Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Resurrection Sunday Still Matters

The literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith.  It doesn't matter which denomination or slant you derive your Biblical understanding from, Easter Sunday is a big deal.  It is perhaps, the biggest deal.  In my humble opinion, it is even more important than Christmas and Good Friday.  It is the key to understanding how we fit in to God's overarching view of salvation, eschatology, and theology.  The resurrection of Christ is like God's approval stamp on the life and ministry of His son.  It's akin to the angels in Heaven announcing through a megaphone: "God has come into the world, and you need to listen to Him!"  

I won't spend much time debunking the liberal claim that Easter represents a "spiritual resurrection" only, since there is so much information and historical data out there which points to the fact that it actually (physically) happened two-thousand years ago.  If people adhere to the idea that Easter represents a spiritual awakening only, then they are missing the main thrust of God's plan.  Namely, that those who believe in Him will never parish, and will also have eternal life (John 3:16).  

If we think back and imagine other historical events that shaped history, it's easy to see how timelines can overlap and build upon each other.  Take for example, the invention of the printing press in the middle ages.  This incredible machine was responsible for reproducing the Bible for others to read and pass down through the generations.  Today, this amazing book has been translated into roughly 736 languages across the globe.  Imagine the impact this has had on faith conversions and evangelism.  Regular everyday people can now read the Bible for themselves, without depending on a bishop or cardinal to interpret the Scriptures for them.  It revolutionized our faith.

In the same way, Easter Sunday is our annual reminder that Jesus came to Earth, spread the Gospel message, and then died and was resurrected to save us from our sins.  There is much less fanfare in our country over Easter than for the Christmas shopping holiday, but the resurrection is no less important.  If it hadn't  happened, churches would have nothing to talk about.  They would be like social meetups or country clubs.  

1 Peter 1:3 says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  And dead in our sins we would be, if it wasn't for our Lord and Savior.  

John Wesley (founder of the Methodist faith) once said that he feared someday the church would end up mimicking the appearance of spiritual fortitude, but without any real power behind it.  Some have argued that this is where many lukewarm churches are today.  Great music, entertaining liturgy, but not much of a Gospel message.  Churches that don't preach Christ crucified are in this boat I think.  And it's a comfortable boat: a lot like a cruise ship - sailing through an  ocean of lukewarm water.  But it never actually reaches a spiritual destination.

The captain makes sure never to pilot the vessel into dangerous choppy water, so the passengers don't know what fighting for their faith looks like.  Just an endless voyage in a comfortable floating bubble, guided by human beings instead of the Holy Spirit.  For boats and ships like this, Easter Sunday means just dinner with the family and maybe watching some sports on television afterwards.  Maybe some good praise band music at church if they are lucky (if they attend service at all).  

But for Christ centered churches, the resurrection drives and motivates them.  It's like Superbowl Sunday for the faith.  The sermon is important, and the music exists to help drive home the Gospel message and assist us in worshipping the Creator.  These churches are repeating the megaphone message from the angels: "Wake up world, and acknowledge the King of Kings!"  

So if you attend church on Easter Sunday, remember the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf, so that we could have eternal life.  Ruminate on the notion that Christ removed the sin barrier stopping us from reconciling with a Holy and just Lord.  And then, by all means, go home and enjoy dinner with the family and some television afterwards.  There may even be an egg hunt; but not before you praised and worshipped God for the empty tomb.  

Then don't get back onto the lukewarm cruise ship.  Let it stay docked idle in the harbor.  Pray for those who are funneling back up the ramp and onto that ship though.  Ask God to show them a better, spirit-driven life based on the resurrection.  And remember that Christ's offer to you and I for salvation is always open.  We need only answer back, and allow Him into our boat.  God is a much better captain.  



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Saturday, February 24, 2024

Pray for Trust, not Clarity

How many times have you worn out your knees praying to God for a concise piece of instruction or clear direction?  In our current immediate gratification culture, we are accustomed to receiving information quickly.  Trips to the library are often replaced by web searches, and Google has become our wise older grandparent who gives advice.  We have all heard the phrase "we are surrounded by information, but not wisdom."  And surely this has borne itself out as true over time.  



The truth is that most of our current human interactions have been documented in the Bible already, so often we can simply look back through those pages and figure out God's will for ourselves.  Think of Scripture in this way as a human how-to manual.  If you are being persecuted for example, then look to the Psalms of David.  If you are struggling with indecision, then look to Paul's letters and epistles.  You get the idea.  

But we all face certain trials occasionally, where it feels as though the Lord has permitted us to go through more than we can bear.  It then becomes normal to seek out advice from sources other than the written Word alone.  We need to talk it through; we need to pray for trust.

How exactly can we trust God?  Let's look at four ways that help us engage with His amazing and omnicient mind.  Each rung on this spiritual trust ladder builds upon the previous one.  And we begin with getting to know God as a sentient being.  Not just some disembodied, supernatural force "up there somewhere," but as an actual agent of change in our lives.  Really knowing Him means getting to know His heart, which in turn means spending time in Scripture.  It is impossible to know the God of the Old and New testaments from prayer and emotions alone.  We must understand what He said and when, so that we can gauge other people's advice against the Bible.

Second, in order to trust God, we need to know His intentions for us.  We need to understand that He loves us not only as the church, but as individuals.  He feels our pain when we suffer (remember that Jesus was both human and divine, subject to very real human suffering).  One of my favorite pieces of Scripture regarding this is Jeremiah 29:11.  It says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  He loves us, guides us, and endows us with a supernatural hope.

Third, we can build trust in the Lord by surrendering control of our lives over to Him.  Now for all those proud, strong-willed, independent people out there - I wish I had better news for you.  But the fact of the matter is, that His ways are well above our ways.  The only way this faith walk will work is to understand and admit that He knows what is best for us.  And that means letting Jesus come into our lives and clean house a bit.  To help us repent of sin, ask for forgiveness, and come into a saving relationship with Him.  We don't get there on our own steam.  Trust me, it just doesn't work.  Full scale surrender is what works.  

Finally, once these first three rungs are established, we must exercise patience while waiting on God.  Doesn't sound like much fun, does it?  It would be a lot easier if God were a giant ATM machine or a Google browser.  Type in what we want, and then He kicks out an answer in thirty seconds or less.  If only.  But the truth is that our character is built up and edified when we wait on Him.  

If the answer we are seeking is clear from Scripture, all the better.  This is similar to instant gratification.  But if not, then we get to work on building our four-rung ladder of trust.  We get to know Him, understand His intentions, surrender control, and then wait on Him.  

Years ago when I attended the University of Iowa as an undergrad, I found myself without enough money to pay for my semester's tuition.  As I began to apply to banks for small loans; panic started to set in.  I was financially short eight-hundred and ninety dollars, and the bill was coming due soon.  As a struggling college student, this amount might as well have been a million dollars.  

One day I received a mysterious check in the mail at the dormitory.  Upon opening the envelope, I noticed a check for nine-hundred dollars from my grandparents' estate.  It was an early payout from the will (my grandfather had passed away months earlier).  The timing was too much to ignore, and it was the exact amount I needed at the time, plus tip!

It then occurred to me immediately that I had neglected to trust that God had my best outcome at heart.  He still showed up at the right time, right place, and with the right portion.  I think back every once in a while and ruminate on that experience.  Did this kick off my faith journey thirty years ago?  It probably added some fuel to the spiritual fire.  But it wasn't until I was almost thirty-years-old that I began to actually trust God and seek Him.  I started building the ladder.  

He waited all those long years for me to thank Him for that check at college.  He waits for you also, but it won't last forever.  Someday we will take our last breath here on this planet.  So seek after God and get to know Him now, while we still have the grace to do so.  He is worth the journey, and fortunately He feels the same about you.  How strong is that ladder?



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Tuesday, February 20, 2024

The Light of Christ

Let me begin by saying that I do not believe Christianity is a silent faith.  God wants us to talk about Him with other people and show the world that Jesus has changed us.  Changed us in ways that 'rub off' on others.  Changed us in ways that we could not accomplish on our own steam.  Indeed, the Bible isn't just another self-help book, like some fad diet where we need to just try really hard to focus our will power, and then we lose some weight.  No, it is much more than that.  It is a religion that does something, that moves inside of us in a way that translates out from the overflow in our hearts to those around us.  





With this idea firmly in view, I want to discuss two Scriptures today.  The first comes to us as part of the famous Sermon on the Mount section of the Gospel of Matthew.  Chapter 5, verses 14-16 says, "You are the light of the world.  A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put  it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Similarly, in Luke 11:33, we get the curious statement: "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light."

I believe that it can be plainly said, that the light of this world we inhabit comes from Jesus Christ.  But what about the darkness?  What about all of the sin that transpires on our planet every day?  This is a more difficult question to think about.

In order for sin to exist and thrive, it must be kept in the dark.  You may have noticed in your own life, that keeping secrets is a great way to build up animosity.  Nothing deflates trust between two people more than finding out that you have been lied to, or that someone withheld information from you longer than they should have.  It makes it that much harder to trust again.

Keeping sin a secret can erode a marriage, harm a friendship, and destroy your personal integrity.  But knowing all this, why is it still so hard to come clean sometimes?  I believe that when it comes to these difficult situations, there is an almost irresistible temptation to keep sin hidden.  It is embarrassing for others to know about our weaknesses.  We want them to just go away ... to fade into time, and then vanish on their own.  Less fuss that way, or so we think.

The catch, however, comes from the fact that in order to purge ourselves of sin and begin our journey down the path of righteousness - we must bring that thing we regret into the light.  Evil cannot stand or survive in the light, much less the light of Christ.  In this glow, there is only room for confession, repentance, and healing.  Secret keeping goes out the window.  You will note that in this way, the light of Jesus will edge out sin (both yours and mine).   It's painful at first - I'm not saying it isn't - but ultimately it is the only way to permanently kick a bad habit.  There is something about illumination and confession that resets the spirit I think.

Resist the urge to shelve away your personal belief system into the darkness.  Do not buy into the way of the nominal Christian, which says you can praise God one day a week at church, and then act like nothing is different Monday through Saturday.  Instead, let others see your faith in plain sight.  Let the light of Jesus shine through you, and because of that, into others as well.  This same light that quenches sin and offers salvation will hold you up when the need arises.   

The Bible tells us to be salt and light.  Allow your faith to shine; it will be okay.  Don't treat your religion as a forty-hour-per-week job, where you act one way at the office and another way at home.  Christianity asks more than that from us (and we should be grateful for that I think).  Otherwise it would be just another social club or mundane organization.  

Are we living for God now?  Do others around us sense and see our faith?  Does the Spirit preserve us and enhance us like salt?  Do we reflect the light of Christ with our actions, our language, and our hearts?

Christianity is not a silent faith; it is too important for that.  If you are loved by God, and you love God back, then good luck containing the light that abides inside of you!  It will spill out.  If others don't see this light, then it's time to take stock and examine your walk with God.  Don't keep the things that God has done in your life quiet.  And if you boast about it, then boast for His glory, not your own.  For it is Jesus that saves each of us, and who lights the flame which can never be extinguished.




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Thursday, December 21, 2023

Support Each Other in Christ

I want to begin today with the story of two figures from the Old Testament.  2 Kings tells the tale of two men with very similar names.  The first individual is named Elijah, and is an important prophet of God.  Some of you might remember that he was one of the few people to be taken directly to heaven without experiencing physical death; but more on that later.  The second figure is named Elisha (with an "sh"), and was a follower and disciple of the first man.  They went together everywhere, and Elijah was probably very accustomed to turning around and seeing his counterpart right there in the midst.  



A key element of this story is that it focuses on the notion that people on a Christian walk are often faced with difficult choices.  Our faith can require that we make uncomfortable sacrifices for what we believe.  Take a look at the last three years for example, and try to remember all of the decisions that you made regarding the contentious presidential election and the worldwide pandemic.  How many choices were made out of fear and anxiety versus a place of trust in God?

2 Kings 2 opens with this statement: "Elijah said to Elisha, 'Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel."  But Elisha said, 'As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you."  So they went down to Bethel."   We see here that Elijah's disciple refused to leave him, even when asked to do so by his master.  This trope is mentioned no less than three times in 2 Kings.  There is even a point when the two men arrive in a town where an entire company of other prophets tells Elisha that soon God will take his master from him up to heaven.  His response is as follows: "Yes I know, but do not speak of it!"

Time and time again, we see this repeating example of Elisha refusing to listen or accept what is going to happen.  Now doubtless some have preached a sermon about these two people and presented this behavior as endearing.  'Look, he is refusing to leave his master's side' they might say.  But I want to take a different approach.  It seems to me, that Elisha would have been better served to obey his teacher, and to listen to the other prophets.  In this manner, I think he would have better supported God's call by staying behind and strengthening his home church.  But instead, Elisha allowed his fear and anxiety to come first and ignored Elijah's command to stay home.    

In fact, I believe that this refusal to listen displayed a marked lack of trust in God's overall plan.  And this very place is where we find ourselves so often today.  Can we get our own ego and preferences out of the way long enough to let God work?  Are we upholding preference or purpose, when it comes to our local church?  Are we listening to our own opinion only, or do we let "other prophets" speak wisdom into our lives?  

Stubborness will get you only so far.  At some point, we need to actually trust God and follow His will for ourselves and our families.  Mind you no one likes to be corrected, and even less so when God has to step in and provide drastic (or public) correction.  

So the question becomes 'how do we support each other as Christians, so as to follow God's wisdom and not just our own opinion?'  How do we become a respectful Jesus follower who listens to our leader and master, instead of propagating a stubborn indifference.  

Every pastor and church leader has at least one story of a difficult congregant who simply wouldn't budge.  Maybe they complained about the direction of the church, or the way the administrative board spends money.  Perhaps they didn't listen to the pastor's leadership or wouldn't come under submission to his vision and mission.  Whatever the problem is, I think it's an example of Elijah and Elisha.  Well meaning as we often are, sometimes we just need to listen and follow.

What are some practical ways that we can support each other in Christ by listening to God?  Let's look as some Scriptures.  Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Furthermore, Galatians 5:13 says, "You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love."  

When was the last time you served one another in love, without an ulterior motive?  It's a matter of choosing God's purpose over and above our own preference.  This takes a lifetime of sanctification and repentance.  The never ending job of beating down our own ego, while lifting up God's plan for a community or a church is serious business - and precious few have mastered it.  

When we lack trust in God's providence, we tend to stop listening.  We stop listening to His still, small voice, and we can stop listening to other Christians around us who are just trying to help keep us between the rails.  Elijah the prophet learned to listen to God, and his reward was to be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind - never having to taste the sting of mortality.  It's better to listen I think.  

If you aren't a good spiritual listener, don't take it personally.  We all struggle with pride and strong opinions.  Sometimes in fact, we even couch our own opinions by backing them with Scripture out of context.  A great many false prophets and bad teachers have used the Bible as a weapon instead of a shield.  But the main point here I believe, is that by listening to God and His people, we can become more supportive of the Christian walk in general.  We can learn to support each other when making difficult decisions based on faith and trust.  We learn to obey our master's authority.  

Take a moment now and think about the Christians in your life who have made a difference.  Some may be pastors, deacons, or church leaders.  Maybe some are simply prayer warriors - destined to lift others up in spiritual grace.  But whoever they are, I'm betting they listen to God and follow what He says on a regular basis.  It all goes smoother when we listen.  










Thursday, December 14, 2023

Reflecting on Christmas 2023

It's hard to believe that the holidays are once again upon us.  As I write this, we are only two weeks away from Christmas 2023.  It doesn't rain or snow much anymore in S.E. Iowa, so it may in fact be fifty degrees and sunny on December 25th.  Such an odd pairing of Spring-like weather and the Advent season.  So I have taken to reflecting on what changes and events have transpired over the course of this last year, and how Christmas this time looks a little different than past holidays.  This article is merely a reflection of my own personal opinions, and it isn't meant to be necessarily anything else.  Just some things that I have noticed as a Christian man and pastor, which stand out in my mind.



The first is that our culture and society is in desperate need of a savior, perhaps now more than ever.  People are sad, angry, anxious, and often scared.  Everything they used to know and trust is changing.  The Bible forecasted this  of course; the apostle Paul talks about it in his letters to the various churches two-thousand years ago.  He says there will be false teachers and false teaching in the last days, and that our religion and faith would be tested.  For example, as of this moment in time, the Satanic Temple of Des Moines has fashioned an idol of their dark lord and placed it in the capitol building next to the Christmas tree.  As the old saying goes: "The times, they are-a-changing."  Turn on any television show or streaming service and you will see a constant diet of sex, violence, and bold challenges to Christianity.  They don't even try to hide it anymore.

I believe this pervasive fear and blasphemy has led to a bevvy of mental health disorders as well.  According to the National Institutes of Health and Sciences, almost one in four people in the United States now suffer from some type of anxiety disorder.  Things such as GAD (generalized anxiety disorder), depression, and other maladies run wild in our culture; and are often under reported or undiagnosed.  If you think I'm overexaggerating, step into any public school  classroom in America, and spend a couple hours with the students and the teacher.  My heart goes out to all of them.  

Another thing I have noticed is a direct assault on the Christian God Himself.  In many government institutions for example, all public expressions are allowed except items directly related to the cross or Jesus Christ.  In fact, our Lord and Savior's name has become one of America's favorite slang curse words.  Hostility is often shown to churches and the people in them, resulting in backlash behavior and political/religious strife.  People are choosing sides more frequently, and the safe position of "neutral" isn't acceptable anymore.  It seems as though you must profess some type of stance on something (hopefully we are standing for God).  But often people don't.  

I recall one instance in particular when I was participating in an organizational audit, and the facilitator came into the room to look things over.  She noticed some posters on the walls - everything from safety diagrams to photos of staff.  On one of the walls there were several posters displaying Christian themes - a crucifix and portions of the Christian creeds.  The facilitator quickly tore down these posters and threw them in the garbage can.  She left everything else up on the wall.  A symptom of a larger problem ... the new practice of tolerance without actually being tolerant.  

But I am grateful in many ways that God has seen fit to preserve America for another year.  We ebb and flow, move and breathe under His mantle of forgiveness and love.  Forgiveness, because some of His children are building false idols in capitol buildings and tearing down religious posters.  And love, by continuing to put up with it, and allowing us to live in relative peace as opposed to war here on our own soil.  I pray about these things quite often.  How long, I wonder, will a benevolent God put up with people worshipping created things but not the Creator Himself?  For one more year I guess.  

There are still small acts of joy in the world that hold promise for me.  A mother's love for her children, strong Christian pastors and leaders upholding the Word of God in the Bible, and families getting together over robust dinner tables on December 25th to pray and eat together.  

At our own church, we are hosting a community meal open to all who wish to find food and fellowship on Christmas Day at the rec center.  This is the brainchild of one of our wise Elders and leaders.  Things like this stand out today.  Spreading love like currency, but without expecting anything in return.  Simply to serve God and His people.  

The holidays are stressful each year; let us at least admit to that.  Spending money we don't always have to please people we care about is often no laughing matter.  Not to mention preparing the food, traveling, and making small talk during family events.  But at its heart, we are also blessed to be able to buy gifts, prepare food, and make small talk.  It mirrors the Last Supper in many ways I think.  Jesus looked around the upper room at his followers, knowing that his crucifixion was soon to come.  One last moment of peace and tranquility.  

This is the sacrificial love that Christmas was based on.  The baby in the manger two-thousand years ago born to a virgin.  And it has nothing to do with shopping at Walmart or spending money online.  But rather, to worship and remember that the reason we celebrate these things at all is because God first celebrated His relationship with us.  Even when we were still sinners separated from Him, and then even now, when people sometimes forget why they come together in the first place.  We get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of the holiday machine itself.  In light of God's sacrifice on our behalf, we can rejoice, for God is here with us (Emmanuel).    



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Monday, November 13, 2023

Everything in Its Place: a Gospel Perspective

Years ago my family and I were in a Goodwill store shopping for costumes that my wife could wear for an upcoming play production.  Although the performing arts building has a decent enough wardrobe from which the cast may choose, she felt that a visit to the store for a quick and inexpensive costume update was warranted.  The theatre has been a great joy to my family, especially my children.  It is a chance to dress up and become someone completely different for a few hours.  And what better way to celebrate that fact than a trip to buy new clothes?  

It didn't take long as we were looking through the racks of clothes before my wife came across something familiar.  It appears that some of her grandmother's dresses were hanging up for sale.  Shannon's grandmother had passed away a few years back, and some of her Sunday church clothes had made it to this particular second hand store.  What a strange and wonderful feeling to see these dresses again.  Her grandmother had adored going to church and dressing up.  How neat to know that others would now have the chance to wear what she once cherished, maybe even wear them to church again.



Truth be told, it also made us a little sad.  It was such a clear reminder that everything we have, everything we own, will someday stay behind as we slip away into eternity.  But why should this make us sad?  Shouldn't this be a testament to remind us that we are to stay focused on the eternal and not just the temporal?  


1 Timothy 6:6-7 says this, "Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."  The apostle Paul's words ring true even 2,000 years later.  No matter how much you have or how large your bank account - it is not destined to make its way with you after death.  No, I'm afraid the most you can hope for is to have that much more of a lavish funeral perhaps, or to extend your life a bit longer by way of being able to afford better medical care.  Save that, we are all in the same boat.  Wealth only takes you so far, and then you must face God the same as anyone else.  We are all ultimately made equal on judgement day.


So why do we run after wealth with so much vigor?  Doesn't Jesus tell us in the Gospel of Matthew that we ought not worry so much about what we will eat, drink, or wear?  Is not life itself much more important than these things? (Matt 6:25-34).  If we are being honest, I think much of the time - at least for Americans - we seek after riches because we are surrounded by excess.  Black Friday after Thanksgiving yields irresistible bargains, and anything we've ever wanted is only a few clicks away on the Internet.  The world contains mountains, so climbers must climb them.  Stores contain goods, so shoppers must shop.  It is our favorite distraction.  It is keeping up with the Jones'.  


And so life goes on. We find ourselves sometimes shopping at the local Goodwill store, coming face to face with the concept of mortality.  What is the solution to this problem of leaving what we own behind?  Is it really a problem at all?  As it turns out, Paul has some additional advice on the matter.  2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."  What is unseen?  I believe this to be God, and those eternal things which act to reflect His glory.  It has to do with where we place our hope.  It is helping a small child who is lost, or cheering on a runner who is in last place when everyone else has gone home.

What then do we do with all our wealth in the meantime?  I suppose we should give it away to those who need it more than we do.  Slowly perhaps, but also carefully.  A neighbor in need or someone in the church who has been praying in earnest for financial help.  I must be careful, however, not to give the impression that I am any better at this than others.  I love having a new smart phone or piece of clothing just as much as the next guy.  No, I would rather just talk about what it's like to realize that we cannot take it with us, and that money just happens to be the vehicle by which we see this most clearly.


One last story, if patience permits.  My mother also passed away about fifteen years ago.  She was a gracious and caring person, and I enjoyed her ability to see the world for what it is.  I was with her toward the end, sitting in the Hospice room and watching the nurses go in and out.  At one point as she lay down quietly in her little bed next to the window, she opened her wallet and handed my sister and I all the cash she had left.  She told us that she had no use for it anymore.

You could hear a pin drop in the room at that moment.  What else was there to say?  After all, you can't take it with you.  Everything in its place, and that place equates to where you focus your hope.  It can (and should) be a place of eternal joy and peace with the Father I think.  And it doesn't matter if you have to give away money or dresses that grandmother used to wear, in order to realize it.  



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Monday, August 28, 2023

A Faith as Strong as Oak

Famous author and philosopher C.S. Lewis once stated that Christianity is an "agricultural religion."  What he meant is that many times in the Bible, Jesus uses farming and agriculture to help illustrate the importance of faith and the Kingdom of Heaven.  He said we have a Savior who is akin to a dying and rising god.  Just like the seedling of a tree or plant; it goes down into the ground dead, but springs up alive if it has enough rain and nutrient-rich soil.  Lewis would argue the same thing about Christ - his mortal body experienced death, but was later resurrected into the immortal.    


One of my good church friends used to talk about his oak trees.  He would often list the attributes of this type of tree, and how we could compare it to the Christian faith.  It's incredible, but the tallest oak tree on record (in California) is over three-hundred feet tall.  If given the proper natural environment, they can also live to be a thousand years old!  Although these statistics aren't the norm for most trees, it's amazing to know that given the right environment and set of circumstances, the sky is literally the limit for these amazing trees.  

We know that the oak tree reproduces itself with an acorn seed.  Spread through wind or rain, new trees spring up and populate our landscape almost at will.  God's design of beauty through nature is manifest all around us.  So many stories and parables come to mind about seeds starting small but growing into the type of faith that moves mountains.  The concept is that even a small amount of strong faith can make things happen in the physical world.  

Oak trees have three things in common with our religious faith I think, and each one deserves it's own explanation.  First is the fact that oak trees are known to be strong.  Some of the strongest pieces of furniture are built from oak.  Have you ever tried to move a one-piece oak desk from one house to another?  It's quite a task.  Well it just so happens, that our God is also strong and immovable.  He is built to last, and there is no use changing His mind on things.  Better just to follow Him and work together I think.

Second, oak trees are majestic.  I mentioned earlier that some grow to well over three-hundred feet in height.  They are a sight to behold in some places, often the center of a field or pasture.  We understand that Jesus is also majestic.  Indeed, he is often referred to as the King of Kings.  Hebrews 8:1 says, "Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven..."  

Third, oak trees often provide shade and cover.  Both people and animals have sought shelter under these impressive, towering monoliths of nature.  Psalm 3:3 says, "But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high."  We often seek out God's covering and shelter in times of spiritual peril and hardship.  We desperately need His Word and His church to help navigate this often dark and confusing world and to provide us with care and nurturing.  

We are called as Christians to have a strong faith in general; a belief system with "long branches and deep roots."  Otherwise, when the windstorms of life come through, we will topple or succumb to the temptations and sins of the world.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Though difficult at times, we understand that to have a faith with deep roots and a strong trunk, we must submit to God and to His way of doing things in order to survive the storms of life.  

Faith is really trust isn't it?  In fact, I believe that in most situations, we can use the two words interchangeably.  I have faith in God; I trust in God.  I have faith in miracles; I trust in miracles.  You get the idea.  And so the question becomes - where do we place our trust on a daily basis?  In other words, how do we keep our faith strong?  Do we follow a particular church or ritual, a certain denomination or conference?  Or do we throw ourselves whole-heartedly under the shade and cover of God's Word?  Hopefully it is the latter.  

I will close by reminding the reader of the first of the ten commandments from the Old Testament carried down by Moses to God's people.  It says quite simply, "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind."  It's easy to understand this edict, but extremely hard to follow it on a daily basis.  After all, there are a lot of other shade trees out there, and they appear at first glance to offer the same type of safety.  But upon further examination, we notice that those trees aren't as tall, strong, or majestic.  In fact, if we get this first commandment right, the other nine seem to fall nicely into place.

Please remember that to have a strong faith takes a whole lot of trust, rooted in the only one capable of continuously nurturing and growing your oak tree.  This takes time and commitment on our part, but it is worth it in the end.  It is a type of faith worth fighting for.  



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Thursday, July 27, 2023

The Mercy Seat of God

In order to understand what Jesus wants from us today, I believe we can look back at the Old Testament to see what God expected from the Israelites back then.  We often speak of God's mercy today when thinking about repentance from sin and the abounding love of Christ.  And well we should, because it is through His sacrifice that we are both humbled and saved.  The mercy seat is something that doesn't get talked about often in modern worship services, but its impact has been influential to Christianity for over three-thousand years.  


Gotquestions.org is a valuable online tool for people wishing to find information about anything related to orthodox Christianity.  I have in fact used excerpts from that site in this article to help illustrate the importance of our topic today.  While scholars may disagree on the fine points related to some aspects of Biblical history, by and large they have done an excellent job detailing what the mercy seat is, and what it means for us conceptually today.

The writer in the book of Hebrews talks about the arrangement of the tabernacle from the Old Testament accounts. The tabernacle was the portable sanctuary used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt, to the building of the temple in Jerusalem.  Within the tabernacle was the ark of the covenant which included the mercy seat.  

I have always enjoyed the portrayal of the ark in television and movies.  Most notably in the first Indiana Jones film 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'  In this film, the hero and protagonist Dr. Jones manages to discover the location of the lost ark, and together with the help of his arch-nemesis, removes the lid containing the mercy seat itself.  It was an interesting and imaginative portrayal of what that spectacle might look like.

At any rate, Hebrews 9:3-5 says, "And behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail."

The ark of the covenant, the chest containing the two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, was the most sacred object of the tabernacle.  And later in the temple in Jerusalem, it was placed in an inner area called the Holy of Holies. Readers of the Bible might remember that the ark was transported from place to place during different times by God's people as well.  Also within the ark, was the golden pot of manna, such as was provided by God in the wilderness wanderings and Aaron’s almond rod. On top of the ark was a lid called the mercy seat on which rested the cloud or visible symbol of the divine presence. Here God was supposed to be seated, and from this place He was to dispense mercy to man when the blood of the atonement was sprinkled there.

And mercy is what we are really after, isn't it?  Any honest examination of our own lives will reveal the great need for God's mercy and forgiveness.  Try going one week for example, without saying or doing something for which we might later need forgiveness (or at least grace).  It is no easy task.  

In a manner of speaking, the mercy seat concealed the people of God from the ever-condemning judgment of the Law. Each year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies and sprinkled the blood of animals sacrificed for the atonement of the sins of God’s people. The priest had to be dressed and made ready for this special event.  This blood was then sprinkled on the mercy seat. The point conveyed by this imagery, is that it is only through the offering of blood that the condemnation of the Law could be taken away, and violations of God’s laws covered.

Some think that the act of blood sacrifice is too archaic and antiquated to apply today.  But keep in mind, it is only due to Jesus' sacrifice and the spilling of his own blood on the cross that we are reconciled to God in the first place.  Without sacrifice, there would be no atonement and forgiveness for sins.

The Greek word for “mercy seat” in Hebrews 9 is hilasterion, which means “that which makes expiation” or “propitiation.” It carries the idea of the removal of sin. In Ezekiel 43, the brazen alter of sacrifice is also called hilasterion (the propitiatory or mercy seat) in the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament).  This is because of its association with the shedding of blood for sin.

What is the significance of this? In the New Testament, Christ Himself is designated as our propitiation. The Apostle Paul explains this in his letter to the Romans: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.”  

What Paul is teaching here is that Jesus is the covering for sin, as shown by these Old Testament prophetic images.  By means of His death, and our response to Christ through faith in Him, all our sins are covered. Also, whenever believers sin, we may turn to Christ who continues to be the propitiation (or covering) for our sins so that we might repent and be forgiven.  This ties together the Old and New Testament concepts regarding the covering of sin as exemplified by the mercy-seat of God.

And it is God's mercy that often drives our faith.  Scripture says that without faith, we cannot please Him.  And faith of course, requires us to humbly ask Christ into our lives so that we might be saved.  And once saved, would it not be prudent to pass along the same type of grace and mercy that He showed us?  



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Friday, June 9, 2023

Fighting for Our Faith

The first thing I do when I plan a trip is to decide on the best course.  I look at all the different possible routes, and then typically if I'm being honest, I choose the path that is the quickest (according to my smart phone).  Truth be told, I have forgotten what it was like to use an atlas or a paper road map.  As most of us know, much of the time we run into roadblocks of some sort when we travel also - especially on a long trip.  A detour here, or some road construction there.



In fact, in my little corner of the world, there are two stoplights that were set up on the highway between my small town and my place of work.  There is road construction going on for two different bridges at the same time.  If I hit the stoplights at the wrong time of the day; I am late to the office.

Some days, it can feel like fighting a losing battle in traffic.  We fight many different battles on the spiritual front as well.  I think often about what I will pass along to my children and grandchildren in this spiritual battle arena.  What type of religion will they inherit?  What will the next generation think of the version of God that was handed down to them by their elders and teachers?  Will church even look the same ten years from now?

I worry very much that a lot of mainstream churches today are teaching what I would term 'lukewarm living.'  This is a reference from the book of Revelation where Jesus mentions that he wishes certain churches were either hot or cold for God, instead of just lukewarm.  Simply put, someone who lives out a lukewarm faith isn't taking the commandments of God seriously.  

Think how confusing our culture must be right now for the younger generation coming up through college and high school.  Society tells them to go ahead and dress like the opposite gender if they want to, and use a different bathroom if they so desire.  To go ahead and compromise their religious principles or else they may get in trouble or fired from their job.  Culture today tells them to react emotionally to everything first, and then think about what they said or did second.  It has been a formula for disaster these last five years.

Let's look at 1 John 4:1 for guidance.  It says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world."  Have you tested anything lately?  There are sometimes latent agendas in our schools, our workplace, and even in some  churches.  Policies or lessons that might look good on paper, but the fruit of the Spirit they produce is less than righteous.  Doubtless there will come a time in the not so distant future, where I may not even be allowed to write these words.

I will never forget a story from one of my colleagues in ministry.  He told me about an important meeting he attended with many church elders and leaders.  When it came time to pray, one of the religious elect opened with the following words: "Dear friends, let's begin by giving glory to the season of Autumn..."

We do not pray to nature, the seasons, or to the weather outside.  We pray to God above.  Although this may seem like a small thing, it's a symptom of something bigger and deeper.  The type of thing that can misguide people who perhaps have just started out on their spiritual journey.  This is what we must fight against so that we aren't passing on a lukewarm faith to the next generation.  

No one gets to revise Scripture or ignore passages that they happen to disagree with.  We must take the Bible as a whole and acknowledge that it is the inerrant Word of God.  As C.S. Lewis was fond of saying, "The Scriptures say what they say.  We can struggle with understanding them, but we cannot change them."

I will close with one last reference from the New Testament.  It's from John 17:16-17, and it says, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."  This is from a passage that describes Jesus praying for his followers.  It puts forth this ultimate truth: the Christian lives in the world, but he or she is not of the world.  The believer in Christ is set apart and called to live by a different set of morals and values.  The type of morality that this world no longer desires.  

Our battle for the true faith will become more and more difficult as time goes on.  This is clearly prophesized in the Bible.  We are told that the love of many will grow cold, and that families and friends will be pitted against each other due to religious and political strife.  This is already happening.  

But rest assured, all is not lost.  If we stay in God's commandments and remain a branch in His living vine, then He will see to it that we have something of importance ready to pass along to our children.  And we will have His peace that surpasses understanding.  We may not find joy and peace in our culture anymore, but we do when we turn our gaze up to God the Father.  

May His love provide a sanctuary and a place to rest when nothing else seems like solid ground.  Cultures and societies change, but God's Word does not.  



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Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Where Unclean Spirits Live

There is a famous quote by the apostle Paul that talks about how our bodies should be made Holy, as though to offer up the gift of purity to God.  He compares this to the adornment of a Holy temple.  Or at least as close to pure as we can come.  The question we can then ask is, "what do we put into our temple?"


It seems like a simple question at first.  But remember, we are surrounded by sin and temptation in this world constantly.  Even the very word 'sin' itself is frowned upon by much of society, and even a good many churches.  As if Jesus died on a cross so that we could just be happy and content (and nothing more).  

I firmly believe that evil does exist and can affect the things that we do and say.  It will sometimes set up shop in people, belief systems, and even entire institutions.  Jesus spent a fair amount of time talking about the reality of evil spirits and spiritual warfare in the Bible.  This root cause of poor behavior is often ignored today, but we see its aftereffects on the nightly news.  Stories about greed, avarice, and violence against others.  All symptoms of a sin afflicted heart.  

Matthew 12:43-45 says, "When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'  When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.  That is how it will be with this wicked generation."

Some scholars suggest that this parable might be an allegory about Judea and the Roman occupation years ago.  Basically, the argument says that since people could not come right out and say the words "Roman invaders," Jesus may have used flowery language to describe the powerful oppressors instead.  Rome's pagan idols may have influenced God's people to begin worshipping unclean things.  In this sense, Rome would be the evil spirit, and Judea the wicked generation for turning away from God.

But I would like to treat this parable more plainly - and not read too much into it with a twenty-first century perspective.  I think Jesus was literally talking about the forces of evil, and how to ensure that we keep our bodies (our temples) Holy.  We are vulnerable to sin and temptation at all times.  Once cleansed and repented of, evil habits can come back into our lives easily enough.  Especially if we don't 're-furnish' our clean swept house with the proper type of spiritual furniture. 

So how do we keep ourselves protected from evil?  I believe we can furnish our allegorical home in three ways.  First, we focus on what God said instead of what other people say.  This involves reading or listening to the Bible regularly.  It doesn't mean you need to put on a monk's robe and recite Scripture by candlelight, but it does mean you need to keep your mind exposed to chapter and verse regularly.  

Second, we keep ourselves free of evil by maintaining a solid prayer life.  I don't care if you only have five minutes per day - go ahead and communicate with God.  Prayer is like a muscle - the more you use it, the more natural it will feel.  

Third is fellowship.  Find a church or group of people that you can trust and commune with on a regular basis.  More than once every few months.  Find a Bible believing church where you can share your thoughts on religion and faith, and ask questions in a judgement-free zone.  

These three spiritual disciplines together form a powerful defense against evil making its way into your life.   It seems clear that we must be on guard against what the Lord refers to as unclean spirits.  And it helps especially to understand that evil spirits are real as well, and not just mythical creatures that we assign as metaphors for bad behavior.  Jesus describes them as actual free-thinking beings, that can manifest themselves in ways that manipulate and seduce humanity.  

I will close by mentioning Paul's advice when it comes to spiritual warfare.  Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  

Now I will add that I don't believe Paul is necessarily condemning governments here.  But rather, he is talking about supernatural evil as an infection - making its way into people's hearts and minds.  So keep your house swept clean, but then don't let it sit idle afterward.  Go the next step and seek out Scripture, prayer, and other Christians to talk to.  Don't give evil an inch, or it could very well take a mile.  



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Sunday, March 26, 2023

A Church in Flux

The United Methodist Church denomination is currently in flux.  This is a nice way of saying that a decision to change or remain the same has landed (or will soon land) on the doorstep of every local UMC church in America to some degree.  The presenting issue revolves around human sexuality; namely whether or not churches should allow same sex weddings and practicing LGBTQIA+ pastors to be ordained.  As you can imagine, this decision carries a lot of weight with it.  Many churches are considering a vote that could change the trajectory of their ministry.  Questions loom around whether this represents bigotry and discrimination, or Scriptural adherence and spiritual fortitude.  In some cases, it can cost friendships and cause division on both sides.  There are no easy answers here, as even the decision to do nothing denotes a choice to stay with the more liberal denominational conference.  


In the months that have passed, many churches have been convening meetings focused on trying to figure out where each member stands.  In recent times, letters have gone out discouraging many such meetings, in favor of maintaining the status quo.  The Iowa Methodist Conference has a piece of legislation in its Book of Discipline called paragraph 2553, which allows for disaffiliation from the church governing body for congregations wishing to leave.  Conversely, if churches are not bothered by the notion of same sex marriage and LGBTQIA+ clergy ordination, they can stay in the current conference.  A third ‘soft option’ seems to be that churches can stay with the conference, but continue as more conservative in nature going forward.  This has been referred to as the "big tent" concept; where all different beliefs are welcome.  Only time will tell which outcome produces the fruit of the Spirit.

When I was a pastor caught in the middle, I could only pray and hope for God’s will to be done for each church as they saw fit.  There was a deadline for churches to send a letter of intent to the governing body by June 30th, 2023 if they wish to leave, and then a congregational vote would be scheduled after that.  By the end of the year, this structured option to leave will be closed.  

Although many emphasize an understanding of the Scriptural position regarding human sexuality, I believe this is only the presenting symptom of something deeper.  I think what churches are really struggling with is how to approach 2 Tim 3:14-15 which says, "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."   

The church as a whole is trying to figure out how to be ‘wise for salvation.’  Whether or not to consider the concepts they have learned about Scripture in the past as reliable.  The apostle Paul would seem to suggest that during these end times, the basic teachings that we have taken for granted over the course of the last two-thousand years will be challenged.  And that is in fact what is happening.  People don’t argue about what the Bible says – they argue now about what it means and can we ignore it.  Do we focus on certain passages and ignore others, do we let emotion and opinion guide us, etc. 

As a pastor, I was always haunted by the verse in the book of James that talks about God judging teachers.  Here is what James 3:1 says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."

As a teacher of Scripture and an Elder at my new church, I need to be able to fall back on the written Word in terms of what I talk about with people.  If I don’t do that, or I compromise, then I will have to answer to God for it someday.  This is the weight of what hangs in the balance.  A denominational decision either way will cost partnerships, friendships, and may even divide local churches for years to come; but it also affects where each church will stand based on the Word of God. 

There is also a light at the end of the tunnel.  Jesus has promised us in Matthew 16 that "the gates of hell shall not prevail against religion and faith."  In other words, regardless of whether or not we argue with each other, at the end of the day God is still in charge.  His church will continue on in some form, even to the last day. 

It will be up to individual churches to figure out how they want to move through these anxious times, and how they will interpret 2 Tim 3 (mentioned above).  God will love us through it; what remains to be seen is what type of church He will bless and grow.  I'm betting it will be the one that adheres to Scripture and not culture.  May His grace and peace help guide everyone affected, and may we deal with each other using compassion and understanding in the meantime.     



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Resurrection Sunday Still Matters

The literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith.  It doesn't matter which denomination or slant ...