If we could see...

We all wear masks. Masks that tell others we are "ok" when we really aren't. In public most of us pretend we have it together, all is well, but if we could see what others struggle with it would change how we interact with each other.

If we could see that a friend is insecure how would we treat them?

If we could see that a neighbor is afraid what would we do?

If we could see that a co-worker is depressed what would you say?

If we could see what's really going on with each other it would change everything......but we can't. We all wear masks to make the world think we are "ok", but imagine how our relationships would change if we could see what's really going on in a life? It would change everything!

What's fascinating to me is that Jesus did see. He heard the unspoken words, he knew the unheard thoughts, he knew. And because he knew he dealt with people in a merciful and gracious way. He loved them. Here are his words for us, profound words for us who can't see what the other person is going through, but if we could see this is what we would do....

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”"

So, here are your instructions for the day as you encounter the host of fallen mankind that will make your day crazy- be merciful, don't judge, don't condemn, forgive, and give. These are Jesus' words to us because we can't see....

Problems and Perspective

Problems. We all have them. Bills to pay, children to raise, parents, work, illness, worries, struggles, relationships, LIFE!

One of the things we most need when we deal with problems is perspective. Do you see that third cab on the left in the photo? In that cab is a woman who is dealing with a dying child and a broken marriage. She's crushed under the load of it all. She doesn't know what to do, where to turn, how to deal with all the brokenness in her life. Her heart is breaking.

But what you see from your perspective is a much bigger picture, a much broader view of things. This woman's problems are big in her life, but small when you step back a bit. That's true in our lives as well. In the midst of our crisis, our problems, we feel overwhelmed and burdened with the weight of our problems. But those around you barely notice. They are busy with their own issues, their own problems. So who sees you? Who understands all you're going through? Who really cares about YOUR problems?

You know my answer already, don't you? The bible is rich with a right perspective on problems and the things that are big to us. Jesus addressed them often and told those listening, "Come to me, bring your problems, your burdens....I'll carry them, I care about you, I love you. Walk with me while I carry your burdens and I will give you rest." When no one else sees you or understands you God does. He cares. He knows. He's not mad at you, he's not punishing you, he loves you.

Is there a reason for problems? Yes! And when you have time for a cup of coffee we can sit down and talk about it, but know that when no one else sees you God does and he cares. Take your problems to him.....whatever they are....you will find someone who sees you, loves you and will help you.

Could heaven have it right?

I love to see new places, places I haven't been before. A new country, a different city, the people of that country all fascinate me. The great adventure of discovery is alive and well in this old pastor!

One place I'm looking forward to visiting is heaven itself. In fact I already have a condo there and hope to see it soon. There are brief glimpses of this place throughout scripture. One that fascinates me is in Revelation as John tries to describe what he sees,

Rev. 4:⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

¹¹ “You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being.”

The picture is one of active and intentional worship of God by those around him. Whoever these elders are they worship God, giving him worth, because he created all things and because he sustains the creation he made. Praise for God's creation work is the theme of these 24 elders.

What a contrast this is to our day when the culture around us credits time and chance with creation! The secular world lauds evolution as the cause of life while in heaven the elders praise God and declare that he made it all. What a fascinating contrast this is! It's clear that these are two very different views of creation and the universe. It's clear that only one can be true.

Could it be that others have more knowledge about creation than we do? Could it be that God really did make it all? At least everyone in heaven thinks he did. Haven't they heard of evolution? Don't they read Dawkins? Don't they know that science has "proven" evolution to be true? Apparently not! In heaven there is universal consensus that God made everything and he's praised for it.

In the first book of the bible God tells us he created everything. In the last book of the bible he's praised by the hosts of heaven for the creation he made. Could it be that science is wrong? Could heaven have it right? Apparently we don't know as much as we think we do....maybe praise to the one who created everything would be the perfect response.

Identity

The movie "Toy Story" has some wonderful imagery in it that fascinates both children and adults. One of the key elements of the movie is the idea of identity, belonging. It's a big deal to the toys that they belong to Andy and are part of his life.

This idea of identity and belonging is big in the bible as well. It's key to the story of the gospel that because of Christ I now belong. I have found my identity in Christ and my belonging in the family of God. We all want identity and belonging, we all long for it and God knows we need it. The last book of the bible talks about this in an interesting way,

Rev. 3:¹² The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name.

Clearly, when Christ is done and we have been claimed by him he will mark us as his own. All will know who is our Lord, what is our Location and who has given us Life. Ownership, identity, belonging will finally be settled once for all. We will eternally be His.

"Who are you?" someone might ask. You can now answer with clarity from Jesus, "I belong to God, my home is in the new Jerusalem and my relationship is with Jesus himself." If that doesn't give you an identity, a belonging then nothing will!

The truly consistent life

The Atheist Quote That Inspired a Missionary

(An interesting article by Dr. Michael Brown. Worth sharing here. How do you respond to these thoughts?)

"After C. T. Studd had committed his life to Jesus, he came across a tract written by an atheist that made a radical impact on his life. The tract read as follows:

Did I firmly believe, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, religion would mean to me everything. I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought, and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I should labour in its cause alone. I would take thought for the morrow of Eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering. Earthly consequences should never stay my hand, nor seal my lips. Earth, its joys and its griefs, would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon Eternity alone, and on the Immortal Souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable. I would go forth to the world and preach to it in season and out of season, and my text would be, what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?

Studd was convinced that this atheist did, in fact, describe “the truly consistent life,” but when he looked at his own life, he saw “how inconsistent it had been.” And so he determined that, “from that time forth my life should be consistent, and I set myself to know what was God’s will for me.”

Studd gave his life for the poor and lost on the mission field, dying in Africa after years of faithful service. It was Studd who wrote, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last."

Are you living in the light of eternity? As Leonard Ravenhill often asked, “Are the things you are living for worth Christ dying for?”"

Saturday's cartoon

A wonderful story

I found this story and fell in love with William's odyssey. His story will inspire you. What fascinated me is how one young 14 year old boy, unable to go to school because of money, found a way to do something special. As a result he has traveled the world and is now at Dartmouth College. He now has his own wikipedia page, a blog site and has spoken at TED. Fascinating.

Love redefined

Love is an interesting word in our culture. It's usually connected to emotion, feelings, and passion. But the Bible paints a completely different picture of what love is all about. As I read 1 John this morning I came to a passage and realized, as I read, that love (as the bible describes it) is a verb filled with action and demonstration. Our culture fills love with feelings while the bible describes actions and unselfishness. Here are John's words,

1 John 4:⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

God's love is filled with actions, activity, giving, and sacrifice. It's the defining mark of a Christian....at least it should be the defining mark of the Christian. It seems our culture today sees us as judges, Pharisees, critics and killjoys instead of lovers of the lost ones.

As I look for a photo to use for these thoughts all I can find are culturally connected photos. None of them show what this should look like lived out in our lives. It's difficult when all we see and hear about love is touched by feelings, emotions and desires. Love done well is described in decisions and actions, a demonstration and example of what God has done for us. Love is giving, sacrifice, and action.

In another of John's books he writes, "by this (love) all men will know you are my disciples." Love for others is the defining mark of a Christian. The problem is that we have redefined both the word "love" and the word "others".

Imagine if we took others to mean others different than us? Others who disagree with us, others who abort their babies, others who vote the "wrong way", others who drink, others who are divorced....and on the list goes. Imagine how different the Christian would be viewed if our definitions changed just a little.....

"By this (love) they will know you are my disciples."

Good morning

I'm back after two and a half days away for a staff retreat. It was great to get to know our staff better. There are only two of us who were here 6 years ago. All the rest of our staff are new. It was a very interesting time together listening to their visions of where we should go. It's a whole new world. I'm looking forward to seeing what God does with us as a church. I am encouraged!

Quote of the day

"A religion that promises the fulfillment of all needs is distorted into a religion that manipulates God for the satisfaction of all wants." ~ Eugene H. Peterson

Joy in his presence

Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Joy in his presence....what an amazing thought, that joy, as it's meant to be is lived out is experienced in the presence of God. That's not a someday far away thing, but it's a reality, or should I say possibility right now. Joy in his presence is possible in our daily lives even as we wait for his return. His presence is not a somewhere else place, but it's right here, right now living in the presence of the God who is and rejoicing in him. Joy is the result.

I have glimpses of joy now, but I so wish I could grasp this reality moment by moment...this joy in his presence thing. I'm enticed by the possibility that joy can be part of my life now. Not because of something I have, a place I go, something I buy, or how I feel, but the fact that I'm his child in his presence and joy is the reward. Joy in his presence....one of the great blessing of knowing God.

Question for the day

I've never done this before, but since I'm teaching an apologetics class right now the question is on my mind today, so let's talk about it....

Can there be only one way to God? Or, said another way, Is there only one right answer to the question "How do I find God?"

It's the question of our day, let's talk about it....

Jonah's prayer

This morning I had the great honor of speaking at our mid-school bible conference. I really love these kids. They are all struggling with identity and acceptance, but they are awesome kids.

My portion of the weekend was chapter 2, Jonah's prayer. I have taught through it a number of times, but had never really seen one line of this prayer before. It's in verse 8. Here is the passage that caught my imagination,

"Those who cling to worthless idols

forfeit the grace that could be theirs."

It suddenly struck me that what Jonah is describing is our amazing ability to create idols in our lives. When we set anything before God we miss the grace that could be ours. That very thought has my mind racing as I think about how often I miss grace simply by trying to please God my way. I set up worthless idols that do nothing and I completely miss all that God has done for me, I miss his grace completely!

It's amazing the insights that come while you're waiting in the stomach of a big fish.

Smile for the day

A guy had been isolated on an island in the South Pacific for 10 years.

He lit a signal every night for 10 years but no one saw it and no one came to rescue him. Finally a passing boat did notice the signal and sent an officer and men in a small boat to investigate.

The castaway explained that he had been on this island for 10 years waiting to be rescued.

The boat captain ask "If you are all alone, what are those three huts I see built in the lagoon?

He answered "The first hut is my home. The second hut is where I go to church. And the third hut is where I went to church before I got mad and changed churches ..."

Living in the last days

^{1 Peter 4:7} The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ⁸ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

It's interesting to watch the news. Events around us are escalating. Tensions are rising. Fear is growing. People I talk to are concerned about what is coming. Living in the last days is not boring! In fact, as we near the end it's clear that we need one another more than ever before.

In the passage above Peter writes of the last days and his admonition to his readers, in light of the days, is to get more connected with others not less. The greatest victory of the enemy, as I see it, is to isolate Christians from one another. We are easier to defeat if he can separate us from the body of Christ. In Peter's mind the most important thing we can do is live through these days as a community of people caring for one another. We should pull in closer to the body of Christ not separate from it!

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins." Key to living in these days is love for one another. As you watch the events of the world make the choice to live a "one another" life. The body of Christ is the safest place to weather the difficult days ahead.