1 peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
I wrote last week about the voodoo soul doctors of Togo making marks on their subjects faces when they come for healing or help. The mark made from a knife is usually about a 3/4" cut on the cheek, or above the heart. It is pretty grotesque to see some of the faces in Togoville, where the scars of "voodoo healing and power" are abundant. The people who practice voodoo believe that the pain caused by the cuts pleases the gods and that the resulting scars are visible markers of faithfulness to the voodoo gods.
As I thought more about this false religious practice, I began to compare it to my own faith in Christ. Voodoo teaches that people must cut themselves to induce a pain that pleases the gods. Christianity says that God came and took the stripes upon his back for us. Peter says in the baove verse that we are healed by His wounds. Voodoo, like all other false religions, tries to prescribe ways to please the gods. Christianity says that we can't please God, only Christ did, and His Lordship over our lives is the prescription that he filled on the Cross and offers to us freely. It really makes you think of the deep levels of mercy and love the father has. It also gives me great sorrow as I think about the billions that are trapped in religious systems that offer no hope, but only a mighty struggle.
The lie in all false religions is that we can stay in control of our lives and some how please the judge of the world. They are man made and so they are man centered thoughts that fall flat before Jehovah.
All of us are tempted to believe that we can be good enough for God on our own merits. It is the effects of our sin nature. Ask God to show you that there is no good thing in you apart from Christ. Let us praise the true God that stooped down from Heaven to take our due punishment and offer us eternal life. Praise God!
What a God we serve.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Covert Sin
Romans 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Some things are easy to identify. I spent last week in Togoville, Togo. It is considered the world wide epicenter of voodoo. Child sacrifices are still apart of this extremely dark and gloomy practice. It is not hard to identify those who have given themselves over to this wicked religion. The voodoo priests take sharp rocks and knives and cut marks of "ownership" in the faces and over the hearts of the people who give in to this religious practice. The effects of sin and false worship are clearly evident and impossisble to miss.
On the plane ride home I had plenty of time to think through this and many other things. It was beautiful to see those people with marked faces that Christ had redeemed. It was also clear to see who was walking in a particular well defined darkness. It has been said that a problem well defined is half solved and that is true. It is what Paul is saying about the usefulness of the Law in Romans 7. He is saying that the law is a mirror that reveals to us the sins of our souls by defining them in a distinct manner. If we are able to identify them clearly, we then can turn to the great mediator Christ in repentance. If we can not identify them, they will overcome us. He clearly says in verse 13 that the purpose of the law is "that sin may be shown to be sin". Praise God for the law which marks the things that separate us from our God. Thank God for the grace of Jesus who brings restoration for those who submit to God's law and submit to the merciful reign of Christ over their lives.
If we turn our attention back home to the good old US, the marks of sin are not as clear cut as facial scars at first glance. Pride, vanity, lust, greed, control and self promotion can be glossed over and we are masters of doing just that. These sins are impossible to miss to those who stop and allow God to highlight them in our lives. These covert sins are like a spiritual cancer that eat us from the inside out. For some time, the outward effects of the cancer are unseen and so we think every thing is fine. Eventually though its damage becomes clear to all.
We all need to be very careful not to miss the heart of what Paul is saying. We must allow God to identify our sins through the law and then repent of those sins at the feet of Jesus. If you stop for a second and look at our society, the effects of our sin are as clear as facial scars from a witch doctor:
Look at the divorce rate
There are billions of dollars spent on pornography and females consumers are the fastest growing part of that mix.
Look at a magazine rack or turn your tv on and you will see vanity in its clearest form, as we all are invited to be beautiful.
Look at the billions of dollars spent on vain cosmetic surgeries and diet pills and equipment that will draw attention to us.
Look at the number of homes who have no father because he is too busy working as he empowers himself with pride.
Look at how we spend dozens of hours each week glorifying ourselves in the name of our kids little league sports and activities.
Look at our cars and houses and they are markers of our desires of self elevation.
Look at man made justification of sexual immorality like homosexuality, even among those called churches
Just stop and look at oursleves, and what we have done with the blessings of God. We are abusing them greatly and we need to identify them as individuals and churches and get on our face before God and repent. He has sgiven us the tools to see them in the law and His word, and the power and opportunity to be restored in Christ.
We must not casually engage with God any longer and trample the blood of Christ.
13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Some things are easy to identify. I spent last week in Togoville, Togo. It is considered the world wide epicenter of voodoo. Child sacrifices are still apart of this extremely dark and gloomy practice. It is not hard to identify those who have given themselves over to this wicked religion. The voodoo priests take sharp rocks and knives and cut marks of "ownership" in the faces and over the hearts of the people who give in to this religious practice. The effects of sin and false worship are clearly evident and impossisble to miss.
On the plane ride home I had plenty of time to think through this and many other things. It was beautiful to see those people with marked faces that Christ had redeemed. It was also clear to see who was walking in a particular well defined darkness. It has been said that a problem well defined is half solved and that is true. It is what Paul is saying about the usefulness of the Law in Romans 7. He is saying that the law is a mirror that reveals to us the sins of our souls by defining them in a distinct manner. If we are able to identify them clearly, we then can turn to the great mediator Christ in repentance. If we can not identify them, they will overcome us. He clearly says in verse 13 that the purpose of the law is "that sin may be shown to be sin". Praise God for the law which marks the things that separate us from our God. Thank God for the grace of Jesus who brings restoration for those who submit to God's law and submit to the merciful reign of Christ over their lives.
If we turn our attention back home to the good old US, the marks of sin are not as clear cut as facial scars at first glance. Pride, vanity, lust, greed, control and self promotion can be glossed over and we are masters of doing just that. These sins are impossible to miss to those who stop and allow God to highlight them in our lives. These covert sins are like a spiritual cancer that eat us from the inside out. For some time, the outward effects of the cancer are unseen and so we think every thing is fine. Eventually though its damage becomes clear to all.
We all need to be very careful not to miss the heart of what Paul is saying. We must allow God to identify our sins through the law and then repent of those sins at the feet of Jesus. If you stop for a second and look at our society, the effects of our sin are as clear as facial scars from a witch doctor:
Look at the divorce rate
There are billions of dollars spent on pornography and females consumers are the fastest growing part of that mix.
Look at a magazine rack or turn your tv on and you will see vanity in its clearest form, as we all are invited to be beautiful.
Look at the billions of dollars spent on vain cosmetic surgeries and diet pills and equipment that will draw attention to us.
Look at the number of homes who have no father because he is too busy working as he empowers himself with pride.
Look at how we spend dozens of hours each week glorifying ourselves in the name of our kids little league sports and activities.
Look at our cars and houses and they are markers of our desires of self elevation.
Look at man made justification of sexual immorality like homosexuality, even among those called churches
Just stop and look at oursleves, and what we have done with the blessings of God. We are abusing them greatly and we need to identify them as individuals and churches and get on our face before God and repent. He has sgiven us the tools to see them in the law and His word, and the power and opportunity to be restored in Christ.
We must not casually engage with God any longer and trample the blood of Christ.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Contend
Jude 1:3b I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints
Definition of Contend: To struggle in opposition.
Have you noticed how hard it is to build faith? Distractions, false teachers, temptations, attacks, struggles, busyness and just plain old being tired seem to serve as road blocks in this crazy world we live in. I meet plenty of young folks who don't have time for God yet spend hours on facebook. I meet men and women who have no time with the Lord , but carve out dozens of hours each week to exercise. Others who work overtime to be successful, yet sacrifice the opportunity to be with God. It seems like we are pros at contending for physical health, money and our voice to be heard (at least digitally). Have we been misled into contending for the wrong things?
In Jude's letter, He specifically charges the Church to contend for their faith. He is telling them that they (we) are in a battle with an enemy and they must stay in contention. They are to guard their souls by staying connected to Christ in Worship. God gave us the ammunition to contend in our battle with Holy Sacraments like communion, baptism Church and the ability to pray to Him. What Jude is saying is that as long as you are in the world you are locked in a war between good and evil. Yes Good has won the day on the Cross, but the only way to stay vibrant in Faith is to be hooked into God through Christ. It is a scrap. A street brawl. We need to train ourselves and contend with the intensity of Rocky and the grace of mother Theresa.
Perhaps one of the greatest enemies we have today is a belief that their is a neutral ground of action for us. We try to think that there are some things in this life that don't really glorify God, but aren't bad enough to really be called evil or sin. Jude is trying to keep us on guard about that type of thinking. We must realize that we have an adversary who tries to trap us with seemingly harmless activities that lead us down a path away from God. He knows that if we are to busy or satisfied with the things of this world we will not contend for our faith, because we will not perceive our need for it. I believe Jude is impressing upon us the need for time alone and corporately at the feet of Jesus, where our faith is strengthened to overcome the world.
Are you contending for your faith? Where is your satisfaction? Where is your desire? Where are your goals set? What dominates your time,life and attention?
Jude is charging us to be a contender, not a pretender.
Definition of Contend: To struggle in opposition.
Have you noticed how hard it is to build faith? Distractions, false teachers, temptations, attacks, struggles, busyness and just plain old being tired seem to serve as road blocks in this crazy world we live in. I meet plenty of young folks who don't have time for God yet spend hours on facebook. I meet men and women who have no time with the Lord , but carve out dozens of hours each week to exercise. Others who work overtime to be successful, yet sacrifice the opportunity to be with God. It seems like we are pros at contending for physical health, money and our voice to be heard (at least digitally). Have we been misled into contending for the wrong things?
In Jude's letter, He specifically charges the Church to contend for their faith. He is telling them that they (we) are in a battle with an enemy and they must stay in contention. They are to guard their souls by staying connected to Christ in Worship. God gave us the ammunition to contend in our battle with Holy Sacraments like communion, baptism Church and the ability to pray to Him. What Jude is saying is that as long as you are in the world you are locked in a war between good and evil. Yes Good has won the day on the Cross, but the only way to stay vibrant in Faith is to be hooked into God through Christ. It is a scrap. A street brawl. We need to train ourselves and contend with the intensity of Rocky and the grace of mother Theresa.
Perhaps one of the greatest enemies we have today is a belief that their is a neutral ground of action for us. We try to think that there are some things in this life that don't really glorify God, but aren't bad enough to really be called evil or sin. Jude is trying to keep us on guard about that type of thinking. We must realize that we have an adversary who tries to trap us with seemingly harmless activities that lead us down a path away from God. He knows that if we are to busy or satisfied with the things of this world we will not contend for our faith, because we will not perceive our need for it. I believe Jude is impressing upon us the need for time alone and corporately at the feet of Jesus, where our faith is strengthened to overcome the world.
Are you contending for your faith? Where is your satisfaction? Where is your desire? Where are your goals set? What dominates your time,life and attention?
Jude is charging us to be a contender, not a pretender.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The wallet
Ephesians 4:8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
One of the paradoxes of Christmas when you are a father is receiving gifts from your kids. It's kind of weird logically, as I give them the money and then they turn around and bring a gift back to me. If you aren't careful, you could say that the whole thing is stupid so let's just quit it all. That was my stance until this year. My son Cal gave me a red and synthetic bamboo wallet. The price of the wallet was $7, and it has been a while since I have sported a wallet with Velcro and zippers, but since Cal gave it to me, I do not see it as cheap. Why? Because my son took the time to pick it out and bring it home to me as an offering of love. It really doesn't matter I gave Him the money, His heart involvement turned a cheap wallet in to a rich gift of love to me. Man that wallet has taught me much in the last 7 weeks.
I believe that God is after us bringing Him offerings that spring from a faithful heart. We can not give God back anything he hasn't given to us, so we need to humble our own view point of our offerings. Too many times we want to focus on what the offering looks like in the eyes of men, and not the degree of faithfulness of the heart that gives it. For example, it amazes me how people treat me as I ready to go on mission trips. It's like it is some really special glamorous offering that is super special. Let me tell you that yes it is a special privilege to teach in mostly unreached parts of the world, but the moment my heart sees that as anything better than Cal's $7 wallet, I am on extremely thin ice of pride. We make deacons out of the people who give the most money and name buildings after others who do the same? Isn't that elevating one's ability to make and donate money as a marker if true faith? The only marker God is concerned with is the loyalty of the obedient soul of the giver, not the magnitude of teh gift in the eyes of men.
In Ephesians 4:8 above Paul is saying that he set us free from our captivity (including self worship of pride). He gave us gifts to give back to Him and to others and we ought to just be happy to be in His kingdom. We can't repay Him as it is His currency, the blood of Christ. I pray that I have a simple desire to find out what is born in the heart of God and respond as an offering no matter how that looks. Sometimes that will look glamorous and daring to those who know you, most of the time no one else even knows besides you and God.
So how do you view your offerings to God (assuming you have some)? Is there even a hint of self exaltation in the giving? If so I don't think that aroma will be very pleasing to Him. It is something that we all must work through as we seek to put our flesh to death by carrying our cross daily.
And parents, lets don't miss any opportunity to teach of God's unmerited favor towards us, even $7 synthetic bamboo wallets. One of the truest markers of someone in the kingdom is a default setting of worship to the one who saves us and gives us gifts along the way. One of the biggest markers of someone outside the kingdom is when the question is asked ,"How will this offering to God promote me in the eyes of men".
I know them both first hand.
and he gave gifts to men.”
One of the paradoxes of Christmas when you are a father is receiving gifts from your kids. It's kind of weird logically, as I give them the money and then they turn around and bring a gift back to me. If you aren't careful, you could say that the whole thing is stupid so let's just quit it all. That was my stance until this year. My son Cal gave me a red and synthetic bamboo wallet. The price of the wallet was $7, and it has been a while since I have sported a wallet with Velcro and zippers, but since Cal gave it to me, I do not see it as cheap. Why? Because my son took the time to pick it out and bring it home to me as an offering of love. It really doesn't matter I gave Him the money, His heart involvement turned a cheap wallet in to a rich gift of love to me. Man that wallet has taught me much in the last 7 weeks.
I believe that God is after us bringing Him offerings that spring from a faithful heart. We can not give God back anything he hasn't given to us, so we need to humble our own view point of our offerings. Too many times we want to focus on what the offering looks like in the eyes of men, and not the degree of faithfulness of the heart that gives it. For example, it amazes me how people treat me as I ready to go on mission trips. It's like it is some really special glamorous offering that is super special. Let me tell you that yes it is a special privilege to teach in mostly unreached parts of the world, but the moment my heart sees that as anything better than Cal's $7 wallet, I am on extremely thin ice of pride. We make deacons out of the people who give the most money and name buildings after others who do the same? Isn't that elevating one's ability to make and donate money as a marker if true faith? The only marker God is concerned with is the loyalty of the obedient soul of the giver, not the magnitude of teh gift in the eyes of men.
In Ephesians 4:8 above Paul is saying that he set us free from our captivity (including self worship of pride). He gave us gifts to give back to Him and to others and we ought to just be happy to be in His kingdom. We can't repay Him as it is His currency, the blood of Christ. I pray that I have a simple desire to find out what is born in the heart of God and respond as an offering no matter how that looks. Sometimes that will look glamorous and daring to those who know you, most of the time no one else even knows besides you and God.
So how do you view your offerings to God (assuming you have some)? Is there even a hint of self exaltation in the giving? If so I don't think that aroma will be very pleasing to Him. It is something that we all must work through as we seek to put our flesh to death by carrying our cross daily.
And parents, lets don't miss any opportunity to teach of God's unmerited favor towards us, even $7 synthetic bamboo wallets. One of the truest markers of someone in the kingdom is a default setting of worship to the one who saves us and gives us gifts along the way. One of the biggest markers of someone outside the kingdom is when the question is asked ,"How will this offering to God promote me in the eyes of men".
I know them both first hand.
Monday, February 7, 2011
A healthy dose of Fear
Acts 20:34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
5 days before I got married way back in 1997, my friend Hank Miner took me offshore fishing. It is one of my favorite things to do and this particular day started great. The bite was hot as we fished an oil platform some 54 nautical miles SSE of the lighthouse in Mobile bay. About 2:00 one of our down riggers started to scream, as a large fish was stealing line form the reel at a high rate of speed. Since it was next to me, I picked it up and set the hook that began the fight. After about 4o minutes of fighting I landed a 52# king mackerel that had been foul hooked in the belly, which increased the fight itself. As the rush of landing such a big fish started to subside I started to notice some extremely dark clouds approaching our 31' Fountain. As we fired up the radar and plotted our course home on the GPS, it did not look so hot. The storm had came from no where and was bearing down on us pretty quick. As we swung the boat around to head NNE towards the lighthouse, it seemed that the bow was directly facing the storm. We had two choices: run to Cuba, or head through the storm. We chose the USA and watched the storm surge grow in front of the boat and storm size grow on the radar. It quickly went from bad to worse as waves in the 10-12' range greeted us as we started home. I was glad I was with Hank as he had been fishing since his youth, and as the owner of a boat dealership knew the Gulf and the boat better than anyone. About two hours into a pounding sea, that seemingly threatened to shatter the fiberglass hull on each wave, I saw fear in Hank's eyes. Once confident and sure, it was obvious that our lives were in danger. Fear gripped us tightly as we both hung on for dear life. I made sure we were on course and he steered us onward. After about 4 hours we finally made it behind Sand Island and the wind and waves were knocked down considerably. A huge relief - we were going to make it home. I must admit that it knocked down my desire to offshore fish for a while. I had a fear of the Gulf like never before. I also had a new found respect for it.
The bible has much to say about "The fear of the Lord". It sounds outdated to some people who think that fear is totally a bad thing. I look at Proverbs 1:7 which says ," the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge" . There are at least 14 other references in proverbs alone that talks about the blessing that the fear of the Lord brings. Isaiah 66:2 says that God will only look at people who are humble and tremble at His word. Paul charges the Philippians to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling" in Philippians 2:12. Look at what Peter says in the verses above about salvation coming to the Gentiles. He says that anyone can be saved if they fear God and do what is acceptable (worship Christ).
So the fear of God is a first and key ingredient to salvation. By grace he shows us a healthy fear we should have of Him in light of His sovereignty and our sin. By grace he then relieves our fears in the supremacy of Christ. You can see a healthy tension between fear and comfort both enabled by grace and both designed to drive us to Christ.
For those of you who think I am off base, if you have no fear of the wrath of God, from what are you saved from? Just like 12' waves in a 31' boat 54 miles from shore, fear can have a healthy purpose. God has designed a healthy fear as a critical component of our salvation and ongoing walk with Him.
So honestly ask yourself if you fear Him. If you have never feared Him, you don't know Him.
5 days before I got married way back in 1997, my friend Hank Miner took me offshore fishing. It is one of my favorite things to do and this particular day started great. The bite was hot as we fished an oil platform some 54 nautical miles SSE of the lighthouse in Mobile bay. About 2:00 one of our down riggers started to scream, as a large fish was stealing line form the reel at a high rate of speed. Since it was next to me, I picked it up and set the hook that began the fight. After about 4o minutes of fighting I landed a 52# king mackerel that had been foul hooked in the belly, which increased the fight itself. As the rush of landing such a big fish started to subside I started to notice some extremely dark clouds approaching our 31' Fountain. As we fired up the radar and plotted our course home on the GPS, it did not look so hot. The storm had came from no where and was bearing down on us pretty quick. As we swung the boat around to head NNE towards the lighthouse, it seemed that the bow was directly facing the storm. We had two choices: run to Cuba, or head through the storm. We chose the USA and watched the storm surge grow in front of the boat and storm size grow on the radar. It quickly went from bad to worse as waves in the 10-12' range greeted us as we started home. I was glad I was with Hank as he had been fishing since his youth, and as the owner of a boat dealership knew the Gulf and the boat better than anyone. About two hours into a pounding sea, that seemingly threatened to shatter the fiberglass hull on each wave, I saw fear in Hank's eyes. Once confident and sure, it was obvious that our lives were in danger. Fear gripped us tightly as we both hung on for dear life. I made sure we were on course and he steered us onward. After about 4 hours we finally made it behind Sand Island and the wind and waves were knocked down considerably. A huge relief - we were going to make it home. I must admit that it knocked down my desire to offshore fish for a while. I had a fear of the Gulf like never before. I also had a new found respect for it.
The bible has much to say about "The fear of the Lord". It sounds outdated to some people who think that fear is totally a bad thing. I look at Proverbs 1:7 which says ," the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge" . There are at least 14 other references in proverbs alone that talks about the blessing that the fear of the Lord brings. Isaiah 66:2 says that God will only look at people who are humble and tremble at His word. Paul charges the Philippians to "work out their salvation with fear and trembling" in Philippians 2:12. Look at what Peter says in the verses above about salvation coming to the Gentiles. He says that anyone can be saved if they fear God and do what is acceptable (worship Christ).
So the fear of God is a first and key ingredient to salvation. By grace he shows us a healthy fear we should have of Him in light of His sovereignty and our sin. By grace he then relieves our fears in the supremacy of Christ. You can see a healthy tension between fear and comfort both enabled by grace and both designed to drive us to Christ.
For those of you who think I am off base, if you have no fear of the wrath of God, from what are you saved from? Just like 12' waves in a 31' boat 54 miles from shore, fear can have a healthy purpose. God has designed a healthy fear as a critical component of our salvation and ongoing walk with Him.
So honestly ask yourself if you fear Him. If you have never feared Him, you don't know Him.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Mom and Pop Discipleship
1 Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you like a nursing mother taking care of her children
1Thessalonians 2:11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of the God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory
It is my least favorite thing in the world. Yesterday, the schedule demanded that Evie and I split up with two kids each until we were to rendezvous at about 11:00, so I could deliver Alison back to her after softball. I was coaching Cal's basketball team at 11:30 , so I had little wiggle room in the schedule. As I pulled up, hoping to escort Alison to the door and zoom off to play hoops, Evie met me at the door. "You need to take Eli to the bathroom" she said sternly as she handed me his hand. Turns out, Eli was rebelling against her at every turn as Evie was trying to take care of her and Luke at a birthday party. Eli had sensed her divided attention and exploited it at every turn, thus stern discipline was in a huge demand. So to the bathroom we went. Hard and soft love were applied to Eli, and his whole thought process was restructured as a result. They went to another party while we were playing hoops, and he was an angel. It is amazing how we all need both discipline and comfort in our lives.
That is exactly what Paul is saying about his discipling process in Thessalonica. He appeals to their sense of parenting to help them see what effective ministry looks like. Paul says we held you like a nursing mother and we all kind of say "aww!, that is so sweet Paul" and we can embrace that totally. But then look what follows, like a father we exhorted you, encouraged you and charged you. This tone seems a little like a gunny Sargent. Paul's saying there were times when we had to demand sternly that you look to Christ and build faith. He says like a father we charged you with firm words that the grace of God is not cheap. When you look at Paul's words you can see the healthy balance of ministry, expressed in a picture of a healthy parenting. There is a needed balance when we raise kids, and in all of our spiritual lives.
Maybe it is just me since I am the father figure, but doesn't it seem like we have lost a lot of the firm fathering in both the family and in the Church. We seem to have become soft in our desires, bellies, parenting and our walks with Christ. We really want the soft words and warm hugs, and it seems that hard firm words of grace-led truth are met with a "it is too much for me" rejection almost across the board. If we want to raise healthy families and healthy disciples we must walk with both the Lion and the Lamb. Christ himself is the pinnacle of both of these expressions and therefore the explanation point of this thought. We should walk in a healthy fear of Him as Lion, while He provides the comfort of the Lamb.
How does your faith look as you think through this? Is it a single parent faith with the father absent? If you want a quick test, take a look at your kids, if you have them. Our spiritual life always spills over into our parenting and reveals itself the quickest as it reproduces itself in our children. Do your kids have a healthy "grace-enabled fear and respect" for their parents? If not and they are running the show then you have your answer. It is hard in our culture today, but we must rear up our children and disciples with firmness and tenderness simultaneously and continuously -that is God's design.
1Thessalonians 2:11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of the God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory
It is my least favorite thing in the world. Yesterday, the schedule demanded that Evie and I split up with two kids each until we were to rendezvous at about 11:00, so I could deliver Alison back to her after softball. I was coaching Cal's basketball team at 11:30 , so I had little wiggle room in the schedule. As I pulled up, hoping to escort Alison to the door and zoom off to play hoops, Evie met me at the door. "You need to take Eli to the bathroom" she said sternly as she handed me his hand. Turns out, Eli was rebelling against her at every turn as Evie was trying to take care of her and Luke at a birthday party. Eli had sensed her divided attention and exploited it at every turn, thus stern discipline was in a huge demand. So to the bathroom we went. Hard and soft love were applied to Eli, and his whole thought process was restructured as a result. They went to another party while we were playing hoops, and he was an angel. It is amazing how we all need both discipline and comfort in our lives.
That is exactly what Paul is saying about his discipling process in Thessalonica. He appeals to their sense of parenting to help them see what effective ministry looks like. Paul says we held you like a nursing mother and we all kind of say "aww!, that is so sweet Paul" and we can embrace that totally. But then look what follows, like a father we exhorted you, encouraged you and charged you. This tone seems a little like a gunny Sargent. Paul's saying there were times when we had to demand sternly that you look to Christ and build faith. He says like a father we charged you with firm words that the grace of God is not cheap. When you look at Paul's words you can see the healthy balance of ministry, expressed in a picture of a healthy parenting. There is a needed balance when we raise kids, and in all of our spiritual lives.
Maybe it is just me since I am the father figure, but doesn't it seem like we have lost a lot of the firm fathering in both the family and in the Church. We seem to have become soft in our desires, bellies, parenting and our walks with Christ. We really want the soft words and warm hugs, and it seems that hard firm words of grace-led truth are met with a "it is too much for me" rejection almost across the board. If we want to raise healthy families and healthy disciples we must walk with both the Lion and the Lamb. Christ himself is the pinnacle of both of these expressions and therefore the explanation point of this thought. We should walk in a healthy fear of Him as Lion, while He provides the comfort of the Lamb.
How does your faith look as you think through this? Is it a single parent faith with the father absent? If you want a quick test, take a look at your kids, if you have them. Our spiritual life always spills over into our parenting and reveals itself the quickest as it reproduces itself in our children. Do your kids have a healthy "grace-enabled fear and respect" for their parents? If not and they are running the show then you have your answer. It is hard in our culture today, but we must rear up our children and disciples with firmness and tenderness simultaneously and continuously -that is God's design.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The New Delhi Go Green Project
1 Thessalonians 1:5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
New Delhi is a city of approximately 24 million people. For those of you keeping score, that is more than the entire population of California living in a geographic footprint the size of Atlanta, GA. To say it is crowded and congested is a ridiculous understatement. I happened to be there in May, when the heat and humidity is suffocating with temps clocking in consistantly over 120 each day. The collective smog produced from car exhaust and factories was so heavy that it choked the sun's light and forced it to set an hour early each day. It was a little disturbing to look up to the sun and not be blinded by its rays as the air pollution filtered out most of its light. At least a few people had realized there was a serious greenhouse gas problem. There was a government supported initiative to plant some seedling trees in the medians of some of the highways and roads. Now even as I write this I have to smile at the futility of the attempt at "Going Green". I know it maybe hard for you to picture, but in my weeks stay there I think I saw only about an acre of green grass and maybe another 30 acres of brown grass and few trees as well. So the picture is of 24 million people driving cars and working in factories that are mostly unchecked by an EPA like agency in terms of emitting pollution. Generations of neglect and the effects of that have produced an extremely harsh, humid and polluted environment with only scant traces of green foliage reserved only for 5 star hotels. The 10,000 or so 12 inch sapplings that had been planted to help "save the environment" have about as much affect as me dropping a cooler full of ice in the Gulf, not much.
As I pondered this in my heart, I first related the sapplings to the church in India. It is small in number, and is seemingly having little effect on changing the culture as Idols are everywhere in full view. As I thought through it further, I was able to relate it as well to the church in the US. I don't want to underscore the faith led good works that do happen, but I don't see the culture- changing Power of the Gospel that Paul knew so well beaming out of our churches. Paul says when he came to Thessalonica, he came with more than just words and talk, He brought God along with Him as the Holy Spirit's power was going to change the world. He came with full conviction that God was going to shake things up, and that He had sufficient power to do just that.
I have used this analogy to search the self imposed boundaries of my own faith. Where is the power of God in my walk? Do I have the same mind set and convictions as Paul? Is God changing the World through me? The answers are better than they once were by His grace. I once was simply content to talk about things and attend some religious activities. Now I am not content without the power of the Holy Spirit burning in my heart.
Think through your walk and the life of your church. How much power is eminating outward from it to change the world? There is a tendency to mirror the "New Delhi Go Green inititaive" which talks through a plan and celebrates the "acheivements" of teh plan, but really has no effect.
It is only as we sit at the feet of Christ and are strengthened by Him, do we have the Power to change anything. He gives us the power, the vision and the pleasure to carry out His will on Earth. Do you have any of them? Please do not let the devil convince you that you can't ever be a part of changing the world. Ponder it in your Heart and search for Christ in the Bible, in your prayers and in your life.
New Delhi is a city of approximately 24 million people. For those of you keeping score, that is more than the entire population of California living in a geographic footprint the size of Atlanta, GA. To say it is crowded and congested is a ridiculous understatement. I happened to be there in May, when the heat and humidity is suffocating with temps clocking in consistantly over 120 each day. The collective smog produced from car exhaust and factories was so heavy that it choked the sun's light and forced it to set an hour early each day. It was a little disturbing to look up to the sun and not be blinded by its rays as the air pollution filtered out most of its light. At least a few people had realized there was a serious greenhouse gas problem. There was a government supported initiative to plant some seedling trees in the medians of some of the highways and roads. Now even as I write this I have to smile at the futility of the attempt at "Going Green". I know it maybe hard for you to picture, but in my weeks stay there I think I saw only about an acre of green grass and maybe another 30 acres of brown grass and few trees as well. So the picture is of 24 million people driving cars and working in factories that are mostly unchecked by an EPA like agency in terms of emitting pollution. Generations of neglect and the effects of that have produced an extremely harsh, humid and polluted environment with only scant traces of green foliage reserved only for 5 star hotels. The 10,000 or so 12 inch sapplings that had been planted to help "save the environment" have about as much affect as me dropping a cooler full of ice in the Gulf, not much.
As I pondered this in my heart, I first related the sapplings to the church in India. It is small in number, and is seemingly having little effect on changing the culture as Idols are everywhere in full view. As I thought through it further, I was able to relate it as well to the church in the US. I don't want to underscore the faith led good works that do happen, but I don't see the culture- changing Power of the Gospel that Paul knew so well beaming out of our churches. Paul says when he came to Thessalonica, he came with more than just words and talk, He brought God along with Him as the Holy Spirit's power was going to change the world. He came with full conviction that God was going to shake things up, and that He had sufficient power to do just that.
I have used this analogy to search the self imposed boundaries of my own faith. Where is the power of God in my walk? Do I have the same mind set and convictions as Paul? Is God changing the World through me? The answers are better than they once were by His grace. I once was simply content to talk about things and attend some religious activities. Now I am not content without the power of the Holy Spirit burning in my heart.
Think through your walk and the life of your church. How much power is eminating outward from it to change the world? There is a tendency to mirror the "New Delhi Go Green inititaive" which talks through a plan and celebrates the "acheivements" of teh plan, but really has no effect.
It is only as we sit at the feet of Christ and are strengthened by Him, do we have the Power to change anything. He gives us the power, the vision and the pleasure to carry out His will on Earth. Do you have any of them? Please do not let the devil convince you that you can't ever be a part of changing the world. Ponder it in your Heart and search for Christ in the Bible, in your prayers and in your life.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Hollow Shells
Acts 19:11 And l God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”
Have you noticed how our society seems obsessed with learning "how to do things" and "models" that work? I am a huge believer in both, but not if the obsession for learning the model comes at the expense of actually fulfilling the model. I see people who would rather attend 7 bible studies a week on "How to spend time with God", than simply spending time with God. I see people share "their" faith by recommending books and sermons by other people. Wouldn't it be better to share your faith, since you have the relationship? I see people wanting the "secret" to my business model and when I tell them it is prayer and relying humbly on God, even though it frustrates my flesh, they seem let down. They seem to want a magic button, or the next great revelation that will suddenly empower all of these things. The power for all things is already in place and His name is Jesus. He alone brings the power of God into this world and communion with Him is how we access His Holy Power.
Look at the contrast between the work of God through Paul and the work of the 7 sons of Sceva. They functionally did the same thing (a.k.a. -their model was the same). The difference was Paul's actions were initiated by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit and so His actions had a "Holy Fuel" that enabled God's will to occur. The 7 sons of Sceva did the same thing (followed the same model), they just didn't have divine power in their model, so it failed miserably. It should be a huge teaching point for us all in a day in which we can run to fit a mold, instead of allowing Christ to simply recreate your unique one for you.
The hardest thing to do today is to spend quiet time in prayer at the feet of Jesus. Without that time, our models are hollow shells of what they could be - change agents of the World.
When is the last time you got alone with God with the anticipation of a "hot date"? It is the very spot where living water is poured into our spirits! Don't go through life as a hollow shell - consume Christ and be filled.
Have you noticed how our society seems obsessed with learning "how to do things" and "models" that work? I am a huge believer in both, but not if the obsession for learning the model comes at the expense of actually fulfilling the model. I see people who would rather attend 7 bible studies a week on "How to spend time with God", than simply spending time with God. I see people share "their" faith by recommending books and sermons by other people. Wouldn't it be better to share your faith, since you have the relationship? I see people wanting the "secret" to my business model and when I tell them it is prayer and relying humbly on God, even though it frustrates my flesh, they seem let down. They seem to want a magic button, or the next great revelation that will suddenly empower all of these things. The power for all things is already in place and His name is Jesus. He alone brings the power of God into this world and communion with Him is how we access His Holy Power.
Look at the contrast between the work of God through Paul and the work of the 7 sons of Sceva. They functionally did the same thing (a.k.a. -their model was the same). The difference was Paul's actions were initiated by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit and so His actions had a "Holy Fuel" that enabled God's will to occur. The 7 sons of Sceva did the same thing (followed the same model), they just didn't have divine power in their model, so it failed miserably. It should be a huge teaching point for us all in a day in which we can run to fit a mold, instead of allowing Christ to simply recreate your unique one for you.
The hardest thing to do today is to spend quiet time in prayer at the feet of Jesus. Without that time, our models are hollow shells of what they could be - change agents of the World.
When is the last time you got alone with God with the anticipation of a "hot date"? It is the very spot where living water is poured into our spirits! Don't go through life as a hollow shell - consume Christ and be filled.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Black Pepper Pound Cake
Joshua7:11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. 13 Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.”
One of the richest joys of my youth was my moms Carolina poundcake. We used to eat it hot, straight from the oven when the crust was crispy and the inside fluffy and moist. It really does make my mouth water and remind me of one day when my mom, my brother and I consumed an entire poundcake in one sitting as we watched the thriller, " Hush , Hush , Sweet Charlotte".
These cakes were so longed for at my house that one day my brother decided he was going to whip one up while mom was outside talking with our neighbors. Chris is a smart guy so at age 9 he systematically followed the instructions as he preheated the oven and whipped the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. His execution was on point, but there was one problem. Christ thought that "2 tsp b.p." stood for 2 teaspoons of black pepper, not baking powder. There is a significant difference in the two and it was amazing how those two little teaspoons changed both the taste and the composition of the cake. Lets just say it not only tasted bad, it tasted really bad and the texture of the cake was not up to snuff either. It did not take us but one bite each to understand something was wrong. 2 little teaspoons ruined an entire cake made up of about two pounds of batter.
The passage of scripture above in Joshua is the infamous sin in the camp scene, where the whole congregation of Jews suffered because one man disobeyed God. This sinner, Achan took household idols as spoil as they defeated Jericho, and God had forbidden that very thing. The result was that when the Israelites went to fight at Ai, God was fighting against them, not for them. This one man out of hundreds of thousands had brought sin into the camp and the result was that all suffered. God charged Joshua to purge this sin, so Achan was identified as the perpetrator and stoned to death. The sin was eliminated and fellowship with God was restored. Since God was once again with the Israelites, they were then able to conquer all they fought as they entered the promise land.
God has a serious hate for sin as it strikes against Him first and hardest. I don't think we hate it near enough as we seem to try and manage our sin habits keeping them at a convenient arms length until we need them. Jesus died so they would be crucified, and oh by the way sin is way to strong for any of us to manage.
The effects of sin, even a little bit in our lives, will damper our communion with God and it effects everyone around us, not just ourselves. Everyone that is in your life will suffer as a result of harboring even tiny little innocent doses of sin. Our pride will destroy us and our friendships, so will gossip, alcohol, drugs, tobacco and over indulging. Our vanity will drive others from us and drive our kids to be self serving narcissists. Our greed will keep us away from our families and disrupt the dynamics God designed. Our lust will drive a wedge between our marriages and snatch pure Love from our kids lives and fuel wrong desires that hold us captive. The list could go on for days......
The clear point is this: just as 2 tsp of black pepper ruined a delightful pound cake, our "small" sins will ruin us and our families, friends and co-workers if they are not crucified at the Cross. All sin strikes against the Father, pours more wrath on Jesus hanging on the Cross and dampens the flame of the Spirit burning in us. If the Trinity is at work vibrantly in our souls our lives will bring a warm healing to those in our lives that is as delicious as my mom's poundcake. If sin gets its hold then the world gets a dose of a nasty, malformed black pepper pound cake.
Even though my analogy is light hearted, lets not kid ourselves. Sin is a heavy, dark thing that leaves us to deflated, lost and miserable. Sin is a powerful evil that camoflauges itself as attractive desires. Examine your selves and purge yours at the feet of the Cross or it will wreak havoc in your life and those you love.
One of the richest joys of my youth was my moms Carolina poundcake. We used to eat it hot, straight from the oven when the crust was crispy and the inside fluffy and moist. It really does make my mouth water and remind me of one day when my mom, my brother and I consumed an entire poundcake in one sitting as we watched the thriller, " Hush , Hush , Sweet Charlotte".
These cakes were so longed for at my house that one day my brother decided he was going to whip one up while mom was outside talking with our neighbors. Chris is a smart guy so at age 9 he systematically followed the instructions as he preheated the oven and whipped the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. His execution was on point, but there was one problem. Christ thought that "2 tsp b.p." stood for 2 teaspoons of black pepper, not baking powder. There is a significant difference in the two and it was amazing how those two little teaspoons changed both the taste and the composition of the cake. Lets just say it not only tasted bad, it tasted really bad and the texture of the cake was not up to snuff either. It did not take us but one bite each to understand something was wrong. 2 little teaspoons ruined an entire cake made up of about two pounds of batter.
The passage of scripture above in Joshua is the infamous sin in the camp scene, where the whole congregation of Jews suffered because one man disobeyed God. This sinner, Achan took household idols as spoil as they defeated Jericho, and God had forbidden that very thing. The result was that when the Israelites went to fight at Ai, God was fighting against them, not for them. This one man out of hundreds of thousands had brought sin into the camp and the result was that all suffered. God charged Joshua to purge this sin, so Achan was identified as the perpetrator and stoned to death. The sin was eliminated and fellowship with God was restored. Since God was once again with the Israelites, they were then able to conquer all they fought as they entered the promise land.
God has a serious hate for sin as it strikes against Him first and hardest. I don't think we hate it near enough as we seem to try and manage our sin habits keeping them at a convenient arms length until we need them. Jesus died so they would be crucified, and oh by the way sin is way to strong for any of us to manage.
The effects of sin, even a little bit in our lives, will damper our communion with God and it effects everyone around us, not just ourselves. Everyone that is in your life will suffer as a result of harboring even tiny little innocent doses of sin. Our pride will destroy us and our friendships, so will gossip, alcohol, drugs, tobacco and over indulging. Our vanity will drive others from us and drive our kids to be self serving narcissists. Our greed will keep us away from our families and disrupt the dynamics God designed. Our lust will drive a wedge between our marriages and snatch pure Love from our kids lives and fuel wrong desires that hold us captive. The list could go on for days......
The clear point is this: just as 2 tsp of black pepper ruined a delightful pound cake, our "small" sins will ruin us and our families, friends and co-workers if they are not crucified at the Cross. All sin strikes against the Father, pours more wrath on Jesus hanging on the Cross and dampens the flame of the Spirit burning in us. If the Trinity is at work vibrantly in our souls our lives will bring a warm healing to those in our lives that is as delicious as my mom's poundcake. If sin gets its hold then the world gets a dose of a nasty, malformed black pepper pound cake.
Even though my analogy is light hearted, lets not kid ourselves. Sin is a heavy, dark thing that leaves us to deflated, lost and miserable. Sin is a powerful evil that camoflauges itself as attractive desires. Examine your selves and purge yours at the feet of the Cross or it will wreak havoc in your life and those you love.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Scammed
Romans 2:4 Or do you suppose on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Acts 26:20 ...and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance
A couple of years ago a good friend of mine got burned by an on-line car salesman. My friend selected the vehicle on-line, had some phone conversations that led to an agreed upon price, and then wired the money to the man in Houston, Tx. The only problem was that when he got to Houston, the man, the car and the company this man worked for, were no where to be found. My friend had been scammed. He had held up his end of the bargain and was owed a car, instead he got a 16,000 hole in his wallet. The FBI is still on the case as we speak.
Do you think that we try to scam God and His grace? It sounds harsh, but it is something we must look at it. Throughout the Bible, God's grace has a clear end result of eliminating sin, not enabling it. Look at the passages above at what Paul is saying. Clearly he warns those who take for granted and even manipulate grace to validate their sin instead of crucify it. I know for many years I tried to scam God as I wanted forgiveness, but I wanted to continue in the sin that incurred the guilt that needed forgiving, more than I wanted Him. That is the heart of a scammer. Twisting the deal to serve your best temporary interest.
When I look back at the times when I "supposed" upon God's grace, I have great remorse. Not that I am perfect now, but I can see how dangerous it is to try and manipulate God's grace. When His grace is alive in our lives it will bear fruit of repentance. If we are truly repentant, we will leave sin behind and our desire to sin will shift to a desire to worship Christ. We will stop worshipping created things like ourselves, money and other people and we will exalt Christ, the one who makes it possible.
Are you a scammer? Are you using Christ to justify and enable your sin? Do you believe Paul's words that grace is meant to lead you to repentance? Do you understand that repentance is more than an emotional sorrow for your actions, but rather a deep seated hatred for the sin and a true desire to leave it behind and walk towards Christ?
These are all great questions to walk through at the heart level. Just as we all can see clearly how wrong my friend was done, can we all see how easy we can scam God? It is right their in front of us all in our culture. It should raise hairs on the back of our necks.
Acts 26:20 ...and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance
A couple of years ago a good friend of mine got burned by an on-line car salesman. My friend selected the vehicle on-line, had some phone conversations that led to an agreed upon price, and then wired the money to the man in Houston, Tx. The only problem was that when he got to Houston, the man, the car and the company this man worked for, were no where to be found. My friend had been scammed. He had held up his end of the bargain and was owed a car, instead he got a 16,000 hole in his wallet. The FBI is still on the case as we speak.
Do you think that we try to scam God and His grace? It sounds harsh, but it is something we must look at it. Throughout the Bible, God's grace has a clear end result of eliminating sin, not enabling it. Look at the passages above at what Paul is saying. Clearly he warns those who take for granted and even manipulate grace to validate their sin instead of crucify it. I know for many years I tried to scam God as I wanted forgiveness, but I wanted to continue in the sin that incurred the guilt that needed forgiving, more than I wanted Him. That is the heart of a scammer. Twisting the deal to serve your best temporary interest.
When I look back at the times when I "supposed" upon God's grace, I have great remorse. Not that I am perfect now, but I can see how dangerous it is to try and manipulate God's grace. When His grace is alive in our lives it will bear fruit of repentance. If we are truly repentant, we will leave sin behind and our desire to sin will shift to a desire to worship Christ. We will stop worshipping created things like ourselves, money and other people and we will exalt Christ, the one who makes it possible.
Are you a scammer? Are you using Christ to justify and enable your sin? Do you believe Paul's words that grace is meant to lead you to repentance? Do you understand that repentance is more than an emotional sorrow for your actions, but rather a deep seated hatred for the sin and a true desire to leave it behind and walk towards Christ?
These are all great questions to walk through at the heart level. Just as we all can see clearly how wrong my friend was done, can we all see how easy we can scam God? It is right their in front of us all in our culture. It should raise hairs on the back of our necks.
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