REMEMBRANCE

When the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites—the land he swore to your forefathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—you are to observe this ceremony in this month: For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the Lord. Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders.  On that day tell your son, 'I do this because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt.' This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that the law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.

Exodus 13:5 - 10

 

What was the point of the annual observances?  What was the point of the ritual?

 

REMEMBRANCE

 

What has the Lord delivered you from?  What has He delivered you to?

 

How are you honoring Him and remembering that deliverance?

 

Shalom.

Repetition

"Repetition," it has been said, "is the mother of learning."  Actually, what was said was: repetitio est mater studiorum (Latin: repetition is the mother of learning).  At any rate, the truth is that the best way to remember is to make repetitions of the learned material, even in slightly different and/or enhanced ways.

 

See if you can spot what God is trying to communicate through the following texts:

 

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 17:6 

 

In those days Israel had no king.

Judges 18:1

 

In those days Israel had no king.

Judges 19:1

 

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Judges 21:25

 

That's right.  Where there is no law, people gravitate to following their own desires.  Left unchecked, this can lead to a very bad situation.  Consider Proverbs 29:18:

 

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

Notice the subtlety of the message of this proverb.  While it is true that when people do not follow the Word (and therefore the will) of God, they seek their own desires, it is equally true that those who do follow the Word (and therefore the will) of God are blessed because of it.

 

How many times does Jesus have to teach His people this simple lesson:

 

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:4 - 5

 

Brethren... remain in Him.

Walk... or Run?

Sonship = Heirship

Last Sunday we looked at OUR CHANGE IN POSITION and ended on this note:

 

So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

Galatians 4:7

 

I am still praying through and pondering the ramifications and implications of this verse.  We are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6) and, as if that weren't enough, we have been made heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

 

We closed the service by challenging folks to read through the whole New Testament to discover the promises made to the believer in Jesus Christ and those things that belong to His co-heirs.  It only takes 15 hours, at a "normal reading pace" to read the entire New Testament.  What a solid investment that would be for every believer.

 

If you are an heir... why not find out what belongs to you?

 

A Change of Seasons

Solomon was one of the wisest men in all of history.  Jesus even acknowledged God's blessing of wisdom on King Solomon (Luke 11:31).  He was a man of great talent, great ambition, and was greatly tempted.  Read what he wrote in Ecclesiastes 3:1 - 8

 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 

 

Notice that there is a time and a place for all things.  Certainly every moment is the right time to offer thanks to the Lord for His greatness.  And yet when it comes to some of the more troubling things in life, you will also notice that they have their times too.

 

But take heart!  How does one of the richest and wisest men to live conclude?  What are his thoughts on the chief end of man?

 

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

 

Blessings to you as you follow the Lord's leading... whatever your season.

 

 

 

 

BOOK REVIEW "God's Eye View"

Do you think your perception of a circumstance would change if you knew the whole picture? Tommy Tenney challenges his readers to worship their way to God's side and rest in Him in his book God's Eye View.

Probably the hardest hitting section of this book is found in the 8th chapter where the author, speaking of God's provision of a ram in stead of Issac on the mountain, writes:

Abraham's problem and God's solution were coming up the same mountain, but the problem couldn't be see the solution until it paid the price to reach the top.... Only God could see both sides of the mountain. (p. 147)

I have been blessed to have read so many thought provoking and challenging books that I can recommend to those who are serious about deepening their relationship with Christ. God's Eye View is another one of those books.

(Even if you do not read God's Eye View let me encourage you trust the One who sees both sides of the mountain you are climbing.)

Where are all the children?

I love my kids.  Every parent who loves their child(ren) knows the horror of thinking, even for a moment, that they went missing.  I can say from first hand experience that this is one of the most horrific times in a parent's life.

 

WHERE IS MY CHILD?

 

What follows the realization that you do not know where they are is a deep sense of shame and what I can only call adrenaline fueled panic.  Fortunately for most of us, this feeling lasts only a minute and we find our kid(s) playing or wondering or whatever they where doing the moment before we lost track.

 

Next week at Bethany Baptist Church we will be looking at our change in position... from slave to son.  Until then, consider the following:

 

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:16 - 20

 

Jesus knows where you are... even if you feel like you are all alone.

 

 

Untitled

He who works his land will have abundant food,

but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

 

A faithful man will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

 

Proverbs 28:19-20

 

There is a difference between those who amass wealth because they are good businessmen and those who cheat the system for a buck.  There is a difference between a person who will waste his resources chasing fantasies and the person who invests for his or her future.

 

This is one of the principles of Sowing and Reaping:  You reap in a different season than you sow.

 

Plain and simple.

HIStory

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

Proverbs 29:18

 

I am amazed from time to time as I read what is going on in other countries.  Chavez is ruining Venezuela... there are some in the Middle East that are trying to eradicate others... and not to be outdone

 

I am so thankful that God has left us a revelation... a written account of History from an eternal perspective with Jesus as the central figure towering over human affairs. 

 

When it gets hard... when it seems like the world is spiraling out of control... take heart.  Jesus wins!

 

And those found in Him win too.

 

Shalom.

 

Who are you?

"Be yourself, everyone else is taken."
            -- Author unknown (to me anyway)

 

I came across this quote months ago and it has really been weighing on me.  Where would the world be today if some of the great thinkers of the past had not been who they were?

 

Einstein…

 

Hemmingway…

 

Curie…

 

America's founding fathers…

 

The truth is that everyone has a sense of what they want others to do and be.  But in the end, we must all submit to the leading of the Lord in our lives and not make apologies for it.

 

To put it another way:

 

I have a very, very clear vision for my children.  There are things I would like them to achieve.  But I can not allow my vision… my idea of what the Johnson kids should be and do to cloud the vision Jesus has for them.  

 

Trust me… His vision is better.

The Tongue

Do you see a man who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 29:20

 

Young (and old alike) folk need to listen very closely to this.  It is safe to say that most of us have been caught off guard by a question or felt compelled to react in some rash way to thus and such an issue.... but listen to what Proverbs is telling us.

 

Rest on it.

 

Think it through.

 

You certainly do not want to be like... 

 

An angry man stirs up dissension,

and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

Proverbs 29:22

 

The point is... if you see yourself getting backed into a corner or entering a setting that is likely going to make you react in a negative way... watch out.

 

 

 

A Healthy Baby

My youngest daughter is getting chunky... that is a good thing. Doctors (generally) say that babies should drink whole milk. Apparently, the high fat content is good for her developing brain and the chunkiness shouldn't be too big a deal due to her high metabolism. (babies have a higher metabolism adults do)

This is nothing new. We have been down this road three times before. It dawned on me this morning though that while a higher fat diet is essential for a baby... it can be fatal (or at least problematic) in adults. So what's the difference? The Apostle Peter writes:

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation...
1 Peter 2:2-3

A baby's body is designed to digest milk. In fact, a newborn can not ate anything else. Today we have baby formula, which is a great attempt at trying to duplicate breast-milk.

So how long should my baby drink ONLY milk?

Consider the words of the author to the Hebrews:

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14

Izzy just cut her first set of teeth and she is sporting them well. (Imagine Sunny from A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS... only darker.) Even though she has some serious toothage she can not handle a steak. Which is good. Did you know that she would actually be malnourished if she ate what you and I ate? It's true. Her body is not designed for it, it has yet to mature to the point be needing other foods.

Likewise, you and I would be in serious trouble if we ONLY ate what babies eat.

So what's the point?

Paul, in writing to a once disobedient church in Corinth, says:

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2

Let me say this as frankly as I can:

If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus... you MUST move past the simple milk of the Word.

I have met Christians that have been babes in Christ for years (even decades!). There are also folks out there that are not content with staying babes and mature rather quickly.

The point is not to compare one another... the point is to grow. And rest assured that Gos is pleased when we mature in Christ.

Remember that all Scripture is profitable... even the milk.

Shalom.


(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

The Heart of the Matter

As water reflects a face,

so a man's heart reflects the man.

Proverbs 27:19

 

Someone once said, "You spill what you are filled with."  One of the things Christians are called upon to do is to die daily to our desires.  That is not hard... apart from the Lord's work in the heart... it is impossible.

 

Here is a simple question every believer should ask of him or her self: Do I reflect the character of Christ more and more in my life?

 

If the answer is "No.", then you may want to spend some time at the feet of Jesus learning what it means to "be conformed to His image" (Romans 8:28 - 30)

 

Rest

Man has to suffer. When he has no real afflictions, he invents some.

-- Jose Marti --

 

 I came across this quote the other day.

 

There are some folks that NEED trouble in there lives.  They have no peace... not because Christ is not willing to grant it, but they are not willing to recieve it.

 

No news to to is not good news for them.

 

Jesus has triumphed over death, hell, and Satan.  He ever lives to make intercession for us.

 

If you find that you are restless, find your rest in Him.

Soft hearts

Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,

but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

 

Proverbs 28:14

 

You know... the more I walk with Jesus... the more I find this to be true.

 

Friends, when you harden your heart to the things of the Lord, you are asking for trouble.

 

Jesus never said the path was easy... but it is rewarding.

Quality -vs- Quantity

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting, with strife.

 

Proverbs 17:1

 

The next time you are put into a position of quality -vs- quantity... remember this verse.

 

I can sympathise with both of these:

 

1. When Daniela and I got married, we did not have much.  By the grace of God we were not lacking much, but we certainly did not have a house full of feasting.  Life was simple and we were content.
2. I have also been in homes where there was abundance... but no joy.

One of the things Scripture does It brings things into perspective.

 

So you have to ask yourself... would I rather have it all without joy or less with greater joy.

 

Think on these things.

 

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Audience with a ruler...

Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.

Proverbs 29:26

 

I have, on several occasions, wanted to take my case to the manager of such and such store.  When I receive bad service (or no service) or purchase a defective product, I want justice.  I want the RIGHT THING to be done.

 

Let me share with you a deeply personal story that I trust will help communicate what Proverbs 29:26 is saying.

 

As most people who know me know, my wife is from Venezuela.  She and I met in Miami, FL.  Shortly after we were married, we filed for her citizenship.  I do not know what the requirements and policies are now, but for us it was a very lengthy and costly endure.  (As a side note, it really is humbling when you consider what some people do to earn the citizenship many take for granted.)

 

During one of our visits to INS (they have since changed their name I think), we were asked to wait in the waiting room.  Waiting in a waiting room is fine and proper... but we waited... and waited... and waited.  After an hour of waiting I asked if there was a problem.  I was told, "Please have a seat sir, you will be seen when it is your turn."  We arrived at 10:00 am and saw dozens of people come in after us, get seen before us, and leave; all the while we waited in the drab waiting room.  We waited a total of 6 hours in that waiting room before the clerk responded to my hourly pleas to find out if something had happened to our file. 

 

As it turns out, our case file (literally a file folder) fell behind a piece of furniture and the person we needed to see did not even know we were there.  We were upset to say the least.  What should have taken two hours total turned into an all day adventure.  I won't even get into the whole "passport photo" ordeal that followed.  Need I say I wanted to speak to this person's boss?  What would you have done in my place?

 

Well... we saw the agent, had our interview and proceeded to the next phase of the naturalization process.  We didn't talk to the clerk's boss... nor did we make a stink about the whole thing.  We were not Christians at the time.  I thought that the "highest court in the land" for this issue was the INS office.  You know what... I was wrong.

 

As I mature in my faith, as I come to know Christ in a fuller way, I am so thankful that the Savior of my soul is also the Lord God of creation.  Friends, it is in Christ that we are fulfilled and it is He who works out justice on this planet. Romans 12:19 says very pointedly:

 

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

 

Friends, take heart that the Lord Jesus has it all under control and He will exact justice... if not now... when the final curtain is drawn.  It is my prayer that we all find our rest in Him.

 

Shalom.

Thankful?

The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

Proverbs 29:13

 

I was thinking about this last night... not that I am a poor man, nor am I an oppressor (at least i hope I'm not.)

 

But consider who stands between these two poles... everyone else.

 

All of us have this in common, the Lord provides for us all.

 

The question is, are you thankful?

Tomorrow?

The Book of Proverbs is a book of practical wisdom and is still relevant.

 

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Proverbs 27:1blog

 

What a timely word for the Word.

 

It was almost 1,000 years after these words were penned that the Lord Jesus Christ said:

 

". . . do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

 

Proverbs cautions us to be ever mindful that the Lord is in control of tomorrow as well as today, therefore we should be thankful for what we have today.  Jesus calls us to bare in mind that the Father knows what we need, even before we do!  Both texts, along with the rest of the Scriptures, call us to trust the Lord with our whole being.

 

Shalom.

It sure has been a while...

It sure has been a while since I last wrote something.

As I reflect on how busy this week has been, I am so very thankful
that it has been full of productive activity.

Study

Prayer

Discipleship

Counseling

Mentoring

Meetings

Fellowship

The time I have spent with the Fab 5.

It sure has been a very busy season.

I say all that to say this:

I am so thankful that I have a heavenly Father that is never too busy
for me.

That is so comforting.

When was the last time you took time out to sit at His feet and spend
time with Him?

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Queen of the Mountain

This morning we go West(er). My youngest, The Izz, climbed the stairs herself. That's great.
Here is the reason I share this picture:
She climbed the stairs so when she got to me I could pick her up.
This got me thinking, was climbing the stairs fun? ... Scary?Maybe. But her desire to be with dad was more powerful than her fear.

Let us have the same goal... to get as close as we can to Jesus, even if it means facing our fear.


(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Send me???

What an amazing time this morning at the men's meeting.

Good night... There was a lot of food! And it was good too. One of
the other elders spoke about our certainty of faith and how this hope
energized the first century church. He challanged us to see ourselves
as missionaries to our friends and communities and then reminded us
that God is not done with the church. The implication being that there
is still so much work to be done.

What a great morning... and something for all of us to ponder:

Do I see myself as a missionary?

(sent from a spellcheckless device)

Words on the page

I was thinking about reading today.

 

I read... a lot.

 

In fact I think I read more in three months than I did during my High School years combined. 

 

Reading comes with the territory.  There are theology books and sociology books.  Science books and just plain weird books.  There are articles online and offline.  There is a lot out there to read.

 

But you know what?  In everything I have read this year so far only one Book has changed my life.  Sure... there are things that folks have written that make us ponder or even rethink the way we do or do not do something.  But the Bible is the only book that has the ability to cut to the very heart and weed out all the impurities and instills hope.

 

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

 

Let me challenge you to take this claim seriously and if you have never read through the Bible... begin that journey today.  You will be better for it.

 

You have His Word.

We went a pickin'

That's right.

 

Yesterday I took the FAB 5 (+ 1) to a u-pick fruit place. It was great!

 

I am terribly allergic to bees and they were out too, so I spent most of the time talking to one of the guys who ran the farm. I asked a lot of questions and he had a lot of answers.

 

"So... how long does it take to get fruit once you planted an apple seed?" I asked thinking it was a short time.

 

"Oh," my guide started, "about three years they start. But round about the fifth year... they start really producing."

 

Wow!  What a great illustration our Lord leaves us with. Notice a few things here:

• Apples only come from apple trees.

• It takes several years for the tree to mature to the point that it  

is fruit bearing.

• The purpose of planting the seed is to produce fruit.

• once the tree is bearing fruit, the return is exponential.

 

John 15:5 says:

 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

 

 

Mommy and the Izz

Comfort in the character of God

It has been hectic... hasn't it?

 

The world is changing - fast. So fast, in fact, that few of us have the ability to keep up. The world of business is sped up by the tech world which seems to have pole vaulted past a sane speed of innovation.

 

All of this means (at least) one thing.  We need to spend every moment with our Lord.

 

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

 

It doesn't mean that we should stand like statues all day... that would make us unproductive. Static is something God is not too pleased with us being. Nor does it mean that we should sit quietly in a dark room "waiting for that still small voice".  No, what God is saying to us through His Word is that He is in control.  He has the power to right the wrongs and heal the hurts.

 

Is there anxiety?  Be still and know that He is God and in control.

 

Is there trouble?  Be still and know that He is God and He cares for  

you.

 

Is there cause for concern?  Be still and know that He is God and He  

will provide.

 

Why can we take refuge in Him?

 

Because He is God.

 

Multnomah This Morning

One of the elders and I headed to Multnomah University for their annual ministry expo this morning. We were there representing Bethany  

Baptist.

 

Here are a few things that challenged me today:

 

- It was a huge encouragement to see so many young (and not so young) folks seeking to serve the Lord in their areas of gifting and training.

 

- We met a lot of young folks who wanted to serve the Lord, but don't know where/how yet. That is great... a somewhat un-nerving and, simultaneously, exhilarating time of asking the Lord for direction. Simply awesome.

 

- I got the chance to see a bigger picture of what Jesus is doing in the greater Portland area.  He is calling a people unto Himself... it is exciting.

 

- Probably the biggest "amen"'s of the morning where:

•The young guy leading a group of students on campus with VOICE OF THE MARTYRS. (A fantastic organization helping the persecuted and underground church worldwide.)

• The church planter two booths down from us. We had some sweet fellowship and he was just a great guy get to know.

 

All in all, we had several folks stop by and have two people interested in BBC. That is great... but here is something that is greater:

 

Jesus Christ not only loves the church, He provides for her. And that fact alone should challenge us to serve Him with greater passion.

 

 

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

 

Just thinking

I serve a great God and in His grace, He has chosen to allow me to
serve Him as an under-shepherd of a local church.

I was just thinking about who I was before Jesus saved me and how
things are now.

Praise His name for His matchless grace!

How has God been working in and through you?

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Book Review

I just finished reading Meatball Sunday by Seth Godin.  Let me say this up front... it is no wonder that the guy has his own action figure!  But who is Seth Godin and why on earth would a pastor read a book on marketing? Let me answer those two questions with one simple answer: 

 

I think Seth Godin is one of the best and innovative Sociologists of our day and if you relate with people, commune with people, or are a person who likes people, it would be a good idea for you to at least hear what they  (Sociologists) have to say.

 

The age old question in the goods and serves industry is one of quality verse quantity.  Seth argues that this is now a moot point.  I won't go in to detail, though he does... shameless plug, but he lays out rather succinctly the reasons for the shift.  It is called NEW MARKETING, and if you don't think it affects you, you're wrong.

 

"But I am not in the goods and services industry!"... wrong.  You are more involved than you could possibly imagine. 

 

Those in the business world (and my church planting buddies around the globe) should pay close attention to the following from Seth's "intro":

This is a book about the right question.  Not "How do we use the cool new tools to support our existing structure" but "How do we become an organization that thrives because of New Marketing?" (p xii)

Simply:  you can not put new wine in old wineskins.  Now, when Jesus said that He was talking about the nature of the Gospel as opposed to the Law (we will examine this in our study of Galatians). But make no mistake about it... times have changed... people have not... but the way people think and socialize most certainly has. Hence New Marketing... and it explains why more churches are beefing up their websites and lots of pastors (myself included) use facebook and Twitter to minister to people. [I started using these tools because that's where folks did a lot of interaction... Seth's book helps to explain why.] 

So what is New Marketing?  In a nutshell, New Marketing is a more focused marketing.  In an age where you do not have to put up with being interrupted by commercials thanks to TIVO and web-based commercial free Network TV... advertising must take on a new form... one that embraces customer feedback and believes in the products they sell.  More than that, in an day when everyone has an opinion and every opinion has a way to be heard, it's a good idea to listen to those voices.

Here's the fundamental shift that I hope every marketer [and might I add, every customer] will understand:  For the first time ever, blogs convert readers and viewers into writers.  (p 77)

It's true.  You are reading proof of it right now.  If you don't think that is significant (for both customer and business alike) consider this:

Every business has a group of customers so motivated, so satisfied, and so connected that they want to tell the rest of the world about you and what you do.  Your challenge is to give them a megaphone.  (p 84)

 

I am in NO WAY calling the church a business, but this same principle applied, in part, on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  The Apostle Paul also understood this (2 Timothy 2:2).  There is a segment of every community, family, or clan that is more vocal about this or that issue.  What Seth is proposing is that,while these voices may have gone unheard decades ago because of a lack of attention, today they have tremendous value. 

 

Ok... one more quote... THE QUOTE!

Here's the lesson: "Go big or stay home" is bad advice.  There are no fairy godmothers.  If you want to thrive, you need to do two things:

make something worth talking about

make it easy to talk about " (p 184-185)

 

And there it is.  BE REMARKABLE!  Not just good... not ok... Be remarkable. 

 

I don't know how that last quote applies to your world, but I know how it applies to mine.

 

Jesus Christ is someone worth talking about and the more I know Him... the easier it is to talk about Him.

 

(As you can probably tell... I recommend this book.)

 

Are you man enough?

What does Paul mean when he says:

 

Husbands... love your wives as Christ loved the church.... (Ephesians 5:25)

 

Think about some of the implications of this verse:

 

1. Jesus loved the church before it was founded.  (He died for HER)
2. Jesus loves the church now and intercedes for her.  (He lives for HER)
3. Jesus loves the church so much that He will one day come to claim His bride.  (He longs for HER)
4. Jesus loves the church so much that He will never leave her nor forsake her.  (He loves HER)

Husbands, those are some tall orders from our King.

 

Are you man enough?

Ninios a a A'Pork

Go a A'Pork (pt 2)

Daddy a Sammy go a A'pork

My wife's grandmother is flying into Portland from S. Florida today.
All week my son has been saying "Daddy a Sammy go a A'pork." For those
who do not speak Sammy-ease, it translates to something like this:

Daddy and I are going to the Airport.

(This is a big deal... in light of my son's near obsession with
airplanes.)

Anyway, I find it absolutely amazing that he can stay so focused... so
singleminded in what his objective is. He wants to go to the airport
with his daddy. Clear... concise... simple.

Much the same way, our Lord laid His plan for the church out for all
to see. It is clear, concise, and simple:

Preach the Gospel and make disciples. (Matthew 28 and elsewhere)

We are about to begin a detailedp study of the book of Galatians next
week. In this book we will see (among other things) what happens when
this clear, concise, and simple directive is compromised.

This is not only a shameless plug for our study of Galatians, but a
call to stay focused on the goal.

Shalom.

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

Book Review

I recently finished Building Leaders the West Point Way by Retired Major General Joseph P. Franklin. I will just come out and say it: it is hard to get past the fact that the guy is full of himself.  But if you can look past the lapses of humility, you just might go through an entire highlighter... I know I did.  There are some real pearls in this volume, no question about it.  In fact, the chapter on honor is worth the price of the book alone.

 

Talking about honor Franklin write: "Think about it: in order to live a life with meaning and purpose... you have to acknowledge and accept that you are not the center of the universe." (p 39)

 

In his masterful chapter on duty, the author states: "Warfare changed, people changed, the world changed, and culture changed.  But [West Point] didn't.  That was a huge mistake."

 

Though not his intent, Franklin offers the church a well thought out rational for discipleship in his chapter on courage: "War is terrifying, gruesome business, and no one walks through it unscathed.  But I found that the training I had received gave me the tools to act when and how I needed to."

 

All in all, this is an outstanding work.  Franklin tackles ten characteristics / traits of an effective leader:

1. Duty
2. Honor
3. Faith
4. Courage
5. Perseverance
6. Confidence
7. Approachability
8. Adaptability
9. Compassion
10. Vision

I would not be doing you justice if I did not bring to your attention what Franklin constantly reinforces... these ten characteristics are not independent.  They, much like the military he serves, are very much INTERDEPENDENT. 

 

Having said all that, I would recommend this book to anyone who has any influence over people.  You might be thinking, "I have influence over people...".  Great!  I'll see you at the bookstore.

 

 

Attention

Not all days are the same. (obviously)  Almost every day of the week I leave the house before my family wakes up.  Today was no exception.

 

After a great early meeting I stayed at the office.  I decided to take a break and head on over to the house for a cup of coffee and some family time.  

 

As I was walking out the door I said, "Bye." in my normal inside voice, which as many of you know is not that different from my outside voice.  What I heard coming back at me was a barrage of "bye daddy"s.  As I walked back to the office I couldn't but help think of the millions of people at any given moment talking to God the Father.

 

It should bring you great comfort in knowing that He always has the time.

 

Shalom.

 

A bigger plate?

There is a saying that you might have heard.  It goes something like this:

 

"God will never put more on your plate than you can eat."

 

If I were to take a guess, I'd have to say that this comes from 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says:

 

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

 

I challenge you to consider what the text actually says... God will not allow you to be TEMPTED beyond what you can endure. 

 

He will allow circumstances to weigh on you... He allowed the stoning of Stephen.  And what did we see result?  The spread of the Gospel and the advancement of the glory of God through His church.  Paul suffered from his "thorn in the flesh" which proved to be the means God used to drive Paul into a deeper relationship with Himself.

 

I think a contemporary of mine was right on target when he wrote:

 

It does not imply that God won't let you be stressed beyond what you can bear. Or challenged beyond your ability. Or pushed beyond your threshold. In reality, God gives you more than you can bear all the time. On purpose. It's only when you can't bear the load that the strength of Christ kicks in…and He becomes everything you need and more.

 

He's got it.

 

Brethren there is so much we can say about tempting and trials but remember that the trials you go through are temporary, but the goal is to refine you and produce in you Godly and permanent change.

 

Stand your ground

As a man, I have an innate desire to create... or tackle a bear... or scale a mountain.... Ok, maybe not mountain climbing.  (He says knowing perfectly well that he's afraid heights)

 

The truth is that everyone I know wants to be known for something. A great dad. A missionary to their community. An employee that honors Jesus by honoring her boss. These are all good things and I certainly do not want to diminish the importance of them. But if you are like me there is something inside you that says, "I must he different. I must stand out in a crowd."  But the gospel compels us, however, to look at ourselves differently.

 

We must come to the point where we say, along with John the Baptist, "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

 

This does not mean that we cower down when we need to stand up.  It means that the world needs to see less of us and more of Jesus in us.

 

Think on these things.

 

Shalom

 

Our will be done?

During this morning's devotions I was struck with the notion that so many times I want my will to be done. That is, unfortunately,
natural. But what does God want? I think anyone who is honest with the Biblical record will come to the conclusion that God is in charge.

Jesus taught us how to pray in Mathew 6:9 - 15. The centerpiece of the lesson is in verse 10: "Your will be done." Jesus said in John 6:38 that His will it to do the will of the Father who sent Him.

But there's the issue... there is the problem. I want to compromise... I want to barter with God. I want there to be some give and take in this whole, "Whose will will be done?" But that is not on the table is it?

You see friends, the simple truth of the matter is this:

God doesn't have to use any of us.

That He does work in and through His people is an act of grace and should be greeted with a sense of awe on ours.

I came across this quote today:

Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame. (Erica Jong)

I hope, like Jesus, we can all say from a heart that yearns for God:

Thy will be done.

Book Review

I have a confession.  I go through cycles of devouring books for weeks and then spending several weeks reading practically nothing outside of the Bible.  Confessions of a Reformissional Rev. by Mark Driscoll is rather on the shortish side (just under 200 pages).  But do not let its brevity fool you, Driscoll packs a lot of content into such a short volume. 

 

I'm just going to come out and say this:  I am not only a fan of Marshill Church in Seattle, but as a young passionate pastor-teacher, I was jealous of their success for a long time.  I repented of this a long time ago but the fact remains… God uses cracked vessels (and praise His Name for that!)

 

One of the reasons the Lord has seen fit to bless the work at Marshill is their senior leader.  God is allowing Mark Driscoll to lead and influence an entire generation of conservative and passionate evangelical Christians.  The reason is simple:  Mark is a broken record.  He honestly believes in the Jesus of the Bible and is both passionately in love with his Savior and, at the same time, scared of offending his God and King.  Here is a short except from page 144:

 

In the end, I realized that every person, every dollar, and every other resource belonged to Jesus and that he did not give us those treasures to bury them.

 

This book, though peppered with less than appropriate jesting, details the short history of one of the fastest and influential churches in America.  Mark really lays his heart out for the world to see and I honestly believe that the church at large is better for it.  If you are a church planter, you need to read this book.  If you are an experienced pastor in an established church, you need to read this book.  If you find yourself somewhere in the middle… do yourself a favor and read this book.

 

As in normally the case with well written prose that honors the Lord, I am sorry to say that I only have two thumbs to put up in favor of this book.  But once you read it, there will be two more.

 

Shalom.

Book Review

I just finished 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley and let me say this upfront: The guys at North Point Ministries really have their act together.

 

To be frank, I put off reading this book after reading the table of contents. The long narrative section was a real turn off for me and delayed my reading for months.  I am so glad i decided to revisit this book!  If you decide to pick it up, you will share my gladness.  Here are the 7 Practices... just in case you were wondering:

 

1.  Clarify the Win

 

2.  Think Steps, Not Programs

 

3.  Narrow the Focus

 

4.  Teach Less for More

 

5.  Listen to Outsiders

 

6.  Replace Yourself

 

7.  Work On It

 

Now, I have to warn you... this book is LOADED with baseball analogies, but don;t let that frighten you if you are not a baseball fan.  The content is explained and non-baseballic illustrations are plentiful.

 

I think the opening words of Andy's epilogue not only capture the essence of this short work, but say everything I want to say about it:

 

Your ministry is perfectly designed to achieve the results you are currently getting.

 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who takes ministry seriously.  And anyone who does not take ministry seriously needs to read this book twice.

 

 

Too busy to blog?

Have you ever felt like you were too busy to do the things you
normally do... and some of the things you take pleasure in doing?

I really enjoy writing and blogging. This week has proved to be busier
than I anticipated. I haven't had the time to write very much... in
fact, I am writing this while riding my stationary bike in my living
room.

It's easyto say "I haven't had the time to write to you." but what
about your prayer life? Do you find yourself thinking "I am too busy
to pray?" !!!

Something to think about.

Your never too busy to stop and seek the Lord's leadership, humble
yourself in repentance, or praise Him in prayer.

Shalom

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

I got one...

Well...

Looks like I got virus on my laptop. It was only a matter of time
before it happened. The Lord has blessed me with pc health for many
years.

But I was thinking about something. But before I tell you what I was
thinking, I need to tell you where I was thinking it.

This week is VBS week at Bethany Baptist and much of our campus looks
like 1st century Rome. Because I couldn't do my normal studing on my
computer, I decided to head over to the church library. As I passed
the Roman handywork, I could not but help feel overjoyed!

"but you computer, the one you use all day everyday, is messed up."

Yes, it is. But not only is God still on the throne, He has chosen to
bless His people. I am a very blessed man.

There is an old hymn that came to mind not that long ago:

Count your blessings name them one by one. . .

Why not try to count them an, as the hymn writer says, see what the
Lord has done.

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

The Gospel driven Church

Yesterday I spent some time engaged in a discussion about worship.
What it is and what it most certainly is not. Worship is not ONLY
singing when the church is gathered.

We worship when we glorify God at work.
We worship when we exalt the Name of Jesus in our lives.
We worship the Lord when we pray and study the Word.
We worship when we witness.

Brethren, if your worship of the almighty only takes place in the
chapel (church building) then you need to spend some time at the
Master's feet.

Shalom.

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

No news is . . .

There is a saying, "no news is good news." That is now always true.  When you take your car to the mechanic, no news can be good news. When you go to the doctor, no news can be good news. 

But when it comes to the gospel... No News Is Not Good News. 

That is why Paul was chained in Rome. 

That is why the underground churches around the world face the pursecution they do. 

That is why Jesus came to the world... for the Gospel.

Paul said:

 ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ¹⁸For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18) 

Who are you going to share the Gospel with today?

Shalom. 

(Sent from a mobile device... sorry about the spelling.)

How to climb a staircase in three easy steps.

There are three simple steps to climbing a staircase…

 

1. Arrive at the base of the stairs.
2. Remembering that climbing up is the goal… starts climbing up.
3. Do not look down.

Now, a flight of stairs may not seem like a huge obstacle to most adults but imagine for a moment that you are 2 feet tall.  Imagine you are a small child with no real concept of, "It's just a flight of stairs."  What do you see?  A MOUNTAIN!

 

I noticed that when my kids started climbing stairs they were extremely timid to climb up.  Understandable.  But the fact of the matter is that if they do not conquer this task, life will prove to be really interesting for them.  There are stairs everywhere!

 

Now… these steps might seem rather silly, but let's look at them again.

 

1. Arrive at the base of the stairs. (Avoiding the problem will NEVER result in victory.)
2. Remembering that climbing up is the goal… up! (If you know where your goal is, it is easier to stay focused.)
3. Do not look down.  (A slight variation of the second step, but more than a call to stay focused.  This is a plea not to retreat.)

 

Now… maybe we understand Paul's words a little better?

 

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14

 

Remember… press on.

A PLANE CAR DADDY?

Yesterday my son and I took a walk to the local library.  It’s only .33 miles away so it was long enough to enjoy the sun and not tire my 2 year old too much.  

 

On the way, Sam pointed out every single car, truck, motorcycle, van, and bicycle he saw.  He knows that a truck looks like a truck and a van looks like a van.  Cars are his weak spot.  Some cars look like vans and some look like… well… they just look silly.  Sam pointed out a van, that was actually a car (Nissan makes some interesting van-car look a likes).  I told him, “No Sam.  That is just a plain car.”  I looked at him as he looked at the plain car.  He was clearly puzzled.

 

It took me a while but I finally figured out what he was thinking.  He has no comprehension of the word “plain”.  So naturally he thought I called that Nissan a “plane car”.  While Hollywood has produced a few of these, I have yet to see any auto manufacturer produce a consumer version of the, often times coveted, plane car.

 

I am so thankful that God the Father does not use words that we can not understand.  That though He is God, He chose to reveal much about Himself and did so in ways we can comprehend.

 

As you go throughout the day, think of all that the Lord has taught you about Him.

 

Shalom.

 

The Cost

"By trying we can easily learn to endure adversity. Another man's, I mean."

-- Mark Twain, Following the Equator (1897)

You gotta love Mark Twain.  The guy was a genius.  (I know, I know… his real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.  I use Google too.)

 

Praise the Lord that Jesus not only endured what was rightfully ours, but offers spiritual riches for those who trust Him.

 

As you go through the rest of the day, think of all that things that Jesus has done for you and give Him the praise.

Praise God for His Grace

I once worked at a credit union in South West Miami. People are interesting, especially when they are trying to make small talk. One day a member came to my window and we exchanged the standard pleasantries… "Hello."… "It sure is hot." I began to do the deposit or withdrawal he asked me to do. (I can't remember what the action was… but I know he was talking to me the whole time.) The conversation soon took a different turn when he noticed my Bible. So we talked… and talked… and talked… which was not a problem because it was a slow business day. He talked about religion and I talked about Jesus. The last thing I ever heard this man say was:

Religion is like a sense of humor… some people just don't get it.

He was honestly asking honest questions about who I thought Jesus was (is).

Several years later the Lord moved my family to Columbus, GA, a town nestled in the buckle of the "Bible Belt" where we first faced extremely legalistic churches. Legalism is the natural tendency to become religious. There are two main types of legalism:

1. Those who say you must look and act and do things a certain way BEFORE you can be saved. People who believe this believe solely in a works based salvation.

2. Those who say that a Christian dresses and acts a certain way. This is a far more common form. It was this second type that Paul combats in the Book of Galatians and was the catalyst for the The Council at Jerusalem in Acts 15.

Now to be fair, everyone struggles with legalism to some degree. I found myself falling into that trap… "a Christian should be ________". Then the Lord brought Romans 14 to my mind along with a variation of what an acquaintance of mine said in Miami:

"Grace is a lot like a sense of humor... some people just don't get it."

Jesus died to free us from everything that would hinder a thriving relationship with Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. If you have Him, you have all you need.

Shalom.

He holds the future

"I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." ~Thomas Jefferson

I am a dreamer.  One day after reading a book on being a supportive wife (Created to Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl) my wife came to me and apologized for not supporting some of my dreams.  That's ok.  Some of them would have sent us to the poorhouse at light speed.  But truth be known, I am somewhat of a dreamer.

 

But you know what, I very rarely dream of what could have happened if such and such happened.  Often times when Daniela catches me wondering off into dream world it is visions of tomorrow or the year after that. 

 

It is so comforting to me to know that God has all things under His control.  He is just as sovereign over history as He is the future.  That is something we can all rejoice in: God's will shall be accomplished.

 

Until next time… shalom.

Communication Part 6

This week we have looked at five reasons people will not come to us as leaders.  The first two are perception the last three, more than the others, are matters of the heart.

 

1.  They don't think we can help. (Ability)

 

2.  They don't think we care. (Fellowship)

 

3.  They do not want to be challenged to change their thinking.  (Exhortation)

 

4.  They do not want to end the news feed. (Gossip)

 

5.  They do not want a solution or unity, only destruction. (Rebellion)

 

What should someone do if they are the "they" in the list above.

 

What should one do if they find themselves in the first category?  Well… I trust that you find someone who has a tried and proven relationship with the Lord and seek their counsel.

 

For those who may find themselves in the second category, Scripture commands us to seek reconciliation with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  If there is broken fellowship between you and another Christian seek to be restored.

 

Those who, after asking the Lord to search their hearts, find themselves to be one of those described in the third group need to honestly and humble repent of their pride.  The Lord wants to condition us to seek after godliness and this comes about through repentance and humility.

 

Gossip is destructive and Scripture commands us not only to abstain from participating in it, but to avoid it.  If the Lord reveals to the reader that this is a reality in their life (and we are all guilty to varying degrees) then the command is to repent of this sin and ask forgiveness from the offended.  Yes… even if they don't know they are the victims of gossip.

 

The fifth category of person is the most dangerous.  When someone has a desire to destroy and not to edify, to deconstruct what the Lord is building, this is a major issue.  If someone is reading this and the Holy Spirit indicates to them that this is indeed the motive behind what they say and do then nothing short of public repentance is called for. 

 

As you read through Scripture it becomes evident that God desired holiness from His people.  This was not written with anyone in mind, but if you feel like maybe I am writing about you, then the Spirit just might be telling you that it was intended for you.  Seek Jesus and His pleasure, and the rest will take care of itself. 

 

Shalom.

Communication Part 5

This week we have been looking at five reasons people do not come to leaders when they have a problem.  Maybe you are a leader at work, in the church you serve, or in your home.  All of us need to be approachable and trustworthy. So far in this short series we have seen four possibilities:

1.  They don't think we can help. (Ability)

2.  They don't think we care. (Fellowship)

3.  They do not want to be challenged to change their thinking.  (Exhortation)

4.  They do not want to end the news feed. (Gossip)

 

Finally, there are some men and women that have a demonic desire to cause division.  God calls this abominable in Proverbs 6:19.

 

5.  They do not want a solution or unity, only destruction. (Rebellion)

 

That is a tough pill to swallow, but it is none the less true.  Some people do not want reconciliation or unity.  They simply want, as someone has said, to build a house just to watch it burn.  Be careful around these people... you will get burned too.

 

Tomorrow we will look at the ins and outs of these five reasons and what to do if you find yourself, or someone else, is an example.