Prayer

This morning, as the sun began to rise, I had a wonderful time of prayer with some of our people in the church. It was great to carve out an hour to seek God's work in our midst. Prayer is hard work and many avoid it because it demands a quietness and honesty that is difficult. But this morning I had the joy of trusting God with this day.

This work, my life, this world and all that goes on is in God's power to direct and influence, so why wouldn't I talk to him about it all? But, like so many, I get busy doing instead of quietly talking to God. I think, that sometimes, it feels like I'm accomplishing more in the doing that in the praying, but that is simply not the case. Prayer is the most important thing I can ever do with my moments. I'm glad I used a few moments this morning to talk to the creator of the universe.

Saturday's cartoon

God's art work

Really great artists like to show off their work. Here's some art from my favorite artist.

Extending grace

Grace, true grace, is an amazing thing. It sets aside justice (what the other person deserves), it offers mercy and then it goes even further. Grace gives the other person what they don't deserve! It's something only God can do initially. We would never be gracious, we don't even have such an idea in our imaginations, it's just not in our natures to think that way. But God has offered grace, shown us what it looks like in our own lives and invites us to imitate that as we relate to other people.

I have to tell you that I'm still working on this. I'm more of a "justice now!" kind of guy. Even mercy eludes me at times. But grace goes so far beyond either of those that it is totally unnatural to us, it's something that God must do through us. Grace does the very opposite of everything we would do and then goes even further. Grace is what the Christian lives in. Most Christians don't understand how amazing the grace of God really is. Grace is getting what we don't deserve. That's the simple definition, but it goes much much further. Grace is getting what we don't deserve, could never earn and it is offered even when we don't want it. Grace does for us all the things we could never do ourselves. It is at the heart of the finished work of Christ.

Grace is the story of a short chapter in 2 Samuel. It's a wonderful picture of what grace looks like. In chapter 9 David is finally established as king. As things settle down for him he asks this question, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” From that simple question unfolds grace in its simplest form- justice suspended, mercy extended, grace provided to one unworthy of anything but death.

For our purposes here I won't tell the whole story, you can read it when you have time. The recipient of David's grace, a man by the name of Mephibosheth, son of Johnathan, was summoned to David's presence. I'm sure he expected death as he came into David's presence. He was the grandson of the former king and the logical heir to the throne that David now sat on. He was a threat to David's rule. But when he came into David's presence he didn't get justice, he didn't even experience mercy (although it was wrapped up in all of this as you read the story.) He got grace. David blessed him, provided for him, took care of him and made him like one of his own sons, eating at the royal table!

This man who expected death literally got the "royal treatment" and was treated like a king. Now, multiply that times 1,000,000 or more and you have a small idea of what grace looks like. It's at the very heart of the gospel- you can't earn it, you don't deserve it, you will never be good enough for it and yet God gives you all you need and more to live this life. And then, beyond that he calls us sons and daughters and invites us into eternity to be part of his family.

How could something like this be possible? There's nothing I can do to earn it? I can't be good enough to get it? And yet he offers it freely? Yes, you've got it....that's grace. That's why the message of Christianity is so different from any other. It's a message of "done" not "do." You only have to receive God's extended hand of grace.....

I'm thinking about this because I read 2 Samuel 9 this morning. I'm thinking about it because of lives I deal with, people I need to give grace to. I'm thinking...what would David have done? What would Jesus do? What would God tell me? And so I'm trying to navigate grace extended to those who don't deserve it. It's not natural, but it's what God has done for me, how could I do any less for someone else?

Quote of the day

"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." — C.S. Lewis

Amazing places

Our teaching pastor, Steve, just returned from a wonderful vacation in Italy. Here is one of the photos he took. It's hard to believe that people actually live in such beautiful places, but here they are. The sad thought that comes to my mind is the fact that they have lived here long enough they no longer see the beauty. I wonder how much of the beauty of God's creation we miss simply because we are "used to it?" How do we so easily lose our sense of wonder?

Rage against God

I just finished reading Peter Hitchins' book, The Rage against God. This work wasn't at all what I expected. I thought, initially, that Peter would write a defense of Christianity in light of the current trends towards atheism, but in fact it wasn't that at all. Much to my surprise, Peter wrote about the rise of atheism in our day and the reasons for it's current popularity. It is, for the most part, a wonderfully written history book. For anyone who wants to know where we are in time and history, and more importantly why we are here, this book is a must. I enjoyed Peter's work and was once more stimulated by a well written book by a "Brit" who knows how to use words. If you are looking for a stimulating book I would encourage you to take the time to read Peter's work.

Then they will know....

"Then they will know that I am the Lord."

This one phrase, this one theme is the message of the book of Ezekiel. For Israel and the nations around them God desired that they know that he is God, the only God. More than 60 times in this book this phrase is repeated, "Then they will know that I am the Lord." God's actions and work throughout the book of Ezekiel were intended to bring men and women to the knowledge and admission that the God of the bible is God, the only God....the LORD!

As I read about God's passion for his revelation in Ezekiel I realize that this desire continues still. Throughout time God has worked that men might know that he is Lord and by that knowing find his good in their lives. The very best thing anyone can know is that the God of the bible is Lord. And so he works, even today, towards that end.

The theme of Ezekiel is the theme of today. God is working in our world "That we might know that he is Lord." And from that knowing God is glorified and we experience God's very best for our lives. The very best good for any man is to know that He is Lord. The very best glory is for each one to acknowledge him as Lord in their life.

He's working in my life and in your life to accomplish this one thing- that you and I might know that he is Lord.

One day we will all know him, one day every knee will bow, but today he's working in your life to make himself known to you. He wants you to know that he is Lord and will accomplish that in the events of your life.

Do you know him? Do you know that HE is Lord and there is no other?

Truth is stranger than fiction

“If coincidences are just coincidences, why do they feel so contrived?” – Fox Mulder, “The X-Files”

A thought for your day

Christian actions, as described in the bible, are completely unnatural to the very nature and character of man and so must be lived out supernaturally. The Christian life is a supernatural life and can only be done as we are empowered and impassioned by God himself. At its very core the moral character of man demands the existence of God to give us a standard to live by and the power to actually live that way. A true moral structure, a moral code, apart from God is not only unsustainable and unjustified, but also undoable.

What I'm reading now

I've just gotten Peter's book and am a few chapters into it. I'm looking forward to reading his thoughts and his odyssey of faith.

It's interesting to note the contrast between Peter and his brother. Both have focused their lives on the subject and theme of God, one seeking him and the other denying him. How fascinating that God is the focus of both the atheist and the Christian.

I look forward to reading Peter's story.

The prison of the past

Many people I know are in prison.

They are not imprisoned for a crime. In fact they walk around apparently as free as you or I, but they are in prison as surely as if there were bars, a lock and guards to keep them contained.

The bars are their past, their upbringing, their habits, their choices, their mistakes, their "heritage."

They are in the prison of the past....the past sins they committed, the sins of others, the names they were called as kids, the things done to them when they had no voice or defense. They walk around us in a prison they can't escape.

I'm thinking of dozens of faces as I write this. Sad faces whose lives are dramatically captivated by the past....many in prison still.

The bars are strong.

The locks are secure.

It's nearly impossible to break them out. They know nothing different, nothing better. They are prisoners of their own past and are often completely unaware of what is happening to them. They have no idea what freedom looks like.....prison is all they have ever known.

One "prisoner" I'm thinking of ran away from a difficult home life at the age of 13. He has been running from difficult situations ever since. He's running right now. His bars are strong, he's imprisoned and unable to break out of his habit of running away from the problems and people in his life.

Another "prisoner" is a former missionary who was imprisoned many years ago and has never been able to see that she is the one held captive. She thinks her problems are caused by everyone else, but in fact she is the problem as she screams for attention from her prison cell.

You may be a prisoner yourself, captured by the past, unable to escape. There is freedom. There is a solution. Jesus came to break open the prison and set the prisoners free, and yet all around us people live their lives in prison still.

Paul wrote these words,

2 Timothy 2:25-26

New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

"Held captive to do his will," what a picture that paints as Paul describes the captive ones of the enemy.

And Jesus addressed the prisoners as well when he said,

Luke 4:17-19

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Jesus declared that he came to proclaim good news- he came to set prisoners free. Freedom from the enemy, freedom from the past, freedom from sin. The bars have been constructed many years ago by some, but in a moment Jesus promises freedom. He holds the keys to every cell. Freedom is his desire for each of us....if we will simply ask for the freedom he brings.

I wish I could help those I meet see the prison cells they inhabit. I think they would be surprised to realize they have been captive for so long. The enemy tells them they are free to do as they wish, but the freedom of a prison cell is a mocking invitation to a freedom with no reality.

Jesus offers freedom to all. A true freedom from the prison of the past, freedom from the grasp of the enemy and the false sense of freedom the world offers. How much I long for my friends to truly find the freedom Christ offers each one of us....

Happy Father's day

If you have been fortunate you had a dad to celebrate this father's day. I'm grateful that my dad is still living and has been a role model for me. I just wish he would have modeled more hair.....but what can you do?

Happy Father's day, dad. I love you and am grateful for your life.

Saturday's cartoon

Amazing people

Isobel Kuhn
Missionary to the Burmese Lisu people in China
Born	December 17, 1901 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	March 20, 1957 (aged 55) Wheaton, Illinois, USA
Education	University of British Columbia; Normal School; Moody Bible Institute
Occupation	Missionary
Spouse	John Becker Kuhn

Isobel Kuhn, have you ever heard of her? I hadn't. This afternoon I stumbled upon an article about her life. As I read her story I realized how many unknown, unsung hero's there are who have served the Lord without fanfare, without glory and without fame.

We are in a culture that seeks fame and success. We all want to do something "significant" (whatever that means) and yet here is Isobel, serving God without the praise of men.

I am so grateful for these little glimpses into lives that will never make the front page of any newspaper, but have changed eternity. I hope my bio will be one unknown to the media of the day, but well known in eternity.