her battle with cancer." but for the Christ follower this isn't the case. Death is not defeat, or loss, but victory and gain.

Paul didn't see death as a defeat, but as a chance to make his final offering to God. He didn't see dying as failure but as great gain as he said in Philippians 1.21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Paul faced the end with confidence and dignity, knowing that he had faithfully served his Master, and when he passed from this world to the eternal one, he would be greeted by Christ placing the crown of righteousness upon his head and saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant." And Paul reminds us that this was not just his reward, but everyone who loves Christ and waits for Him to return.

Linda was one of them, and she has received her crown. She died of cancer, but she did not fail and she did not lose anything. We haven't lost believers who have died, they have simply gone ahead of us. They have not been defeated or shamed, and neither will we. Linda has gone on ahead, I miss her, but I will see her again.

In the movie Gladiator there is a line at the end. Juba, a gladiator friend of Maximus', buries two small carvings of Maximus' wife and son in the arena of the Coliseum after Maximus dies having fought his fight, finished his course, and kept the faith of Rome. As he covers the figures he says, "I will see you again, but not yet. Not yet." Linda, I will see you again. But not yet. My fight is not over, my course is not finished, and my faith will not be shaken. One day I will see you again as I receive my crown.

Paul's words can be ours as well. Death is not failure, but victory. There is no shame in it, but honor. Fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith, and you will receive the crown of righteousness from the hands of Christ.

Peace be with you

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Kept the Faith

Paul finishes his statement by proclaiming, "I have kept the faith;" a phrase with a few possible meanings. If we hold with the idea of competition seen in the previous two comments, this phrase could mean that Paul has kept the rules. Athletes at the ancient Olympics would have to take an oath before the gods pledging that they had trained for at least ten months and that they would compete fairly. Paul could be saying that he has competed and lived with honor as he competed in the race of life.

The phrase has other meanings though. In the business world it would have meant that the conditions of a contract had been kept. Paul could be using it to say that he had been commissioned to the service of Christ, and that he had lived it out. He had been faithful to his master.

It could also mean that "I have kept my faith." Paul could be saying that his trust, hope, and confidence in Christ had never been shaken. No matter what he had been through he had never lost faith in Christ. He says in Philippians 4, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Paul had faced many trials, but he had never lost faith in Christ. He knew that Christ would sustain and provide for him no matter what he faced.

Honestly, I think Paul has all of these meanings in mind as he writes. All of them are true of his life, and all of them can be true of us as well. Linda, at the end of her life was able to say, "I have kept the faith." Cancer never shook her faith in God. As she got worse and the treatments began to work less and less she never doubted the power and goodness of God. God had been there for her all of her life, and she would not deny Him now.

Linda lived with honor and integrity. She was honest and truthful, a trusted friend and confidant. Linda would fulfill her job, and whatever she did was done perfectly. Linda kept the faith. So can we.

Peace be with you

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Finsished the Course

Paul said in 2 Timothy 4, "I have finished the course," Paul says that he has finished. Starting is easy, but finishing is difficult. I think about the things I've started in life. Karate, I made it to orange belt, but things got busy and I lost interest. I tried my hand at wood carving, that lasted a few weeks and just got tedious. I was teaching myself to play guitar, and then life happened. I was so excited about all of these at the beginning. I had thoughts of me in the future successful at each one, and today, I know one chord on the guitar, have some unfinished piece of wood in my dad's garage, and my karate uniform is somewhere in my parent's house.

Finishing things is difficult. Many people quit when things get hard, when they encounter things that they didn't anticipate at the beginning. There is a goal we set out to attain, but something comes up and we never reach it. Paul didn't have that happen. He said finished the course. He had reached the goal. In the book of Philippians, written 5 or 6 years before 2 Timothy, he says that he hasn't attained the goal yet, but that he is striving after it. God had called him into Christlikeness, and Paul said he had not attained it yet, but that he was striving towards it.

Earlier in Philippians 3.10-11 Paul stated, "that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Paul had died to himself years earlier when he had embraced the call of Christ on his life and accepted the mission to tell the Gentiles about the love of Christ. Here at the end of 2 Timothy he is preparing to physically embrace death. And as he said in Philippians 1, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;"

Paul has finished the course, he has reached the goal, and he can now go to death satisfied because he has fulfilled the call that God has given him. My friend Linda finished her course as well. Linda never quit. As the cancer took it's toll on her, she never quit encouraging, she never quit teaching, she never quit glorifying God. She never quit loving and caring for friends and family. Linda was a dearly loved woman, and she knew how hard her funeral would be for those of us she left behind, so she planned it out for us. The songs that were to be played, how her hands were supposed to be placed in the casket, even the meal that would be served after the grave side service. Had she been able to bake in her last months she would have made the cookies that were served as appetizers. Linda never left anything unfinished. She showed me how to finish the course.

There will be tasks in life that we don't finish. There will be things that we lose interest in, or don't have the passion to make time for. But there are things that matter that we must stick to, no matter how difficult life gets. In 2 Corinthians 11.22-28 we find a list form Paul about the hardships he's endured, "Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches." I doubt at the beginning he knew what was ahead of him. But through all of that Paul stayed the course and at the end of his life was able to declare, "I have finished the course."

Stay the course, finish it through the power of Christ.

Peace be with you

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Fought the Fight

Paul continues his final words before death with this, "I have fought the good fight," and with this statement he can face death with peace and contentment. The word he uses for fight is agon (long o). The word refers to a match held in the arena. Fighting the good fight refers to doing the best he can.

Paul says that he has performed well, to the best of his abilities. He has no shame with his performance. An athlete who has truly done the best they can, who has given all they have, can hold their head high. Win or lose there is no disgrace or shame because they have given it all they have. They have poured all of their strength, skill and energy into their event holding nothing back. There is no shame in defeat to a worthy opponent who you have pushed and held your own against.

Paul tells us that he can face death because he has no shame. He has given it his all, performed admirably and held his own to the end. In a life lived to the best of it's ability, lived in a way that refuses to be associated with anything shameful, we can say this at the end.

My friend Linda could say this. Whatever she did was to the best of her abilities. Linda decided once she would make a porcelain horse. She entered it in a contest and it won. She was looking for a painting for her living room. No one could paint good enough for her, so she painted her own, and it looked great. She had the most incredible singing voice and lead the church praise team and choirs. She was an incredible cook. She invited us for lunch one day after church, we were going to have sandwiches. Instead of just laying out the bags of meat, cheese, and bread, she arranged it all on a platter, rolling each slice of meat as a catered platter would look. That was how she did things, to the best of her abilities.

She was able to tell you when you were making a mistake, not because she never made any, but because she lived a righteous life. She lived in such a way where no one could say anything bad about her. Her life was lived to the fullest, giving her best at whatever she did. Living a life focused on the glory of God. She truly fought the good fight.

Live in a way the is without shame. Live above the standards of the world, strive for the standard of righteousness which is attained through the blood of Christ. Fight the good fight.

Peace be with you

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Poured Out

At the end of this month I will celebrate a fifth anniversary. On January 31, 2007 my dear friend Linda Russe went home to receive permanent healing from God in Heaven. At the time I was a sophomore in college, and I didn't understand why God hadn't answered the countless prayers for healing that had been offered for her. She was one of those people that everyone loved, and she's someone I miss dearly.

The day I found out she had cancer I did a lot of crying. That night I had talked to her and she told me not to cry. At the time I didn't understand her, but after a few years of maturing and growing I would. Now as I look back, almost five years later, I can say I understand it better than I ever have. I've understood for a few years, but now I truly get it. I still miss her; I miss not being able to call her just to talk, I wish she had been able to be at my wedding this past summer, but I understand her confidence in a new way.

In 2 Timothy 4 Paul, very near to death, writes to his young friend Timothy about his confidence. "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come." At this point, the only thing Paul has left to offer to God is his very life. He has spent years giving time, money, energy, and knowledge to the service of God. He has spent himself and all that he has to proclaim the message of Jesus so that the Kingdom can be advanced. And now here at the end, he is prepared to offer his final sacrifice to God, his life.

At the end of a Roman meal there would be a sacrifice to the gods. A cup of wine would be poured out for them. The word used for the sacrifice at the end of the meal is spendesthai meaning a drink offering to the gods, and it is the same word that Paul uses here. Paul looks at his situation now not as a man waiting to be executed, but as a humble servant going to offer his life to God. Not having his life taken from him, but as willingly giving it to his Master. It is all he has left to offer, and he gladly lays it down.

Linda was the same way. Her life had been spent in service to God. She had taught me, and countless others so much about God and life through living. And as unselfishly as she lived life, she had a final lesson to teach in dying. A life that is lived with God, that has held nothing back, faces death with confidence knowing it is simply offering it's final offering to God.

Peace be with you

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Vision 2012

As the new year begins I'm casting new vision for the church. Vision is one of those things my professors talked about, my mentor has emphasized, and at the same time it's one of those things that no one tells you how to do. That's really because no one can tell you how to do it. I've learned in the past two years that you don't walk into a place with a specific vision for it. If you do, it's most likely your vision for what you want to happen.

Vision is something that comes once you've observed the environment and the people. Its something that you have to know the people and that community before you can begin to cast it. I've been here just over eight months, and in that time I've observed and reflected on a lot. Over the last few months this is where God has lead me, and so today we cast vision 2012.

Love God, Love Others, Love the World.

LOVE GOD:

Jesus said in Matthew that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind. In Mark He adds strength to the list. We love God with our heart be spending time with Him in prayer. By communicating with Him and deepening the relationship we have with Him. We love God with our soul by worshiping Him, both individually in every aspect of our lives, and corporately in a worship service. We love God with our mind by learning about Him. We study His word, we memorize it, we share it with others. We love God with our strength by serving Him. He has given all of us a gift, we find a place to use it for His glory.

This year, the goal is for everyone at the church to spend daily time with God in prayer and Bible study, to memorize one Bible verse a week, to be at Sunday service weekly, and to find a place to serve (we'll talk more about this one in the next two). Love God.

LOVE OTHERS:

We weren't created to be alone, God made us to be relational. But studies show that you can only have deep personal relationships with about 5-7 people. You can really only manage a group of about 12 people. You can be acquainted with about 150 people. That being said, you can't have deep relationships with everyone in a church unless the church is a group of up to 12 people. So we have the small group. Hebrews 10.23-25, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

How can you really encourage someone you are only acquainted with? How can you challenge someone to go deeper with God if you don't have that type of relationship with them? How can you really pray for someone if you don't know really what they are going through? How can you know that without a deep relationship with them? There is no way for us to know everyone on the same level. Jesus Himself grabbed 12 men and poured Himself deeply into them. We need those deep personal relationships. We need those people who know us, who are there for us, who we can call at 2 AM if needed.

The goal is for everyone at the church to be involved in a small group environment, right now we only have Sunday School classes, but it's that small group where they can begin to develop these deep relationships.

Secondly, loving others involves service. Jesus said in Matthew that the second greatest commandment is to love others. Loving involves serving. We love others within the church, we serve others in the church. We must find a ministry to be involved with, a place to exercise our God given gifts.

The goal is for everyone at the church to be involved in ministry within the church. Serving in some capacity to build the body of Christ.

LOVE THE WORLD:

Jesus said in Acts 1.8, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." Our Jerusalem is the local community. How will we serve the community? What are ways we can reach out and impact it for the Kingdom?

In the fall we did Trunk-or-Treat. This year we're looking at doing that, as well as a "Drive in" movie night this summer, possible three of them. We're exploring different ways to help the elderly, as well as ways to reach out to the poorer families in the community. But it says to serve the remotest parts of the earth. Many people feel that you have to go on an overseas missions trip to do this. If you can great, but many of the people I'm working with are older and physically can't. Many don't have the money to be able to go. What can we do?

This year we are going to be sponsoring children through World Vision. It's only about a dollar a day to feed, educate, and care for the child. But the great thing about World Vision is that they work to transform the entire village where that child lives. They work on bringing lasting change to a group of people.

You can also pray. There is something called "The Joshua Project", you can see a link to it on the right. It provides information on every people group in the world that has not heard the Gospel of Jesus. What you can do is "adopt" a people group. Pick one group, anywhere in the world, maybe somewhere you've always wanted to go. Pray for them. Pray for missionaries that might be there. Eventually look at ways you could possibly go and work with them.

The goal, is for everyone in the church to aid in sponsoring children around the world. To pray for our people group daily. To be involved in serving our community as we fulfill the last command of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Love the World.

Vision is crucial, because vision is the thing that unites us together. So let our vision be to love. Let love be the thing that unites us.

Colossians 3.12-17, "So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

Love God, Love Others, Love the World.

Peace be with you