Normally The Familiar isn’t a good thing because it keeps us from experiencing the Adventures God has for us. It denies us the wide open spaces where we uncover and discover the greatness and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father. It hides and denies us the truth that we can do anything through Christ who strengthens us. The wide open spaces teaches us how to hold on to God in every situation and throughout all seasons.
But. . .but sometimes we need to go back to The Familiar–the good Familiar. I’m talking about those times and places where are reassured of God’s faithfulness to us–even when–especially when–we have been unfaithful. Or maybe it’s a season of doubt where we struggle to embrace our future. Even David, the mighty King and Warrior, needed to go back from time to time to The Familiar. Psalm 23 places were essential for David. Before he became a mighty warrior and long before he became the Mighty King, David was a shepherd. And when life as a Warrior or as a King became difficult, I can easily imagine David singing this Psalm to himself–maybe even out loud.
As a shepherd in the wide open spaces, David experienced the faithfulness and provisions of His Heavenly Father. Imagines of green pastures and still streams helped him remember the Faithfulness of God. I have my places where I am reminded of God’s faithfulness to me. Sometimes all I can do is go there in my mind. And sometimes I can literally visit those places. Each time I find myself renewed and refreshed, and enabled to go forward into “my” unknown future, but a future that is known to God–and a future where I know He is right there with me. What are The Familiar places for you? Places where God’s amazing love and grace overwhelmed you? The Familiar isn’t a place made to live in–but it is the place to visit where we find the reassurance we need when the Journey becomes difficult.
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him!
Once upon a time, at a tractor dealership, there were two tractors–Billy and Franklin. They couldn’t possibly be any more different. Billy was a used Kubota L180 and Franklin was a brand new, shiny John Deere 8345R. It was truly a Mutt and Jeff kind of difference. Franklin’s paint was green and pristine–not a scratch or dent anywhere. But Billy, well his orange pain was faded from decades of use. And their sizes? Just one of Franklin’s tires was taller than Billy.
Everyday Franklin would tease and torment Billy because of his small size. Franklin would say things like, “You only have 17 horsepower, but I, I have 345 of them bad boys! I have 4 wheel drive and you–you’re just a pitiful 2 wheel drive! I can do 1000 times more work than you! I can work 100 acres in less time that you could do just 2 acres! Look how clean my lines are–and just look at your faded paint and those scratches. I have a cab with an air conditioner for the summer and a heater for the winter to keep my owner comfortable! You don’t have a cab–and if anyone DID buy you, they would be forced to endure the heat and cold! Who in the world would want you?” Well, Billy just couldn’t help himself–next to Franklin he was indeed small and he believed he was useless. No one would want him.
One day a customer walked across the lot and was checking out Franklin. Franklin whispered to Billy, “See! I told you no one would want you.” The salesperson and the man talked a while and Franklin was so proud. The customer climbed up into that awesome cab and fired him up. The roar of power was something else! He gave that look of gloat in Billy’s direction. But to Billy’s surprise another man walked up to him, checking him out carefully. Billy thought, “He doesn’t want ME!” The customer climbed up on his seat and Billy also fired right up–but he didn’t sound anything like Franklin!
After the sound of their engines ended, Billy heard the man look at Franklin and say, “Oh, yes! I’ll take it!” Franklin had a smile as big as the Big Dipper as he looked at Billy. Billy was even sadder than before, though he was glad he wouldn’t have to hear Franklin’s boasting anymore. And he almost missed hearing the man looking at him say, “This is perfect and exactly what I’m looking for and need! I’ll take it!” Billy was confused; “How could I be perfect when Franklin, well, Franklin is everything I’m not?”
Customers and salespersons headed for the office. In just a short while, the man who said he wanted Billy came out with a smile bigger than Franklin’s. Franklin said, “I bet he’s changed his mind and wants a tractor like me!” As the man got closer, he saw he had some papers in his hand and said, “OK, let’s go home!” The other man was still busy filling out paperwork and arranging financing. Billy’s new owner climbed onto the seat, fired up his engine loaded Billy onto his trailer and went to Billy’s new home.
The man soon begin to put Billy to work, preparing a garden. Franklin eventually made it to his new home and began preparing the man’s crops. As Billy worked, he thought, “You know, I’m not doing near as much ground as Franklin. How can I be useful?” Harvest time came, and the ground Billy worked, though small in comparison to Franklin’s gound, did look good and bountiful. His owner gathered in those vegatables, and those vegatables fed his owner’s family, and even had enough to share with others who didn’t have any! He watched as people gratefully accept what Billy had helped to grow.
Now when Franklin’s crops came in, it took big trucks, lots of big trucks to haul off all he had helped produce. Those crops went to places where they were processed and prepared for people to buy. Franklin was very contented knowing he had produced far more in that one season than Billy could produce in years. But Billy–well, he was thankful that he had a part in helping some people enjoy fresh vegatables, and even enough to put up for later. Billy knew it wasn’t as much as Franklin’s harvest–but his little harvest meant a lot to those who enjoyed the fruits of his labors.
And the Moral Of Today’s Story is this: Our contributions to the Kingdom may not be as big and impressive as those in the limelight–but they are important, very important, to those who benefit from our contribution!
Today is New Year’s Eve 2021. If you look at calendars, there are only two days with that designation of “Eve”–Christmas and New Year. There is no Thanksgiving Eve, Valentine’s Day Eve, St. Patrick’s Day Eve, Mother’s Day Eve, Father’s Day Eve–nope it’s not on the calendar. Never has been, and probably never will be. But today is one of two days designated as “Eve”. Look at the picture above and definition number two: the period preceding or leading up to any event. Let’s take a deep dive into the idea of an Eve.
Are you excited that this is New Year’s Eve? This morning I was thinking about other New Year’s Days. Specifically 2019–I mean who could have imagined what 2020 was going to bring? Church sanctuaries were closed. Businesses considered non-essential were closed. Stores had limited capacities. Us preachers unfamiliar with live-stream learned how to use Facebook Live (and I still use it). We had to purchase equipment to enable us to do drive-in church. People who were in the hospitals and nursing homes were denied visitors. And so much more. Then New Year’s Day 2021 shows up–and while some of the restrictions have been lifted–this ain’t been a glorious year for most.
But we’re talking about 2022. Are you excited about 2022? Today I am truly excited for several reasons. I don’t have to worry about a ruptured appendix, that happened in 2020. I am excited that today THE University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) will be playing in the Semi-Final for another National Championship (Roll Tide)! Yes, I get excited over certain things. Don’t you think Jesus was excited at the home of Zacchaeus when He said, “Salvation has arrived in this home!” Personally, I think Jesus was shouting at the top of His lungs! If your image of Jesus saying that is one of a solemn face and monotone voice–you need a different Jesus.
Every morning is an Eve–leading up to some event! And I believe this event is the Eve of God pouring out the fires of Revival across our nation and around the world! Why would I believe such a thing with the ways things are? Because I’m not looking at the way things are–I’m seeing them the way that God wants them to be. Each morning is The Eve Of God Doing Great Things In Hearts And Lives! See, there are more than 2 eves–every morning has both the potential and very real possibility to be a life-transforming day for us and everyone else. It’s there–we just need to recognize it.
When we get excited about the movement of The Holy Spirit–before we ever see it–we call that Faith! Faith isn’t about WHAT we see–but WHO we see! Today is the Eve of God doing what Paul said God does in 2 Corinthians Chapter 5 Verse 17 from The Message–Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Did you see that word anyone? Anyone means anyone. Isn’t it exciting to see new life emerge? In just a very few weeks a new life will emerge in our family–our first great-grandchild! He’s going through a process, as is his Mommy. It’s not always been pleasant–and the delivery won’t be easy. But all of us will be so very excited about this precious wonderful new life! Will you get excited each morning knowing that this moment is the EVE of God bringing another Great Awakening? I’m excited! If you’re not, then you’ve got a serious problem. Now if you will excuse me, I’ve got some exciting things to do before Kickoff! And Roll Tide! Oh, here’s a song to help your mindset in the right place on this and every following Eve!
Are you on hold? Maybe you’re calling that alleged “customer service”, only after you’ve been yelling at a computer or punching in 3,678 numbers, and you’re on hold. Maybe you just answered the call about your car warranty about to expire and you’re on hold. Maybe you just called about the latest electronic innovation but you’re having issues getting it up and running, so you hear “Your call is very important to us. Please wait for the next available ‘customer service’ agent.” You’re on hold.
Waiting is not a new human experience, though some treat it that way. We don’t like to be put “on hold” because we see it as the obstacle to the resolution we most desire. Being put “on hold” isn’t enjoyable! And the music you are forced to hear. . .geez where do they get that stuff? Musicians and composers who couldn’t sell a single record? “Alleged Experts” say that elevator music is calming down the person on hold. Really? Who did they interview? Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum? Being “on hold” is annoying and frustrating to the point that no amount of elevator music is going to calm us down–regardless of how they hope it will! So what’s a person to do?
May I make a suggestion–with no elevator music involved? When life feels like you are on hold, switch those 2 words on hold. Now it reads “hold on”. Now, YOU say those 2 words out loud: “Hold on!” Why are you reading my next words when you haven’t done what I asked you to do? . . . I’m waiting! . . . I’m still waiting!! . . . Now you’ve got me “on hold”! OK, you’ve said it. Now I want you to shout it loudly: HOLD ON! Is that as loud as you can scream? Come on, try it again, this time even louder!
Hold on are the two most important words to shout and scream when we need help! But don’t say it to yourself or any other person. Say it to God! Shout it out to God! Scream it to the top of your lungs to God! When everything seems to be falling apart–and when you’re loving it because the plan is coming together–and in every moment between these 2 extremes–we need to allow God to hold on to us. When we are at our best–and especially when we are at our worst–we need to ask God to hold on to us.
God wants to–longs to–hold on to us in the most loving way possible. But He will not–until we allow Him. This is what I learned in this morning’s worship time–and it came through this song. Listen to the words–and when you are not “someone you believe in”–well just listen to the song!
We’ve been gone on a Sabbatical, and I promised my readers that I would resume writing every day when we got home. We left Lake Millsite, Florida on Tuesday, going home by a “different” route. Soooo, in the immortal words made famous by Jack Nicholson:
Not in quaint and beautiful Mt. Vernon, Alabama. Right now I’m in Center Star, Alabama–in the home Dad had built about 59 years ago. Monday night, my son Matthew called and said they had to take Dad to the emergency room. His oxygen concentration was low. Turns out he was having a severe spell with his A-Fib and had caused his heart to have what is called RVR. (Click here to find out about RVR)
So Tuesday morning we packed up and headed to be with him in the hospital. The good news is they were able to restore normal heart rhythm. No more A-Fib or RVR. The bad news is that he has been diagnosed stenosis of the aortic valve in his heart. That’s when the flaps of the aortic valve become thick and stiff, or they fuse together. These problems cause the valve opening to become narrow. The narrowed valve reduces or blocks blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. The normal size of an adult aortic valve is around 3.0 to 4.0 cm2. His is now 1 cm2.
Normally, the treatment is to replace the diseased valve, going through the femoral artery. However at 95 years old, he is not a candidate for the procedure. Bad news, right? Well. . .the Good News he is ready to go Home; you know, the Eternal Home where there’s no such thing as A-Fib, RVR, arthritis or any of these aches and pains we experience on this orb known as Earth. He has 2 daughters already there and his wife of 73 years. Best of all, he knows Jesus is there.
Our conversations in the hospital revolved around the best care for him now. We talked about Hospice, and agreed it was time. In case you didn’t know, Hospice isn’t just for when death is imminent. It’s also for cases where death is medically determined to be inevitable because there are no longer viable medical treatment options. So today, Thursday, the twenty-eighth day of October in the year 2021 of our Lord, he and we met all of those who will be involved in his care until the inevitable happens.
Great people! We met his social worker, hospice aide, RN, and his chaplain. I enjoyed meeting all of them, as did Dad! But it was something that his chaplain said that is provoking these thoughts tonight. Garry, that’s his name, said, and listen very carefully: Only God Can Unscramble Eggs. Isn’t this rich!!!
When you make scrambled eggs, the shells are broken–and you can’t put the shells back together–I mean, someone might could try like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. But it ain’t gonna be able to hold anything, much less those innards of the egg. Then the egg whites and the egg yellows are all mixed together–the whites are indistinguishable from the yellows–dear Lord, you can’t separate them back into just the egg whites and egg yellows again. It is impossible, I say, impossible!!!
We just can’t do it! But that is just a small thing for God to do. In fact, He is the only one who can unscramble eggs. And this is why The Holy Spirit used Garry’s words to say something important to me–something I needed to hear.
Right now we are walking through the Valley of the Shadow of death. Dad is still alive, and kicking–and in his own words–“just not very high.” But negotiating the rest of the journey through this Valley, well. . .we need a little help. You may remember back in August we made this journey when my sister died.
And the help we are receiving right now and the help that will be with us as we journey from one end of this Valley all the way to the other end–comes from the only One who can unscramble an egg. With that kind of skill–I reckon we will make it just fine.
Last Tuesday I was on my way to the hospital in Tupelo, Mississippi to see a parishioner and a very good friend who has Stage 4 cancer. I’ve been praying for his healing and it seemed like God wasn’t listening, or at least doing what I thought He should do. It’s about an hour and a half drive from home, so I had some time to do something other than thinking, about my friend and my soon to be 94 year old Dad. He had been having a difficult week. I needed a distraction–not from my driving–but from my thoughts.
I decided to listen to some podcasts from one of my mentors (who doesn’t know me)–Andy Andrews. I find him insightful and humorous. God knows I needed a laugh, and I hoped Andy wouldn’t disappoint me. He didn’t. But about 15 minutes into my hour and a half drive, the podcast was interrupted by a text. So I did the safe thing and found a place to pull over and check out the text. And here is what I saw:
I started to reply with one word: Thanks. But that would have been deceptive by me. So I told my friend, Matthew Winters, exactly what I was struggling with. By the way, Matthew has started blogging again with a new direction. You can check him out HERE! Commercial over, back to Monday’s Musing.
At the moment I needed help, God sent me help. But it took someone else to bring me that help. In this case, it was Matthew. And this morning I’m thinking about a particular passage, Philippians 2:4 (NLT)
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
That afternoon God spoke and Matthew was listening–and God’s grace once again renewed my heart and mind. Matthew took an interest in me; his heart was directed to me; and Matthew was obedient to God. And here’s the point I want to make, and it’s in the form of a question:
God is wanting to help someone who is in a struggle–and He’s chosen you to send His help. ARE YOU LISTENING?
Only by having a deep walk with Jesus and The Holy Spirit can you be in a place where you can hear God speaking. Like a 911 Operator, God is saying, “Help is on the way!” Make sure you’re “on call” to receive His Dispatch.
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him!
Welcome to another Saturday Story. Today’s story is from several years ago; it was such a powerful moment that I still remember it as if it occurred yesterday. Listen to it, and maybe Dad has something to say to you…
TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY
Ernie was a retired sheet metal worker. He and his wife Bettye had retired to Scottsboro. They never had children, so they “adopted” kids of all ages, including me. Both spent many hours serving Jesus at Randall’s Chapel (no, that church wasn’t named after me!). Ernie served Jesus in so many ways. Teaching, leading committees, the men’s group, serving in whatever way he was asked. Needless to say, this pastor fell in love with them.
Ernie was the epitome of an “active member”; but I and several others noticed Ernie didn’t have his usual level of stamina. Ernie noticed it too, so he went to his doctor to find out why. After several tests, Ernie was given the diagnosis of ALS (I refuse to call this evil disease by the name of one of baseball’s greatest players).
Word reached me of this diagnosis. As “pastor”, my job was to give him and Bettye words of encouragement and wisdom. This wasn’t my first encounter with someone dehumanized by ALS. I knew what Ernie’s future would look like. The day after his diagnosis I was going to “visit” with them and share those “words of encouragement and wisdom”. And as I sat in my office that morning, I struggled to find any such words. But it was my “job” to do it, and honestly, I felt like a failure because I simply couldn’t find the right “words”.
Just then (remember that “just then” or “it just so happened” are usually God prepared and ordained moments) I heard Ernie come in. He stuck his head in my office and asked, “Bro. Randy, do you have a few minutes, I need to talk about something.” Of course I had time, I always have time for a good friend; but this time my mind is in panic mode. I still didn’t have those words of “encouragement and wisdom”. In my heart I said, “OK, Holy Spirit, you’re going to have to do the talking because I don’t know what to say!”
And my, oh, my did my Friend, the Holy Spirit, do some talking. But it wasn’t me doing the talking–it was Ernie. “Randy, I know you heard about my diagnosis. And I need you to understand that one day I won’t be able to teach the Sunday School class. One day I won’t be able to be involved in the men’s group. One day I won’t be able to serve this church. One day I won’t be able to do all the things I love doing around here.” And what Ernie said next is still with me.
With a love and fire in his eyes he said, “But today is not that day! I’m going to continue to do all the things I’ve been doing. Whatever you or this church needs me for, I’m here! I know that day will come, it’s just that Today Is Not That Day!” The words of encouragement and wisdom wasn’t meant to be shared by me; that Holy Moment was given to Ernie.
And Ernie kept that Sacred Vow. He kept on working and moving forward with Jesus. And a little over a year later, that day finally came. Bettye asked me to do the funeral service. And the message I shared? It was the very same one Ernie shared with me that morning in my office. Ernie prepared his own eulogy and funeral message: Today is not THAT day to give up. God is with you every step of the way. And on that sad day, God’s Grace abounded.
Application Time
We all face difficult, even terrifying moments in life. The temptation, even the urge to give up can seem overwhelming. I know, I’ve faced many such moments. And in those moments, I see Ernie, sitting across my desk. He’s smiling and saying to me, “Now Randy, you know Today Is Not THAT Day!”
Whatever it is that you may face in life; whatever you ARE facing right now that is overwhelming you with the feeling of helplessness or hopelessness and you want to give up; remember my good friend Ernie’s words: Today Is Not THAT Day! Ernie lived with the confidence that whatever the future held, HE was held by God and was secure in that knowledge.
“This morning is hell!” Doesn’t sound nice, does it? Yet this is exactly what many are feeling; not just a morning feeling–but an all day kind of feeling for many. It’s because of the Great War And Horrible War. And yes, even this Preacherman understands this feeling–because sometimes. . .it’s the truth about me. If you think this isn’t you–Remember The Eighth Command–Don’t you dare lie–to others, about others, or even to yourself! I know it says “your neighbor”, but who lives closer to you than YOU?
Satan knows which buttons to push. His strategy in this Great And Horrible War is rather simple–but effective. Successful military strategists understand this and put it into practice–if they want to win a battle. Satan’s strategy is this: Hit At The Weakest Points! He does this daily. . .constantly. And the casualties he causes–though they won’t make the news this evening–are mounting up into catastrophic proportions.
And one of the weakest points in many lives, even mine, is our Will! But something my mentor, Andy Andrews, is teaching me is that our Will is stronger than our feelings. But the Opposing General doesn’t want us to believe this truth. There’s much I could say at this point. . .but I defer to someone with more battle scars than myself–a guy known as Paul. Read carefully what he wrote in Romans 7:14-25. This is my personal autobiography. Here’s what it looks like from The Message:
14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.
17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.
21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.
24 I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?
25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Be honest with God. He is GOOD, you know. He will change you from having your feelings into knowing His Will in your life. And more–HE will give you HIS strength to live in that Will rather than your feelings. WE cannot stop this Great And Horrible War, but we can’t stop becoming another casualty by asking HIM to change our “want to”, which is nothing more than our feelings, into Will; and Satan can’t stop that Will. He tried in the Garden of Gethsemane–and failed. He tried on that cruel Cross–and failed. And he tried in that Tomb–AND HE FAILED! Daddy’s Grace is the field hospital where our wounds are tended and our hearts are mended. . .and our feelings are transformed into HIS WILL!
Continue then, to love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to HIM!
(This is the final installment of my current message series, The With Us God)
Here are the names we have looked at thus far. Yahweh Yireh—The God Who Provides.Yahweh-Nissi—The Lord Who Fights For Us.Yahweh-Shammah—The God Who Is There! William Shakespeare wrote in his tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” a famous line: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would be as sweet.” His point was that a name did not change the essence of a thing or a person. There is nothing significant about a name. And to a degree he is right, but not always. Change the name of the skunk to honeysuckle and he will still stink. It doesn’t change its nature.
However, when it comes to Immanuel, the With Us God, the name is uniquely special in both meaning and power. These names of God from the Old Testament say something about God. And even more important, these names say something about relationship—our relationship with God. “What’s in a name?” Relationship is in these names! And on this Sunday before Christmas, we see this name: Yahweh-Shalom—God Is Peace! It comes from the story of Gideon in Judges 6:11-24 (NLT).
11]Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. 12]The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”
13] “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” 14]Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”
15]“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” 16] The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.”
17]Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. 18]Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.”
19]Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree. 20]The angel of God said to him, “Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it.” And Gideon did as he was told.21]Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.
22]When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” 23]“It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” 24]And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.
Let’s
get the 1 thing you need to remember this morning: God Is Much Bigger Than Your Circumstances. The story of Gideon is the story of the
oppression of the Israelites by the Midianites.
And, It is the story of countless lives that live under emotional and
spiritual oppression. Gideon is living a
life of fear. Hiding from the
Midianites, smallest member of the smallest clan, Gideon is found fearful, feeling
weak and convinced he’s useless.
Then out of nowhere, this angel appears and says, “Mighty hero!” Not exactly what we would call a Mighty Hero. No skin-tight costume with a cape; no special clothes loaded with weapons and devices, and no unique ability that sets him apart from the rest of his world. Nope, not exactly our image of a hero. For heaven’s sake, he’s hiding from the enemies.
Now,
if this is not bad enough, the angel says “The
Lord is with you.” And listen to his
response in verse 13: “If
the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are
all the miracles our ancestors told us about?” Maybe you know someone like Gideon, or maybe
you understand Gideon because YOU are fearful, weak and convinced you’re
useless.
And
maybe, just maybe, some of you this morning are wondering the very same thing
Gideon wondered. These words of Gideon
are still being said today. If you
aren’t hearing these cries, then you’re spiritually deaf. If the
Lord is with me why does my spouse have Alzheimer’s? If the Lord is with me why did my child
die? If the Lord is with me why did I
lose my job? If the Lord is with me why
is my teenager so rebellious? If the
Lord is with me why do I have cancer? If the
Lord is with me why does all this stuff keep
happening to me?
When
you find that life is just too much to bear, you wonder: If the Lord is with me, why? It’s a legitimate question and one that must
be asked, otherwise we keep it inside us and it festers and we become cynical
at best, or disillusioned at worst. The
answer God gave Gideon is the answer he gave us 2000 years ago in the city of
Bethlehem. Immanuel! With Us God!
When we are in pain, when we are afraid, when we are confused, Life forces the question: “If the Lord is with me, why has all this happened to me? And where are all the miracles I’ve heard others talk about?” There are 3 possible answers to this tough question:
1. He’s Not Here Because Doesn’t
Care About Me.
The
oppression of the Midianites made Gideon think God didn’t care. We think this, and much too often we believe
this because we see God as Santa Claus—if we just believe hard enough then all
of this stuff will just go away. And
when it doesn’t, we either blame ourselves for NOT having enough faith, or we
blame God for not caring for us.
When the weight of fear and worry crushes us, the Enemy whispers, “See, He doesn’t care about you.” Given enough heartache, given enough pain, any of us is subject to hearing that sinister whisper—more than hearing that whisper, we will entertain that thought—“He Really doesn’t care about me.” And given enough time, not only do we hear it, we believe it!
This
just isn’t true. In the Garden of
Gethsemane God was with Jesus. When He
was beaten and whipped, God was with Him.
When the spikes were driven into his hands, God was with Him. When the soldiers raised that cross up and
the weight of His body rested on those nails and that pain wracked His body,
God was there. Jesus never doubted this
truth until…until the penalty of every sin was paid. Only at that point does Jesus say, “My
God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?”
Not in the Garden, not at the trial, not during the scourging, not when the cross was placed on His shoulders, not when the nails were driven, not when He was raised on the Cross—but when the Penalty was paid—for the only moment in all eternity, God turned away from His Son. And Jesus cried out: “My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?” Don’t you think it broke the heart of The Father and The Holy Spirit to turn away from that part of them that had always been there? Of course it it–but they suffered that in order that we would not have to face that moment–IF we put our trust in Him and walk with Him for the rest of our lives.
But
God came back to Him because He accepted the only sacrifice that once and for
all times atones, covers over, and wipes away ever sin. Another answer to why all this stuff happens
is this:
2. He’s Not Here Because He Isn’t With Me
Because
they were beaten back and beaten down, Gideon thought it was because God wasn’t
there. Maybe he realized that they had
sinned against God, so God turned away from them. Maybe he thought that God simply forgot about
His promises. I mean, it’s got to be a
tough and time consuming job being God.
Maybe He was so busy, He simply forgot about them and left them alone.
When We Place The Reality Of Circumstances Over The Truth Of The
Kingdom, We Can Believe That, Too. The emphasis is on the Circumstances. When circumstances are good then it’s because
God is with us. When circumstances are
bad, God isn’t with us.
For decades, the “Name It And Claim It” group has been around. They believe and teach that with enough faith, your circumstances will always be good. And that simply isn’t true. Look at the story of Job. This is what God said about Job (Burbank Paraphrase)—“Have you seen my good buddy, Job? Man, there’s no one like Him. He’s always walking with me.” But Satan said, “Well, change his circumstances and he will change.” At first it didn’t work. Job maintained his integrity. But when his 3 Name It And Claim It friends showed up, it was then that Job got angry. Job isn’t patient, but He is faithful–He still longs to see God.
If
your confidence that God is with you only when the circumstances are good, then
your faith is shallow and insincere. Our Confidence In God Must Be Rooted In The Character
Of God, not in what God will do for you.
This is seeing God as the Cosmic Vending Machine and all you need is the
right amount of coins.
A
contemporary song done by Natalie Grant, More Than Anything has this
chorus: “Help me want the Healer more than the healing. Help me want the Savior more than the saving. Help me want the Giver more than the giving. Oh Help me want you Jesus more than anything.” The message is clear—it’s about wanting God
over anything that God can do. There is one
more answer to these tough questions. It comes from the name: Yahweh
Shalom.
3. He Is With Us Because This Is Where We Learn To Trust And Rest
In All
This Painful Stuff, God Has A Plan And A Purpose That We Can Trust. This
means we do not focus on the pain, but on the Presence. Jesus told His disciples in John 14:27—I am leaving you with a
gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot
give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
Peace in the worldly sense is the elimination of all the threats, and the absence of conflict. The worldly view of peace is that it happens when we get all we want, and then some more. Having more than enough treasures, more than enough food, more than enough shelter, more than enough stuff. The problem is, there is never enough. So God gives us something better: peace of mind and peace of heart.
1. Peace Because He Has A Plan—that plan is
always about bring out your best—to reveal His Image in you.
2. Peace Because He Has A Purpose—to bring honor
and glory to Him, not you.
3. Peace Because He Has You—always has you in His heart.
It is
the inner peace that can only be found in a relationship with God, and on God’s
terms. God’s terms are simple: Surrender. Surrender your pride, your will, and your
desires. Surrender your
inadequacies. Surrender your guilt and
condemnation. Surrender you time,
energy, abilities and resources. Surrender
to grace.
When
Gideon realized he had seen face to face an angel of God, he thought he was
doomed. But when Gideon came face to
face with God’s grace—and under that enormous tree, he named that place, Yahweh-Shalom—The
Lord Is Peace. He named the
place BEFORE the Midianites were defeated.
Have you accepted the gift of God’s peace? We do not earn it and we can never deserve
it. So it comes to us as a gift—bought
and paid for on the Cross.
Next Steps
Do you have a relationship, or do you just know about Him? It’s not about how much knowledge you have about the Bible. You can know all the Books of the Bible in order. Heck, I don’t know that. But I do know the person of Jesus. Do you?
Renew You Commitment To The Relationship As Being More Important Than Anything Else. Jesus longs to be closer to us. It’s easy to drift, easy to take for granted, to assume. It’s not about us doing our best for Him, but allowing Him to do His best work IN us.
Well, it happened again. Last night Debbie (most definitely my better half) and I went out to eat supper. We had chosen Cracker Barrel. I thought that was a great ending to a great day. I had spent the day at New Room Conference listening, learning about sowing the seeds of God’s Word for another Great Awakening. The theme word this year is RISE. I was overwhelmed by Damien Boyd’s sermon about the importance of connecting with people, especially the poor. Damien pointed out that the poor isn’t limited to those without material substance–but especially those who are spiritually poor and those who have been broken by life.
Our server was Miles. He was polite and attentive to us. But this isn’t about Miles. It’s about Marissa. Many years ago The Spirit taught me the importance of acknowledging people at the Huddle House in Guntersville. We had been out to eat, and I noticed her name tag, and thanked her and used her name. She sat her coffee pot down, and thanked me for using her name. She said that no one called her by her name. It was always “Hey, you!” Fighting back the tears, she was overwhelmed that someone noticed she had a name. Ever since that evening I have made it a point to call servers, associates and cashiers by their name when I can see it.
Back to Marissa. We had just left our customary 20% tip on the table and was getting up to leave when another server, Marissa, was walking by. I said to her, “I hope you have a great evening, Marissa.” She smiled and thanked me. Then she turned back around, for a conversation. She said, “I was wondering how did we know each other, but then I realized my name is on my apron.” And I replied, “Well, you are a human being and you have a name, so I used that name.”
A bright smile came over her face and she said, “Oh, how sweet. Give me a hug!” We hugged and said our goodbyes. I noticed as she walked away, there was a renewed joy in her steps. Oh, it wasn’t me. It was the Holy Spirit. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time for Him to do what HE does best: Remind people of God’s Presence, that He values them, and best of all, He loves them.
And early this morning I reflected on that simple but Holy Moment of God being with us. I’m not bragging on myself–I have way too many faults to engage in such silliness. But the Spirit impressed on me this truth. All day I had been listening too and learning about the Kingdom of God. And that night I put it into practice–doing what I have been doing since that night in Huddle House in Guntersville–what I heard and learned. I thought I almost heard the 6 words I am striving to hear one day: Well Done Good And Faithful Servant.
You see, learning about the Kingdom of God but doing nothing is like a sandwich without meat, mayo, lettuce, and tomato–you’re toast. Jesus showed people that God values and loves them by connecting with them where they are. A person’s name–using a person’s name is a profoundly simple way of acknowledging their value and worth–as a person and as someone who bears the Image of the Creator.
When you see people, acknowledge their worth and value, then if you pray the Lord’s Prayer, it has become real and true in you–Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. See people the way God sees them. They have a name. God knows their name. Do you?
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Hi!
Welcome to Jeopardy, Randy. “Thanks, Alex, I’ll take Chaos and Stress for $1,000.” And the answer is: “This picture is what it feels like.”
Yes, Randy: “What is the feeling you have when the moving truck will be here in 2 days?” Correct!
Well, today started like usual. Packing some more, taking some more to the curb, headed to the office, and the Funeral. Debbie and I had visited Wynette in the hospital the day before she conquered death. Watching her struggle to breathe reminded that about a month ago I watched my own Mother struggle to breathe. God was faithful, not that I doubted Him, especially in a time such as this, and He gave me words to share with her Family and Friends that both honored her memory, her life and The Good News. A trifecta, if you would. The graveside portion was about an hour and a half away.
Then I returned to the church for one last team meeting before we leave. It was the Finance Team. Within my first year here, I was confronted with the fact that the accounting system was, well, what’s a word that I could use in a Christian blog? Chaotic to the Nth degree. Nothing illegal mind you, just poor accounting practices. Nothing balanced and I promised the Finance Team that before I left, everything would be in order and balanced. Thanks to my Office Manager, Samantha, she brought in a friend who loves accounting, loves numbers, loves problem solving (though I think this episode may have broken her from wanting to solve problems). Jennifer committed and donated her time and skills for the past 6 months. She managed to balance 2017, and set up a new system so they could say goodbye and good riddance to a system called Shelby and a new and easier to understand system (ACS) is up and running CORRECTLY. I kept my promise. I didn’t promise I would solve the problem, but would get the problem corrected! Thank you Samantha and Jennifer. After the meeting, I said goodbye to Samantha, who is more than a staff member, and she informed me I was like a big brother to her. These words coming from an only child–priceless. Samantha, you are like the younger sister I never had! I wish I could get rid of my older sister and have Dad adopt you.
So, what have I learned today? I’m so glad you asked:
Keeping your word is important. Whether it is to a congregation, at work, with family, your neighbors, or even a stranger, keeping your word matters. In this era, words of promise are casually thrown around, such as, “Oh yes, I’ll pray for you.”, only to never mention it in your prayers to God. Well, maybe once. When I make a promise, that is the same thing as making a commitment. It’s true for you, too.
There’s always “stuff” that needs to be thrown away in our hearts. Tonight I made more trips to the curb because tomorrow is pick-up. I did not want to leave anything on the curb for my replacement. And I didn’t want to just leave it here for someone else to deal with. Cleaning out, or in a more biblical image, purifying the heart isn’t a one time thing. And it’s more than a thing to do every 4 or 5 years. Guard you heart from collecting stuff–stuff that doesn’t matter to the Kingdom of God–and matters even less to Jesus.
People matter and need to be appreciated–TOLD they are appreciated. What else can I say about this? Nothing! If you can’t understand this….you are seriously messed up.
Even in dark times–there is still Good News! Less than a month after Mother’s funeral, I would have had a good excuse to say no, or just put in a minimal effort into today. But Jesus did not give his minimal effort for me, and it was infinitely more difficult for Him to do what He did, that what I was called upon to do. The result was exactly what God promises–that good comes out of evil–for a time I forgot my own grief and God used my tears to bring hope to others. Our circumstances do not dictate whether or not it is a time for the Good News. Any time, especially dark times, is the perfect time for the truth that there is Good News. Seems like that there’s a story in the Bible about the best news ever coming from a cemetery.
Well, it’s time to take my medicines, and hopefully sleep all night. Now that would be great! But if I don’t….God has this, and He has me! Good night, John Boy.
Give up 21 minutes of cruising Facebook posts and emojis, or whining and complaining to watch this episode of Mike Rowe’s Returning The Favor. This, my friends, is what the Kingdom of God looks like. When you invest the time to get to know someone, even “knuckleheads”, the impact cannot be measured. What if instead of judging someone as a “knucklehead who doesn’t deserve my time” you invest in them. Get to know them. Everyone has a story and their story may be the one who transforms a community, a culture, that ONE life that God has big plans for, but needs you to set it in motion! There’s a small probability that it “might” happen in a church building, but it’s more likely “out there” in real life! Here is from the website of GET FOCUSED.
Get Focused is a movement that promotes reading and exercise to children around the world using a unique program that encourages them to buy their favorite books using exercise. The mission of the company is to inspire millions of young people around the world to read and exercise for a lifetime.
The company was launched in 2009 by then fitness model and personal trainer Goldin Martinez as a way to empower young people from his old neighborhood.
Reading and exercise changed Goldin’s life and he decided that on his 21st birthday he would launch a movement called Get Focused dedicated to sharing the lifelong benefits of reading and exercise with other young people. Goldin’s vision was to create a movement that would go beyond just squats and push-ups and begin to introduce youth to the fundamentals of building a strong mind and body.
Today, Get Focused is led by a growing community of certified personal trainers and positive role models who all share a passion for youth empowerment and who all believe health and education should be a top priority in a child’s life.
Get Focused has grown into a national movement and has been featured on New York 1, NBC, Huffington Post, GoFundMe Heroes, Uproxx, & Returning the Favor. Through its amazing GF program the company is planting the seeds of health & literacy into the lives of thousands of youth.
This week, the week of Christmas, has amplified my own “season of our discomfort” in the journey of life for myself and my wife Debbie. A sneak peak of what this week would be like came last Monday evening, 18 December, when I received a call that my Mother had fallen, again and was at the emergency room. This time she had a fractured elbow and it would take surgery to repair it. Surgery would be scheduled on Wednesday, 27 December. But Sunday, Christmas Eve, I had terrible sinuses and a sore throat. I had to preach at the morning worship service and again that evening for the Candlelight and Communion Service at 5:00 pm. After the morning service, I went to one of those “doc in a box” places with my request: a shot of antibiotics, a shot of steroids, and one of those prednisone dose packs. That’s always worked in the past. But after a swab, I was informed I had the flu, Type A. No candlelight and communion, no Christmas morning with all my family (first one I wasn’t present in 61 years). No being there for my Mother’s surgery.
On Wednesday morning the surgeon was able to repair my Mother’s elbow, but we received some very sad news that same day. Our good friend, my brother in Christ, Eddie Phillips, life on this earth ended far sooner than I had hoped or wanted. When Eddie was diagnosed with cancer he started writing a blog he called My Journey Up The Mountain. I re-blogged his posts and encouraged you, my readers, to take some time to read about Eddie’s journey, but also his deep faith and profound wisdom.
I’ve often heard it said that many people who are facing their own mortality, live life with a richness that, well, that we all need to embrace every moment of every day. Eddie’s thoughts–thoughts that came from him facing terminal cancer, have touched and continue to touch my life now. I miss Eddie. I miss his writing. I miss his friendship. I miss his encouragement. I miss seeing Jesus through Eddie, because in so much of my world, there is more “world” than “Jesus”. I could always count on seeing Jesus in Eddie.
So, this Saturday, Debbie and I will go to the “Celebration of the Life of Eddie Phillips” and love on his wonderful wife and our friend, Sherrie and their children and family. I prayed hard for Eddie’s healing; I mean REAL HARD. And right now, I miss my friend, my encourager, my spiritual brother. I need so much more of that wisdom and insights for my journey. But his journey up the mountain is completed.
But can I be honest with all of you? I do not like it. I do not like what is happening around me. I am crushed and broken beyond words. Tonight I was about to be really angry with God, I mean out loud angry with God. All week I’ve been feeling hurt, broken, and a ton of other junk (including angry with God–and some others). And now Eddie is gone. And just when I was about to shout it out at God in and with that anger–great anger, I remembered something. I heard a question: “Do you remember how you close out the graveside services of followers of Jesus?” There wasn’t a human being in the room I was in.
I stopped and said, “Well, of course. I walk up to the head of the casket, place my hand on it and say, ‘Jesus said I Am the Resurrection and the Life.’ And now in full confidence of the hope of the Risen Savior, we do not say goodbye, but until then my friend, until then.” So, I came to terms with myself, and said goodbye to Eddie. And on Saturday, I will look at his casket and remember that Jesus is The Resurrection and the Life. And I will say, “Until then, Eddie, until that day.” But I still miss you.
Oh, that each of us could live by what Eddie taught us in his brief season of writing. I just now remembered a country song, “Live Like You Were Dying”. It is just a song with lyrics and melody, but a powerful message. My friend Eddie made it more than a song, it was his life, his faith and is his legacy. Thanks Eddie, but I will miss you.
Since the ripe old age of 18, I have been serving local congregations. I started out as filling in as their “preacher” and finally reached the stage of “ordination to Word, Sacrament and Administration.” I am now 61 and one thing I have noticed that is consistent in every place I have served, are those who think that chinwag is a spiritual gift that should be exercised frequently and with great authority. However, those who exercise this alleged “gift” with skill and expertise that mirrors the skill of a diamond cutter are those who feign an albeit false, image of humility.
Perhaps I should give you the definition of this word “chinwag”. One definition of this word is to have a casual conversation. But the word means more that just a casual chit-chat. According to Dictionary.Com as a noun it means “an idle chat; gossiping” and as a verb it means “to chat idly; gossip”. Right now I started thinking about a cultural phenomenon known as “fake news”. Many a blog has been written about fake news as if it is something new. Unfortunately it has been around a long time, even in the church.
The Enemy, OUR enemy as real Followers of Jesus, knows he cannot defeat his “enemy”. He lost when his enemy became human, he lost in the wilderness temptations, he lost on that Cross, and his ultimate defeat came from that cemetery. So he has turned his attention on those who have had their status as Image Bearers restored and their FOB (Forward Operating Bases), set up in what he thinks is his territory. These Forward Operating Bases are also known as local churches.
To weaken the Forward Operating Bases, our enemy gets willing participants to focus their thoughts and energy inwardly. The result is they lose sight of our real enemy and turn our sisters and brothers in arms into an imaginary enemy. And the primary weapon used is chinwag–gossip. Our enemy is deceiving many into believing that it’s best to believe the worst about people. It is not always easy to build strong relationships because often it requires time and energy–time and energy that some are unwilling to expend. So they end up spreading what they hear and assumptions about what they hear.
I know for fact that in one FOB some called the Vision Committee the Division Committee. Those words, that term, created far more damage for the future of the FOB than they realize. And that’s the thing, “far more than they realize”. We need to take the time to consider the impact of our words. And we need to consider using better words in ways that are far better at building up rather than tearing down. Consider the words of Paul in Ephesians 4:29 and from the God’s Word Translation, it goes like this:
Don’t say anything that would hurt another person. Instead, speak only what is good so that you can give help wherever it is needed. That way, what you say will help those who hear you.
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. One of the biggest lies taught to kids goes like this: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me.” Words do harm and hurt far more and the injury it causes takes far longer to heal than any broken bone. Engaging is any conversation that is meant to belittle, harm or simply not founded on the truth opens the door for the enemy to do even more harmful work against The Kingdoms FOB.
It is far better to engage in conversations WITH people than to chinwag ABOUT people. It turns one into a petty minded obstructionist and yet another tool and weapon for the enemy. The enemy already has way too many weapons, so do not become another one for him. Let your words be words that build others up. After all, those last words of Jesus from the Cross, continues to build up people that people who chinwag try to destroy. #YourWordsMatter!
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him. By the way, HE is never glorified nor honored in your chinwag.
Jesus is a Radical and He calls us to follow His pattern for being the ultimate Radical. I’ve been writing about Radical Grace, and we can’t talk about Radical Grace without also talking about Radical Mercy. The radical nature of God’s mercy is that it is NOT a feeling or an emotion. God’s mercy goes much deeper. Often the view of mercy is like a cartoon I once saw.
2 boys were walking away from a church building and one said to the other: “I think I got it. Grace is getting from God what we don’t deserve and mercy is NOT getting from God what we do deserve. I like grace, but I really love mercy.” And that’s not necessarily a bad way to distinguish the difference from Grace and Mercy. But Mercy is more, so much more than NOT getting what we actually deserve. It’s more than an emotion; it is rooted in the heart and actions of God. It’s more than what God DOESN’T DO to us—it’s more about what God wants to do for us—and here’s the really radical thing—What God Longs To Do THROUGH us.
Think about the story in Matthew 9:9-13. Jesus had been on the other side of the Sea of Galilee where He put a beat-down on some demons who had possessed 2 men. Now He’s back in His other “town” of Capernaum. I know He’s from Nazareth, but think of Capernaum as His lake home. He had performed 2 miracles on 1 man. First He forgave the man of his sins and that got the local Self-Righteous Police up in arms. And to back up His claim to be able to forgive sins, He healed the man of his paralysis. That second miracle made the crowd go wild for Jesus, and this infuriated the Self-Righteous Police even madder.
Picture this: He’s walking down the streets of Capernaum and there it is: The Evil Tax Collector’s Office! Those Pharisees, those Holier-Than-Thou, Better-Than-You, The Protectors-Of-Religion, would probably never walk on that side of the street. They would have gone out of their way to avoid him. He’s a traitor! He’s Made The Bad Choices! He’s gotten rich off the backs of hardworking, honest folks. They would have seen him as disgusting—absolutely disgusting.
You know, like so many do to the homeless. They look at them believing they had made bad choices. That if they just tried harder, had refused the booze and the drugs, they wouldn’t be out there bumming on OUR streets. So they look away in disgust, just like those Protectors-Of-Religion. Have you ever done that to a homeless person? Have you looked away as if they didn’t exist? Did you ever feel disgust, like it was their own fault they were homeless? I know I have and I am totally ashamed of myself. When I do that, I’m not acting like Jesus—I’m not doing what Jesus would do. There’s no Radical Mercy in me! And I hate it!
And this tax collector has a name. He’s called Matthew, but he has another name—probably the name his parents gave him. It’s Levi! Now there’s a name with a lot of potential—it’s a priestly name—the name of the tribe God selected to serve HIM in the Tabernacle. I wouldn’t doubt that those Protectors-Of-Religion had even more disgust because this man was such a failure. He doesn’t deserve the time of day—and he certainly doesn’t deserve to be in the synagogue nor the Temple.
Yet, Jesus does none of those things they would have done. He walks right up to his booth, and gets right in front of his desk. Here’s how I would imagine it happened. Matthew knew he was a Rabbi and probably thought, “Oh, good Lord, another sermon aimed at me.” But Jesus didn’t do that—I can see Jesus looking Matthew square in the eyes and then Jesus smiles—extends His hand and makes an offer that radically changes the life of this despised and hated man. The fact Jesus approached him without judgment or condemnation, smiles, and extends His hand in friendship changed the course of Matthew’s life. And it started with just 6 words—6 words mind you—“Follow me and be my disciple.”
I bet you a dollar to a donut that Matthew didn’t see that coming. And what does Matthew do? With just an approach without judgment, then extending of a hand and an offer—look at what Matthew does: So Matthew got up and followed him. And to mark this change of direction in life, Matthew does what Matthew knows to do—He throws a party with Jesus as the guest of honor. But what’s a party without people? The only friends he has are fellow sinners, so he invites them. And what does Jesus do? He goes to the party! And if the Protectors-Of-Religion weren’t mad enough, this infuriates them. But notice, they don’t dare approach Jesus about the matter.
So they turn on the other disciples with the question: “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” You know my imagination; I would bet those other disciples were scared spit less. After all, how can you answer such a question? Everyone knows you’re not supposed to associate with that kind of people. If you did, next thing you know they would be in church with us! And the Protectors-Of-Religion knows you can’t have people like that in church.
But Jesus doesn’t know you’re not supposed to do that. He hears them talking to His disciples and Jesus Steps Up And Steps In with a quote from the prophet Hosea in 6:6—“For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”
He states it in a challenge: “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.” Mercy isn’t the withholding of what is due. Mercy isn’t an emotion or feeling. Mercy is a verb. In the Hebrew, this word mercy has 3 key meanings that we will look at tomorrow.
And remember, love God with all your heart. Love others the way Jesus loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him!
When you saw the title, what were your first thoughts? Was it John 3:16? Well, why not? We see those signs at major sporting events and inevitably when a football team is kicking an extra point someone is sitting between the goal posts holding up “that” sign, John 3:16. It is the verse that church-goers (otherwise known as Churchians) know and can quote. Even most non-Christians can quote this verse. I would feel comfortable saying that statistics would reveal that John 3:16 is the most quoted verse in the Bible.
But that is NOT the 3:16 I am writing about. John 3:16 is an important verse for it marks the beginning of the truth about God’s true heart–that it is a heart for anyone and everyone. This love makes so many of our expressions of love appear weak and inadequate. More than appear weak and inadequate, it shows they actually are weak and inadequate. John 3:16 is a great starting point for giving our heart what it truly is hungry for. But what’s next? 3:16 is next! No, not John 3:16, but Colossians 3:16
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom He gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (New Living Translation)
I wonder what would happen if that camera view of the goal posts revealed someone holding up a sign that read Colossians 3:16? I can just see it now. Tons of folks scrambling around, looking under piles of magazines for that Bible they know must be somewhere underneath them. I can just hear them wondering, “Is Colossians in the Old or New Testament?” Unless they have a thumb indexed Bible, they are frantically flipping through the pages trying to find Colossians until they realize they can look in the Table of Contents to find it.
And the mischievous side of me wonders what would happen if every pastor who stepped up to the pulpit simply held up that sign that read Colossians 3:16? And this leaves me wondering something else: What if every person who considers themselves a follower of Jesus lived these words every day? Personally speaking, I know this is a verse I need to memorize, understand and live out as much, if not even more, than John 3:16.
Here is the pattern that will transform any life and every congregation. Look at how it neatly and perfectly knits this life as real followers of Jesus together.
It starts with the Message of Jesus. We have the tendency to want to share OUR message. When we share OUR message, meaning how WE see it (or would rather see it), it begins to weaken and deteriorate. While our hearts may be open to the message of Jesus, it’s the mind that is often closed. Make sure the Message of your life aligns with the Message embodied in our Incarnate Savior!
Bring in the richness of the Message of Jesus. The Message of Jesus is about our Creator’s love and grace that has more than enough power to restore us to His intended design and restore HIS image inside us. That Greek word Paul used was plousiōs and it means that there is MORE than enough for anyone.
Let this rich Message of Jesus FILL your life. That word “fill” is in the Active Voice in the Greek which means it is ongoing. It is just like Matthew 7:7, “ask, seek, knock”. It means to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking. Folks, this isn’t the NCAA basketball tournament where you’re “one and done”. The moment you think you’ve got it all, you lose it all.
Help others with the wisdom of eternity, not your own personal drool. The best way to help others is for others to seek The Truth at work in your own life. Didn’t Jesus say something about not worry about that speck of sawdust in your neighbor’s eye until you deal with the 4×4 beam sticking out of your own eye. God’s wisdom and counsel is gentle, kind and timely. Make sure your words are, too.
Praise God! Not for what HE has done, but for WHO HE IS! To praise God simply for what He has done for you will cause you to turn Him into the Vending Machine God, and He ain’t that. (Please forgive my use of improper grammar in using that word “ain’t”. Sometime you just need to use strong words.) Adore and lift HIM up because He is just that great, awesome, spectacular, wonderful, indescribably good!
And once you’ve praised Him, then you can thank Him. Once we see how Holy and Majestic He is, and then reflect on the ways His love, grace and mercy is lavished on us, now we can thank Him for all He’s done for us.
Let’s give up our ways. After all, since God offers us His love as a gift, shouldn’t we accept His plan to restore us to our True Identity and Purpose? Let’s be 3:16People, Colossians 3:16, that is…
Love God with all your heart. Love others the way God loves you. And make sure all the glory goes to Him!
Another one of my moments of random thinking this morning, and it seems I’m being afflicted with this more often than usual. The thought? Curb Shopping! Now if you are not familiar with Curb Shopping, I will warn you that it may become addictive. Simply put, Curb Shopping is watching for what people put out on the curb to be picked up and taken to the landfill and quickly thinking if it is something you can clean up and re-purpose. Then stopping and picking it up and take it home. It is giving what is being thrown away a new life.
I admit and confess that I am a Curb Shopper. I never knew the joy of it until a few years ago. My wonderful wife Debbie and I had taken a trip down to Winter Haven Florida to spend time with some of her family and to have a sabbath rest. Whenever we are down there, we count on seeing some of her cousins she grew up with; one of them is Janie. That particular year Janie was telling wonderful and humorous stories of her adventures Curb Shopping. And that got me started. Every day going to the office, hospitals or visits, I watch the curbs for some hidden jewel, even scrap pieces of lumber. I also watched businesses for discarded pallets to re-purpose. The crosses and firewood rack are just a few things I’ve done. (Notice the Folger coffee cans, that’s where I keep the tender for starting fires in our fireplace, that is, when it is cold enough for a fire. I do live in Alabama where we defy Mother Nature by having all 4 seasons in the span of a week.)
Point is, I find Curb Shopping expands my thinking and moves me from the realm of “what is” into the wide open spaces of “what could be”. And this morning’s random thought was more than about “junk” and thrown away pallets. I realized that Janie had opened my eyes to yet another facet of God. God is the original Curb Shopper and Dumpster Diver. A perfect case study to prove my assertion that God is the original Curb Shopper and Dumpster Diver, is found in Luke 7:36-50 (The Message)
36-39 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee’s house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him.”
40 Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Oh? Tell me.”
41-42 “Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker canceled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?”
43-47 Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.” “That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”
48 Then he spoke to her: “I forgive your sins.”
49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: “Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!”
50 He ignored them and said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Here was a woman who had been pushed to the curb as trash to be disposed. Others had seen her and thought, “Well, the curb is exactly where she belongs!” But Jesus was a great Curb Shopper and Dumpster Diver for He could see beyond “what is” to “what can be”. Here’s my two thoughts on this random thought:
First, God does not see you as curb trash or dumpster material. He sees more clearly than even yourself “what is” your current condition, and regardless your current condition He can see “what you can become”. He can and will re-purpose your life and keep you from the landfill of despair.
Second, I have a question for you: How do you see people who have been pushed to the curb? Who are people pushed to the curb? Of course we think about the homeless, but there are many others. It is anyone who has been pushed aside because someone decided that they no longer had any value or purpose. Do you join in their assessment or can you see that with a little work, they can be re-purposed to a better life, a higher life?
Re-purposing takes some imagination, often a lot of work, and even more patience. And our God has plenty of both–in fact–more than enough for anyone, everyone, even you. One more not so random thought and for some it may be my spiritual gift of annoyance that hits you: What are you going to do with the next person you see that has been pushed to the curb? Use your imagination and time to invest in someone who has been deemed too broken or no longer needed, and ask God to show you “what can be” for them. Then stop at that curb, pick them up and watch what happens when we don’t give up on someone.
Love God with all your heart; love others the way God loves you, and make sure all the glory goes to Him!
This week, the week of Christmas, has amplified my own “season of our discomfort” in the journey of life for myself and my wife Debbie. A sneak peak of what this week would be like came last Monday evening, 18 December, when I received a call that my Mother had fallen, again and was at the emergency room. This time she had a fractured elbow and it would take surgery to repair it. Surgery would be scheduled on Wednesday, 27 December. But Sunday, Christmas Eve, I had terrible sinuses and a sore throat. I had to preach at the morning worship service and again that evening for the Candlelight and Communion Service at 5:00 pm. After the morning service, I went to one of those “doc in a box” places with my request: a shot of antibiotics, a shot of steroids, and one of those prednisone dose packs. That’s always worked in the past. But after a swab, I was informed I had the flu, Type A. No candlelight and communion, no Christmas morning with all my family (first one I wasn’t present in 61 years). No being there for my Mother’s surgery.
ago. My wonderful wife Debbie and I had taken a trip down to Winter Haven Florida to spend time with some of her family and to have a sabbath rest. Whenever we are down there, we count on seeing some of her cousins she grew up with; one of them is Janie. That particular year Janie was telling wonderful and humorous stories of her adventures Curb Shopping. And that got me started. Every day going to the office, hospitals or visits, I watch the curbs for some hidden jewel, even scrap pieces of lumber. I also watched businesses for discarded pallets to re-purpose. The crosses and firewood rack are just a few things I’ve done. (Notice the Folger coffee cans, that’s where I keep the tender for starting fires in our fireplace, that is, when it is cold enough for a fire. I do live in Alabama where we defy Mother Nature by having all 4 seasons in the span of a week.)
Kingdom Pastor 