Value Unchanged

I found this penny today in a garbage disposal in an old house. When I reached in (after turning the breaker off!) and pulled it out I immediately recognized what it was and its value. Though the image that it bears is barely discernible, its value remains unchanged. It must have been in the disposal for years; it's all chewed up corroded and worn down. And yet...its value is the same. I could take it to the bank and deposit it as money.

The point? You may have been through some things. You may have been thrown away by others and forgotten. You may be all chewed up and worn down by choices you have made. BUT you're value remains UNCHANGED to God. In Romans it says that while we were still broken by our sin (worn down, thrown away, corrupted), Jesus died for us because our value to Him remained UNCHANGED. Though we surely look as bad or worse as this penny we still bear His image as worn and faded as that may be. Because of His love and value for us, He paid the ultimate price for us because we are the most precious thing in the Universe...much more than a penny. Because of this we don't have to stay as we are. When we bring our broken, chipped and worn down selves to Him we are transformed and made new. His image is freshly places in and on us. We are made whole and complete in Him...a new creation. But through it all, our value remains the same...worth the highest price

"Love" & "Justice"

I love young people.  I was a full-time youth pastor for over ten years working with the teens and college-aged.   I love it when their heart awakens with passion and a cause.  There's nothing like it when a young person realizes they can make a difference in this messed up world because of Christ!  But with that comes such a need for godly leaders who will mentor them.  I'm not talking about someone who will snuff out there fire and make them act more "adult." Ugh!  I've seen some "leaders" who operate that way.  If anything most adults I know need to learn from our young people and wake up and DO SOMETHING!


...but I digress.


What concerns me recently is definition.  (No, I'm not trying to turn my kegger into a six-pack)  I'm talking about definition of powerful words that people rally behind.  Words like "Love" and "Justice."  Wonderful words because they convey such wonderful ideas and imagery.  But because of the times we are living in, these words like most others are not anchored to anything real, they just float around and occasionally bump into something solid.  I don't want to make this a super-long post (because you won't read it!).  But suffice it to say that my concern lies in two areas related to the upcoming generation.  One, many are fatherless.  Two, many are biblically illiterate and/or have had their understanding of the bible twisted by false teachers.


The modern definition of love is so warped and diluted that it is completely unrecognizable to most.  We love our friends.  We also love pizza. We love Spring.  We made love to a girl we met last night.  We fell in love last month, but we can't stand them.  See the problem??  What about "Justice?"  When someone uses the word justice today they are most of the time saying it is synonymous with the word "fair."  It is not justice to see people in this world have more than they need, while others struggle.  (as if money or "stuff" fixes everything in this world and makes people complete)  "I was wronged and I demand justice!" (vengeance.  I want to get back at them to make it even.)  


No where in their thinking it seems is the biblical idea of these two terms.  Only shadows and bits are revealed, but never the fullness of both of those noble words.  For example it is clear that the biblical idea of love contains way more than warm fuzzy feelings. That it is more than lust, desire, attraction, affection.  It contains things like sacrifice, confrontation, discipline (punishment is the non-pc word), commitment beyond feeling.  Love even contains breaking of relationship as well as initiating it. (1 Cor 5:5; 1 Tim 1:20).  My point is that it is so much deeper than we know and the only way we know true love as God designed is through an honest reading of His Word and through seeing godly examples in our lives.  No one has more power to display this than a dad.  It is imperfect of course, but even if a poor reflection it still reflects the perfect to some degree.  When men are refusing to stand up and be counted, refusing to undertake the responsibility for their actions and commitments and instead just leave, they inflict the deepest wounds upon children that they can.  


What about Justice?  Anyone who grew up with a dad knows that sometimes things were the way they were because Dad said so.  Not only was he conveying authority in establishing what is right and wrong, but it was often the only answer suitable, because we weren't at a place as a child where we could understand the complexity of the situation.  Similarly what is "Just" is connected to the One who created all things and is Holy, and there are certain things He gets to say are right and wrong and we may not get an explanation.  Justice has to do with what is righteous, and there is only one that is righteous.  


Today we can twist everything.  We can make it ok for someone to commit evil because they had a troubled childhood.  We can make it ok to murder babies, because of legal rights of women.  We can it ok to have sex with whoever or whatever we want and call it whatever we want because it makes us feel good.  The most prevalent and current example of misguided sense of love and justice is found in the gay marriage agenda.  This generation is   passionate about this because they see it as a love (feeling) and justice (fairness) issue.  Nowhere is there an understanding of what sin does to people presently or eternally.  Nowhere is there an understanding of honoring God and doing things His way even if it is simply because He said so.  


The younger generation is turning away God as He has revealed Himself and instead making up their own God from bits and pieces, from culture, from a wounded child's perspective because there is no foundation, no anchor.  


Chase them.  Love them. They're worth it.

I wonder...about shame

I've been wondering lately. Sin produces shame in people...it just does. When we sin we are rebelling against God, our created purpose and all that is good. In Christ I can go to the Lord and confess my sin and He takes my shame upon Himself. It is why the Son of God allowed Himself to be beaten and marched baked through the streets of Jerusalem. He was taking our place; taking our shame. And it wasn't just 2000 years ago. He is still taking people's shame and giving them His holiness instead (what a trade!) So I've been wondering about this shame. I know it's there in people, but it doesn't seem like it these days does it? So what happens to this shame in people apart from Christ? I think people are trying all kinds of things to deal with it. How many prescriptions are written due to suppressed shame? (record numbers of anti-depressants each year.) How many are trying to redefine society through rewriting our laws due to what they perceive as the source of the shame they feel? How many good deeds or religious acts are being done out of some misguided belief in a Karma-like system in the universe? I see people persisting in some sort of sense of self-reliance, self-sufficiency trying to deal with the sin problem that only Jesus Christ can free them from. The whole time Jesus keeps repeating, "come unto me you who weary and I will give you rest." The invitation to trade our burden of shame for His life and freedom... I am so glad I made that choice years ago and continue to make that choice everyday. How about you? Aren't you tired of fighting? Time does not erase the stain of sin. Good or religious deeds do not erase or balance out sin. It took the blood of Jesus, the Son of God. He gives us the gift of being able to come to Him and fess up (confess) and by His power to turn away from patterns of sin (repentance). Be free. Be clean. Come into the light.

I Need to TESTIFYYYYY!

So if you know me, you know that I try to live consistently what I believe and preach.  One of those things is trusting God no matter what...particularly in the area of finances. (Because if there's one area that competes with God for our trust it is our trust and dependence upon money)  As such I am a big believer in tithing.  Long before I was in ministry I gave my tithe (10%) of my (gross) income to the Lord via my local church.  I also have always given extra in offerings for special projects, guest speakers, missions giving, etc.  Since getting married Susi and I have given anywhere from 25-40% of our income to the Kingdom of God (again...through our local church as is Biblical)  God has invited us into a covenant relationship with Him and invites us to test Him in the area of money. (Read Malachi 3)

Anywayyyyy, I resigned from my position as Lead Pastor back in the beginning of October at the prompting of the Holy Spirit, plus we face my wife's impending layoff of her job. (details here) So my salary and income ceased mid-October.  Since then the only income I have had has been from a few speaking invitations at other churches and working at UPS in December (part-time for minimum wage).  All of that totaling about 15% of  of my previous income while factoring in the extra money needed for Christmas gifts, travel and other holiday related expenses.  We have always lived a very non-extravagant lifestyle and also lived within our means.  We have not made many cuts in lifestyle living since my resignation, because there weren't a whole lot of areas to cut.  


The testimony part comes in the fact that since my resignation, not only has our savings remain untouched, but every time I go to pay the our tithes and the bills (in that order) I notice our checking account balance keeps INCREASING!  


I wonder what would happen if we as the Church (and as a nation!) began trusting God and obeying Him again in the area of finances...


The point in all this is not the FORMULA of tithing, but rather the loving God behind the promises.  He is our Father and will provide for us as we seek Him and His Kingdom first in our lives.  But don't take my word for it...(http://bible.us/Matt6.19-34.NIV and http://bible.us/Mal3.6-12.NIV)

   ““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

““No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. " (Matthew 6:19, 24–34, NIV)

The Christmas story if Facebook would have been around...

The Christmas story if Facebook would have been around...

Get Over Yourself and GO TO CHURCH!

Feeling a little feisty due to two recent events.  One, I read an article in the paper this morning about a 16 year old teen who is charged with murder via Craigslist.  I won't go into the details of the case, but this "alleged" (so sick of that term) killer wrote a letter to his dad that was in the paper and it said "There's a chance I might be out by the time I'm 42,' the boy wrote.  'I know there is no way in hell that any kind of God would do that to me."  Seriously??  People are so messed up and confused right now.

Secondly, I started working for UPS for the month of December while I am interviewing with churches. (the 4am-9am shift...UGH!)  I spent the majority of the other night (morning??) trying to talk to a guy about Jesus.  Now apart from getting in trouble because I wasn't moving as fast as I should have due to some serious sharing o' Jesus, I discovered this guy has done what so many others have done these days.  You know...they've made a Mr. Potato Head Jesus.  They pick different parts that they have heard and like and put that on the potato.  But the parts they don't like they cast to the side.  And much like I did growing up when I stuck anything and everything (Q-tips, forks, thumb tacks, etc.) into those holes apart from the standard issue Mr. Potato Head accessories, this guy had thrown in reincarnation, karma and "virtuous living."  Though I was direct with him I didn't preach at him (as much as I was tempted). Rather I tried to coach him in seeing the holes in his way of thinking. He was completely making up his own god.

Bottom line in all this?  People are not going to church, they are not reading their Bibles, and are only listening to the likes of Joel Osteen on tv on occasion. (Not bashing, but come on!)  The result?  In this pluralistic society people are crafting their own view of God and banking their eternity on it.  Again I ask... Seriously??  If I have told you my name, that I live in Ohio (O-H!), and am married to the most wonderful woman for almost 17 years and have two great kids, but you insist that I am a single guy named "Joe Bob" who lives in the back country of Louisiana does that in fact change who I am?  God has revealed Himself and everyone will be held accountable to that, otherwise Christ died for nothing.  

How do you get to know this self-revealing God?  Well of course the first step is to invite Jesus into your heart as you confess and repent of your sin.  You enter into a relationship with Him.  He connects you to Himself...but He doesn't stop there.  He then connects you to His people where you continue to learn.  I'm so tired of those that are saved trying to tell me they don't need to go to church to be a Christian.  You don't need to go to church to make it to Heaven, but if you want to be a "Follower of Christ" (Christian) then actually, yes you do, because He will lead you into deep and regular community with other Christians.  Apart from this community, chances are great that you will live a weak and powerless life and risk very easily being swept away by the deceit of the Enemy.  Some might rebuff with various verses about their strength in Christ, their beliefs are right, etc, etc., ad nauseum. The fact is that you were created for community and that Jesus died to create the Church, the Body and that is expressed in local bodies of believers gathering to worship, to receive God's Word together, to serve side by side in various ways. 

Does simply being in church fix everything? OF COURSE NOT!  I am not suggesting that if this 16 year old was a regular attender at church that nothing like this could have happened. (although statistics show that it would have been highly unlikely!)  
But alone:

You are weak

You live a really small self-centered life

You can easily start lying to yourself. (compromise, blind spots)

You stunt your growth

You rob people of the gifts and calling that God has put in you to bless others.

You can easily get confused and fall into sin and error ("Did God really say???" Genesis 3:1)

You wind up living like an orphan when you have been adopted as a Child of the Most High God

You develop a cheap grace view like the 16 year old "alleged" murderer.

You slowly begin to remake God into your own image rather than who He has revealed Himself to be.

In my ranting, I do realize that there are a lot of people who have been hurt by past experiences in churches.  I also realize there is a lot of work to do in restoring health to many of our churches.  But don't take the 'Bait of Satan' (see John Bevere's book) and give up on God's plan for your life.  These are not the days to be going it solo.  

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

http://bible.us/Heb10.23.NLT

/rant

Grace as an Active Force

So I've been meditating upon God's grace lately. A revelation of God's grace was so instrumental in allowing me to feel God's love early in my relationship with Him. I remember when I was in college, I had just given my life to the Lord and decided that I was truly going to follow Jesus not just pay Him lip service. Though I had been dragged to church growing up (a good thing!) it had never truly sunk in. I had some genuine "God moments" here and there, but my life was still my own...which of course meant that I was utterly broken. I made so many mistakes, chose to rebel against God hurting God, myself and others with my choices. Then it all changed when I met Jesus! I was free from all that...or so I thought. Certainly Jesus made me new when I surrendered to Him. I knew it, I felt it, I was different. However, though I longed for more of Christ and to grow in Him, I also longed for the stuff of sin. Not all of it. It was amazing that some of the things I used to crave were instantly gone the moment I was born again. Other things...not so gone.

I remember struggling with God in prayer over this. Pouring my heart out to Him.
"Why can't I get free of (this)?"
"What is my problem??"
"I thought you would deliver me from this stuff!"

I started getting angry and began to blame God. Of course it was His fault that I still wanted to sin, right? It is obviously due to a lack of love, power, interest on His part...right?

Obviously I didn't know my Bible yet. (Where those answers are found). One of those answers was about God's grace. I didn't yet understand the power and depth of what God was offering me. The New Testament talks so much about grace, but I didn't get it. It wasn't until I had blown it again in a certain area of my life that actually resulted in me being disciplined by my church. (thank God for great godly leadership!) I wound up having to sit out on a missions trip overseas and was stuck working in a factory in my hometown all summer. Thankfully, I was reading my Bible and as I read a verse that I had read or heard many times God opened up the eyes of my heart.

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. " (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV84)

Often I saw God's grace as a one time extension of mercy. It was like a finger pointing to the historical fact of the cross...like a neon sign flashing "JESUS TOOK YOUR PUNISHMENT UPON THE CROSS." I had heard pastors preaching about grace and using words like "unmerited favor" ...but really, what does that even mean? And is that the extent of what grace is...the transfer of my punishment to Jesus? The fact that I am not getting what I deserve? Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for that!! But this verse seems to suggest something more than that. According to this verse (and others) grace is not simply a one time act, nor is it simply a characteristic of the personality of God. It is an active force in my life that God is causing. God is causing His grace to abound in my life so that in every way He is covering me, filling in my gaps, correcting my course, using me despite myself. It was like my eyes had been opened again (similar to salvation).

He understands that I am going to continue to blow it.
He understands that I have a traitorous, adulterous heart that will stray at times.
He understands that though I am saved, I am still a mess in many ways.

BUT, He has provided every ounce of grace that I will ever need. He continues to cause His grace to abound in my life all these years later. I may not struggle with all the things that I used to, but I am still a work in progress. I don't foresee a day this side of Heaven where I will not be in need of my Savior and the grace that He causes to abound to me.

It's funny, but when God opened my eyes toward His grace those many years ago, I was immediately delivered from some sin-stuff that had been clinging to me. The revelation of His love and grace for me was what delivered me, not the knowing that it was wrong.