Trusting God

I know there are many people who wear a cross around their neck as a symbol of their faith. There are other symbols as well- the fish bumper sticker, T-shirts with a message, tattoos, and many more that people use to demonstrate their faith and remind themselves of their commitment to God.
This picture (which I have used before) is one of those icons to me. It's the rock of Horeb. It's the rock that Moses struck in the wilderness after they left Egypt to provide water for 2,000,000 people for months.
It's important to me as a reminder, because I find myself, like the children of Israel, fretting and complaining about what is going on in my life. I find myself worrying....what will happen to us if....how will we get by.....I'm sure you have struggled with many of the same thoughts. This morning I awaken from a very fretful night of worry. Thinking, praying, fretting, tossing, worrying, praying....I hate to tell you this, but us old pastors struggle with trusting God at times like anyone in our faith communities. It's the worse part of being human for me- knowing God, knowing he has always taken care of you, knowing he has promised to always care for you in the future, and yet finding yourself worrying. I hate that part of my fallen heart....the part that truly doubts God's willingness and ability to care for me. I know I would have been one of the Jews in the wilderness saying, "can God really provide for us here?"
So, I come back to Horeb. I remind myself of what God has done in the past, and I know he will care for me in the future. He never changes, he is always aware of me and my needs. He loves me. So I come back to Horeb...to remember.
Thank you Lord for your wonderful care and awesome love. I'm so sorry I worry. I'm so grieved that I doubt. But I come back and fall at your feet and say, Lord, I'm yours, help me.

Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Psa 37:6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.
Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Psa 37:8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
Psa 37:9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

"Neck-up" Christianity

I have a new way to describe many Christians I run into these days. I call them "neck-up" Christians. They have tremendous knowledge. They know doctrine. They know the word. They know "stuff!" And they are of no use to the Christian world or the kingdom of God at all!

Christianity is supposed to be holistic. It's supposed to affect every part of who you are and what you do. It's supposed to change you into the image of Christ.

If your faith does not move from what you know to what you do then you are a "neck-up" Christian. You have heard of the comedy skit "you might be a red-neck if..."? Let me play off of that for a moment with some observations of my own based on this idea....

You might be a "neck-up" Christian if...

...you love bible studies, but don't want to help the poor.

...you will spend hours reading your bible, but don't have time to serve in your church.

...you think discipleship has to do with an open bible and a notebook, and not with painting a widow's home.

...you will go hear the great bible teachers of the day, but don't have time to go listen to the lonely people in nursing homes near you.

...you know the word, but still live in sin.

...you can quote the bible with the best of them, but it doesn't affect your life.

Christianity is supposed to be holistic....it changes all of me or it's not real...it's a "neck-up" religion. Jesus came to confront that kind of religion. In his day they were called Pharisees. He railed against them. He called them white-washed tombs. He called them hypocrites. Today I call them "neck-up" Christians.

To whom do you belong?

It's a strange question, isn't it? To whom do you belong? In our world, in our culture, it's a question that might raise eyebrows, cause offense and make the listener wonder what you are asking. But it's an important question because it affects everything you do.

In our culture the reply would be, "I belong to no one! I'm my own man, I do as I please. No one is lord over my life." And with the declaration we proudly announce our independence. But is this the proper response for the Christian? Is this the way we should respond to this question? And, what are the implications?

If I'm a free spirit, an independent soul then I can do as I please, make my own choices, deal with the consequences, but if I have connections to someone else, to another authority, it changes my answer and my life. This morning, as I am reading Paul's travelog in the book of Acts I came upon this short passage,

"²³ For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me..."

To whom I belong and whom I serve... Isn't that an interesting phrase? Here's a few of the implications, 1. Who I belong to, who I am accountable to affects what I do. 2. What I do reflects and is a response to who I belong to. If I'm the servant of another it will affect my choices, my identity, my life. If, on the other hand, I believe I report to no one then any choice I make, any decision I come to reflects the fact that life is simply a story told about me...it's all about me!

Paul spoke to a different lifestyle. A lifestyle of one possessed and governed by another, "To whom I belong and whom I serve" makes clear to anyone listening that Paul considered himself a slave to someone else, to God himself, and his life and choices were directed by that identity. So, to whom do you belong? Who do you serve? What determines the choices of your life? How do you decide your course of action? What governs you?

These are important questions for us because we all live out the answer to this question- To whom do you belong?

In another passage Paul described this reality in another way as he wrote,

"Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.....so live like it!

To whom do you belong? Who do you serve? These are important questions for a life lived to the glory of God.

A little word and a big God

One of the most amazing chapters in the bible is Daniel 11. It stands out because of its content. In this chapter of 45 verses you will find one little word repeated more than 116 times! Here's how the chapter is set up-

The angel Gabriel appears to Daniel near the end of the book and near the end of his life. In this encounter, planned by God, Gabriel tells Daniel, "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future." In the 45 verses to follow Gabriel unfolds the entire end-time history of the world. A history we are living in right now.

What caught my attention as I read was one little word. A word repeated more than 116 times in this one chapter. It's this word- will. This king will do this, that king will arise and do that.... On and on, more than twice a verse, the word will is used by Gabriel to talk about future days. There is a certainty to the word "will". It's not "might" or "maybe", but it's "will". These events told more than 3,000 years ago will happen.

It caught my attention that this little word of just four letters tells me something very important about God- He is in charge of the events of our history. He's unfolding a plan to save men and women and glorify himself. All of history will unfold as he describes it through Gabriel. That does at least two things for me. It gives me peace that God is in control when it feels like everything is out of control. And, it gives me confidence that God has a plan he is moving the events of history towards. We are seeing the unfolding of God's grand plan to save mankind and glorify his name.

All of this could cause me to be a fatalist, but in reality it brings me great peace that as I see what seems to be a world out of control I'm really seeing the unfolding of God's grand plan with everything completely in control...HIS control.

This morning I'm blessed by a little word and a big God.

Saturday's cartoon

Rest

Heb 4:¹ God’s promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it. ² For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God. ³ For only we who believe can enter his rest.

There is a rest for this weary race of man. There is a rest from the unceasing quest for peace, for calm, for a feeling of being good with God. Most religions of the world offer a never ending treadmill of works to attain heaven with no assurance of ever having done enough. These are brutal faiths. Faiths based on our works, our efforts to be good enough, to push all the right buttons, to look just right so our eternity will be a good one. These are religions that offer no rest.

But there is one faith, only one, that offers a place of rest. It's a rest from the works of man to please God. In this faith, and this one alone, there is a place of rest....a rest based on the works of someone else. It comes only to those who put their faith in the works of another, Jesus Christ, to have done all that's asked of God for us to be accepted. It brings those who believe to a place of rest where all self-efforts are done. Finally, for those who trust rest is available. Finally all efforts are finished, there's nothing more for us to do, it's all been done.

Imagine all of mankind standing on one side of the grand canyon with God on the other. Our quest is to reach God and with our best efforts we jump to bridge the chasm. The fate of all who do this in their own strength is inevitable and is found at the bottom of the canyon. But imagine that spanning this grand chasm is a moving bridge. All you have to do is step on it and it will carry you to the other side. Most around you would say it's too easy, you have to do something, you can't please God without doing something! And yet, this bridge is the only way to the other side.

While all around you men and women are trying to jump the chasm and falling to their death you can simply take a step of faith and, like the moving walkways in the airports and malls, you find yourself being moved to the other side...effortlessly! It's a result based on a step of faith and a rest in the God's only provision to bridge the chasm. "It can't be that easy!" some would say. "You're just not trying hard enough." others declare. And they're right. It's a rest, a rest in the work done by another to accomplish something none of us can do on our own.

Why do so many refuse to take the bridge (faith in Jesus Christ) and choose to try to jump the chasm on their own? For some reason many think their salvation depends on their own works, but the chasm is much too wide for us to bridge by our own works, in our own strength. We need help!

As the author of Hebrews writes, "only those who believe can enter his rest." Are you resting in him or trying to work your way to God? Only one will bring you to your desired destination.

Only one choice will give you rest from the quest for God's acceptance.

All others find their end at the bottom of the chasm.

Amazing discovery

World’s tiniest chameleon is the size of match’s head

Meet Brookesia micra, the newly discovered world's smallest chameleon. This wee creature was discovered on an island off of Northern Madagascar, where a biological expedition found these tiny beasts snoozing in vegetation a mere four inches off the ground.

I am constantly amazed by the new discoveries made each year of animals and vegetation that we never knew existed before. And that's just on our small little planet.

With that as a backdrop I'm humored by the scientists who claim to know with assurance how the universe came into being and declare boldly "there is no God!" How are we so bold to declare knowledge of time, space and creation when we still don't know what's on our own planet?

Personally, I think these new discoveries just make God smile. He has made an amazing world, a wonderful universe and with all that we think we know we are just beginning to discover life here. It makes me very aware of how little science really does know about anything. So, as you listen to Dawkins and Harris speak boldly about what we "know" think of this little chameleon and smile. They don't know as much as they think they know.

I'll rest in Genesis 1 where God simply says, "I'm here and I made it all." I'm good with that.

Reflections

How do you sum up 38 years?

How do you capture the tears, the laughter, the pain, the joy of life with another person?

I think these questions are the secret treasure of a couple who have lived their lives together through good and bad days. Today is our 38th anniversary. 38 years. I can't be old enough to be married that long, but here we are growing old together, taking care of each other, leaning on one another as we finish this race together.

Reflections of a life with another person always contain good days and bad, but what I realize is the good days seem to make the bad days dim in my memory. Maybe it's nostalgia, but I find my memory of the hard days, the days of tears (and there were many) fade in my memory as I look back and remember a rich life of joy, happiness and living through the difficult days with another person who loves me.

The stories of 38 years together describe in broad brush strokes the great love of God in two lives as they keep their promises and care for one another. It is a little picture of Christ and his church. A bride and groom in love with one another, caring for each other and keeping promises.

This morning, as I reflect on my life with my sweet wife I must tell you I am blessed and grateful. God is so good.

"Top Ten Worst Valentine's Day Gifts"

#10. An appliance, any appliance

#9. A chain saw

#8. Clothes (Trust me, you will never get the right thing OR the right size.)

#7. Candy

#6. A gift card

#5.

Here's where you get to help me. Let's work on the top 5 together. What are the top 5 worst Valentine's day gifts ever?

Amazed by grace and Joye

Today is Valentine's day. A great day to celebrate those we love and care for. It's also the day before our anniversary. Yes, we got married the day AFTER Valentine's day. This day is the first day of our celebration of life together.

The bible says that a good wife is a blessing from the Lord. If that's true I must be the most blessed guy on the planet. To be loved by God and a wonderful wife and friend is all one could hope for in a lifetime. So, today, I'm most blessed and thankful for my sweet valentine, Joye.

A pastor's worse nightmare

About 3:15 this afternoon the phone rang. On the other end of the phone I heard these words, "Where are you???"

It was one of the ladies in our church. I told her I was at home, planning to get ready for a wedding at 6 this evening.

She replied, "The wedding was at 3! So where are you?"

In case you haven't figured it out yet I was supposed to do the wedding.

I have never done this before nor heard of another pastor doing such a thing, being late for a wedding that is. I've heard of brides being late, grooms being late, but never the pastor!

So off I run, unshaven and unprepared to a wedding 30 miles away!

I'm late, I'm late for a very important date!

Finally, at 4:15 I arrive to the applause of 200 people. I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed! I'm sure the bride was wondering if her day had been ruined, but fortunately it all worked out and they extended me amazing grace. The wedding went well and the couple is married with a wedding they will never forget!

This is a pastor's worse nightmare and now it's my reality! I'm sure it's all rather funny, but I haven't discovered the funny part yet, I'll think about that later.

Best wishes Bill and Debbie. I hope you have a wonderful life together, in spite of beginning your marriage an hour late!

Saturday's cartoon

Isn't it great when God works and we can celebrate it together? If you have someone who has encouraged you, helped you, prayed for you, asked how you're doing....take a moment and thank them. It's a small thing to you, but really big to them.

The body of Christ

This week was a wonderful blessing for me.

This week my wife and I, along with our senior pastor and worship pastor and their wives went on a retreat together.

The retreat was in the hill country of Texas. It was held at a great retreat center called Laity Lodge. I haven't been on a retreat in ages, especially with other staff, and this was with pastors from a host of different denominations and communities.

I'm going to ramble here a bit, but the week was a surprise, refreshing, restful, encouraging and eye opening. I met men and women that challenged me and I want to keep in touch with them in the days ahead. I experienced worship music different than I had ever heard and fell in love with it. I realized how narrow my world and community really is. It really surprised me to be reminded of things I had experienced, communities I had been part of, worlds I had visited but forgot about in the small world I live in now. It was a fresh breath for me. A needed freshness.

My life in ministry has woven through nearly every faith community and over the decades I have enjoyed the faith and walk of many from different fellowships, but I forgot how wonderful it is to be part of the larger body of Christ....to worship differently, to hear the word taught in a new way, to meet great friends I had not known before. It was refreshing, encouraging and a blessing. It was much needed!

Manna-feast destiny

I'm reading through Exodus right now and as I read about God's provision for the nation of Israel in the desert it strikes me that the daily provision of manna was not simply in one place, at the place it first became available, but it followed them on their 40 year journey. Wherever they went, wherever they camped manna was there the next morning. I'm sure it became expected for them, as it does for us but it struck me that God's provision met them where they were, in their location, in the place where God had brought them manna was provided on a daily basis.

This simple insight made me aware of this same truth for us. As we move through our lives God brings provision to us, along our journey, where we are. When we awake God's provision is there. We take it for granted, but this moving manna-feast for the nation of Israel teaches us a simple truth- God's provision meets our needs where we are, wherever that might be.

The great challenge for us, as it was for Israel, is to not let this miracle of provision become a normal expectation of our days. I pray we are always aware of the miraculous provision of God as we walk through our days.

Thank you for the heartbreak

A wonderful song of praise for even the difficult days. God is good even in my pain, even in my difficult days. This great song speaks to my heart and the wonderful love of God even when things don't turn out as I would like. Even in the pain God is glorified. I love this song. I hope it speaks to your pain as well in your difficult days.