Who Made This?

            "Sir Isaac Newton was in his office one day when he received a knock at his door.  He opened it to find a good friend of the scientific community who happened to be on the opposite side of the beginning of the universe controversy.  As he entered the room, his eyes were drawn to a large table on which sat a scale model of the universe.  It was exquisitely detailed -- painted even down to the circles on Saturn.  It was mechanical -- a handle caused the planets to rotate around the sun.  This moving replica was an amazing sight.  “My, what a wonderful thing this is!” he exclaimed.  “This is the most extraordinary thing I have seen! What genius put this together?  I should really like to shake his hand.”  Sir Newton replied, “No one made it.”  His friend retorted, “You must think I am a fool...Some very wise and talented person made this.”  Newton’s reply is still a wise answer to the current controversy.  “This thing is but a puny imitation of a much greater system whose laws you and I know, and I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and a maker.  Yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being with either designer or maker.  Now tell me, by what sort of reasoning do you reach such incongruous conclusions.”"*

            Design demands a designer.  We take that as a given in everyday life.  When we see a beautiful new home, we never question that some intelligent and resourceful person or group of people designed and built it.  But for some, that common sense response is jettisoned when it comes to the Designer of the universe.  Why is that, I wonder?  Could it have something to do with the fact that this Designer makes some claims upon our lives to which many are unwilling to submit?  Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

God loves you!

Mike

*Mike Johnson, in The Truth: God or Evolution, Marshall/Sandra Hall, Baker Book House

Broken

"Going once, going twice, sold for $7,000.00!" the auctioneer said right before his gavel hit the table. Rita Coors was elated. She'd just purchased a porcelain mask, hand painted by John Denver.  She couldn't wait to hold it in her hands. As the auctioneer at the 1997 Charity Celebrity Ball for Hospice of Metropolitan Denver handed her the mask, it slipped through her fingers and shattered into a million pieces on the floor.  She didn't demand her money back or abandon the broken piece of art. Instead, Mrs. Coors picked up the pieces and took them home with her. Later she decided to place the broken pieces around a collection of John Denver photographs. She made something beautiful out of the accident. Now she not only had a souvenir from a celebrity, but a story to tell too.  Brokenness isn't unusual. Life often slips through our fingers and shatters at our feet. When it does, the best thing we can do is pick up the pieces and make something beautiful out of it, and then be willing to share the story with others who've been shattered too.”*

Perhaps you have stood (or are currently standing) where this woman stood, with something of great value to you lying in shattered pieces at your feet.  Maybe a marriage, a family, a career, a life goal of some sort -- something into which you had invested so much and for which you had so much hope.  But now it’s irreparably broken with no hope of it ever being what it once was.  What then?  It seems to me that there are basically two options.  You can let the brokenness defeat you or you can pick up the pieces and begin to build something else of value.  This isn’t to make light of your loss.  Be sure to make room to grieve the brokenness but be careful of letting it define you.  Jesus died so that brokenness doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

God loves you!

Mike

*Leadership Journal, Winter 2001, p. 40 Illustration by Jim L. Wilson

Preparing For Eternity

“The local news station was interviewing an 80-year-old lady because she had just gotten married – for the fourth time.  The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be marrying again at 80, and then about her new husband’s occupation.  “He’s a funeral director,” she answered.  “Interesting,” the newsman thought. He then asked her if she wouldn’t mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.  She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years. After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she’d first married a banker when she was in her early 20s, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40s, later on a preacher when in her 60s, and now in her 80s, a funeral director.  The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.  She smiled and explained, “I married one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to go.””*

            While this may be a novel approach to preparing for eternity, I can’t recommend it.  But I can heartily endorse anything that Jesus had to say about the matter.  Things like this: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).  Or this: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).  You will never go wrong listening to Jesus!

God loves you!

Mike

*https://sermons.faithlife.com/sermons/73175-one-for-the-money-two-for-the-show

Progress?

“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints; we spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.  We have bigger houses, but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; we have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.  We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.  We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.  We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life; we’ve added years to life, but not life to years.  We’ve been to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.  We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space; we’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.  We have higher incomes, but lower morals; we’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.  These are the times of tall men and short character; steep profits and shallow relationships.  These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.  These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.  It is a time when there is much in the showroom and nothing in the stockroom.”*

This is a sobering review of the state of the culture in which we live.  Although it is a bit dated, I don’t think much has improved since it was written 19 years ago.  How in the world did we get here?  Numerous factors are involved, but at a basic level, perhaps we’ve lost a sense of what is truly important.  “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul (Matthew 16:26)?

God loves you!

Mike

*written by a Columbine student on the second anniversary of their tragedy (2 Nov 1999)

Cardiomegaly

            Perhaps you or someone you know has experienced a medical condition known as an “enlarged heart.” “An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) isn't a disease, but rather a sign of another condition. The term "cardiomegaly" refers to an enlarged heart seen on any imaging test, including a chest X-ray. Other tests are then needed to diagnose the condition causing your enlarged heart. You may develop an enlarged heart temporarily because of a stress on your body, such as pregnancy, or because of a medical condition, such as the weakening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, heart valve problems or abnormal heart rhythms. Certain conditions may cause the heart muscle to thicken or one of the chambers of the heart to dilate, making the heart larger. Depending on the condition, an enlarged heart may be temporary or permanent. An enlarged heart may be treatable by correcting the cause. Treatment for an enlarged heart can include medications, medical procedures or surgery. The risk of complications from an enlarged heart depends on the part of the heart that is enlarged and the cause. Complications of an enlarged heart can include: heart failure, blood clots, heart murmur, cardiac arrest, and death.”*

            While working on a lesson a few days ago, I learned that an enlarged heart can also be a spiritual condition.  Psalm 25 is one of many psalms of David in which he shares his experiences with the struggles of life.  Listen to the emotion in verses 16-17: “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.”  According to David, the stresses of life can lead to spiritual cardiomegaly.  Thankfully, there is a treatment plan that works.  Like David, we need to seek the Lord when the trials of life overwhelm us. “Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You” (Psalm 25:20-21).

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/enlarged-heart/symptoms-causes/syc-20355436

Venting

A recent (October 8) news story spoke of an unusual event: “A typically quiet geyser in Yellowstone National Park erupted last month, spewing water up to 30 feet in the air. Afterward, park employees found a slew of garbage surrounding its vent, including a Hamm's beer can, a vintage pacifier, a shoe heel and dozens of coins.  Curators considered placing the items in the park's archives as a reminder: Please, don't use the springs as a trash can. The park posted a photograph of the "strange" items after last month's eruption of the geyser called Ear Spring.  "Foreign objects can damage hot springs and geysers," said the park. "The next time Ear Spring erupts we hope it's nothing but natural rocks and water."  The pacifier dates back to the 1930s, according to Live Science, which noted a cinderblock, a busted bottle, old signs, cigarette butts and an eight-inch drinking straw among the items.  "Some are clearly historic," the park said in its post. So was the Sept. 15 eruption.  Old Ear had not experienced a known eruption of that size of since 1957, the United States Geological Survey said, though smaller bursts took place as recently as 2004.”*

This reminds me of some of the “venting” done in human relationships, such as marriages and families, at our workplace, or even among fellow disciples of Jesus.  We allow pressures within ourselves to grow to an unhealthy level and then we erupt.  And, sometimes, a lot of garbage is included in those ventings.  Garbage like name-calling, finger-pointing, or even, like the Yellowstone geyser, bringing up items from the past.

The caution offered by park officials is also good spiritual advice: “Please, don’t use the springs as a trash can.”  It was Jesus Himself who warned that “...the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).  If we allow ourselves to be filled with garbage, sooner or later, in a moment of stress or pressure, the garbage will be spewed out upon those around us.  What a mess!

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/10/08/yellowstone-geyser-erupts-leaving-junk-decades-old/1570013002/

Revealing Our Foolishness

“In one of Aesop’s Fables, a donkey walking through the woods finds the skin of a lion. Hunters had killed the lion and left the skin to dry in the sun. The donkey put on the lion’s skin and was delighted to discover that all the other animals were terrified of him and ran away when he appeared. Rejoicing in his newfound respect, the donkey brayed his happiness—only to give himself away by his voice. The moral of the fable was clear: fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.”*

The spread of social media has magnified the spread of foolishness in our world.  Everyone has an opinion, and regardless of how foolish, inappropriate, or ugly it may be, there are numerous ways to effectually share it (just watch the news tonight or check your phone if you don’t believe me).  Now, there have always been influential people who have had far-reaching platforms to air their views.  But for the vast majority of the rest of  us, our foolishness had a limited footprint.  Only those in our immediate circle of influence was subjected to our foolishness.  But that has all changed.  Now, with just a few clicks of the keyboard or screen (and, sadly, often with little forethought), our foolishness can literally be sent around the world.

The Bible, although written long before the social media frenzy, has some some guidance for us.  “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).  “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent” (Proverbs 17:27-28).

While social media can be a tool for good, it can also facilitate the spread of much foolishness.  Remember, not every opinion or thought we have needs to be spoken or shared with the world.  Think before you share.

God loves you!

Mike

*http://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/the-wisdom-of-silence-0

What Is Your "Gethsemane?"

“The Garden of Gethsemane is not really a garden but an orchard. Olive trees still grow there today. During Jesus’ day it was a place of business, an olive press producing the local areas supply of oil. This is where the word Gethsemane comes in. A “gat” (Hebrew) is a press, a large five-foot high square stone pillar, and a “semane,” or “seman,” is oil. So on the evening before his crucifixion he went to the orchard of the Olive Press with Peter, James, and John, to pray.

“If you lived in the first century and worked with a gethsemane your day would be spent gathering olives, placing them in a woven fishnet like bag, and putting them on top of a stone table. This specially designed table is round with beveled edges that curve down to a trough. The trough is angled and funnels into a pot which holds the oil. The top is designed to receive the gethsemane. The tall square stone is lifted up and set on top of the basket and for several hours its tremendous weight is left there to crush the liquid from the olive.

“It is no mistake that Jesus spent his last evening in the Garden of Gethsemane. From there he would leave to go to the cross and receive the weight of the world, the gethsemane of our sins, blood crushed from his body running down the cross to the world below. Luke describes the pressure Jesus suffered that evening: “Being in anguish his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” It is an image of the gethsemane crushing the oil from the olive fruit.”*

Perhaps you are in midst of your own gethsemane right now.  The pressure is becoming unbearable.  Whatever the problem -- when it seems you have reached the end of your rope -- the One who knows all about crushing weight invites you to cast your burdens upon Him (Matthew 11:28-30).  He longs to share the load that threatens to crush you.  Will you let Him?

God loves you!

Mike

*https://sermons.com/sermon_openers.asp

Refurbish Or Rebuild?

Justin Simmons, in an article titled “Called Out Of Nothingness,” highlights God’s propensity to work from the ground up in our lives:

“Very few would dispute that God has a history of using the most unlikely of suspects. Perhaps that is because of the humility resulting from their respective situations. Maybe it is because by using such people God’s action is more clearly recognized as just that: God’s action.

“I tend to think that God has chosen this as his modus operandi because, by reducing us to nothing, he returns us to our default setting. God doesn’t seem to be one who is interested in remodeling, so much as rebuilding. He doesn’t come into our hearts hoping he can add on an extra bedroom and half-bath, a comfy place for him over in the corner of our affections. He wants to rebuild the entire structure, and the easiest way to do that is to tear down the old edifice.

“This isn’t how we prefer to look at ourselves. We would like to think we are more of a “fixer-upper” than a building fit only to be condemned. Couldn’t God just come in and splash a fresh coat of paint on the walls, create more of an open floor plan, and maybe update the appliances? (I swear every HGTV show I watch, the couple thinks the appliances need updating, but I digress.) Instead, he wants to rebuild us from the ground up.”*

God’s desire is that we be made new, not merely refurbished (Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:9-10).  Spiritually speaking, when we come to Christ, we are more akin to the condemned property that needs to be demolished than we are to the outdated 3 bedroom ranch on the corner that just needs a sprucing up before putting it back on the market (Romans 5:6-21).  But that’s no problem for the One who specializes in condemned property!  He delights in “making all things new” (Revelation 21:5).  Thank you Father!

God loves you!

Mike

*http://char.is/blog/2018/09/10/called-out-of-nothingness/

Excellence In The Midst Of Failure

“Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world's most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out—a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward's father thought that was a poor showing, but his mother insisted the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call. What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.”*

This story reminds me of God’s ability to also spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure.  Judges chapter six begins with Israel in a whole lot of trouble because of their sins.  God had withdrawn his protection from Israel and Midian began to dominate them, forcing them into hiding and destroying their crops.  In the midst of this dire situation, we are introduced to Gideon.  He is hiding in a wine press and working hard to salvage the wheat his family had been able to save from the Midianites.  Imagine him toiling away when the angel of the Lord appears to him and speaks these words: “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.”

Every time I read this account, I imagine Gideon looking around the wine press for someone else and then saying, “Who, me?”  He is certainly not feeling like a “valiant warrior.”  In a torrent of words, he shares his sense of failure and abandonment (v. 13).  But God looked beyond the obstacles to see what Gideon could be with a little divine encouragement and help.  And as time went on, Gideon did become the valiant warrior that God knew he could be.

What failures are keeping you from becoming what God sees in you?

God loves you!

Mike

*Bits & Pieces, Feb. 4, 1993

Bricks

“A number of years back, a young and very successful executive was travelling down a suburban street in his brand new black Ferrari. Suddenly a brick was thrown from the sidewalk, thumping into the side of the car.

“Brakes slammed! Gears ground into reverse, and tires madly spun the car back to the spot from where the brick had been thrown. The driver jumped out, grabbed the kid who had thrown the brick and pushed him up against a parked car. “What was that all about?!” he screamed. “That’s my new Ferrari, that brick you threw is gonna cost you a lot of money!”

“Please, mister, please …. I’m sorry! I didn’t know what else to do!” pleaded the youngster. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop!” Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother, mister,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.” Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”

“The mood was transformed in a moment as the young executive realised what had occurred.  He lifted the young man into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts. He then watched as the younger brother pushed him down the sidewalk toward their home.

“The young exec never did fix the dented side door of his  sports car. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention.”*

Life can get hectic, can’t it?  We can get so busy with our own priorities and agendas that we can miss what’s truly important.  Why is it that it often takes a health crisis, a financial reversal, a family breakdown, etc., to finally get our attention?  Let’s learn to slow down enough to take stock of our lives BEFORE the brick comes our way.

God loves you!

Mike

*Adapted from storiesforpreaching.com

You Can't Outrun Trouble

“The last great battle of the Civil War took place near the McLean Farm in Appomattox, Virginia. The McLean house was chosen to be the spot where Gen. Robert E. Lee would surrender to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant. The McLeans were new to the area. They previously lived near a place called Bull Run, site of the first major battle of the Civil War. Later there was a second battle of Bull Run, and the McLeans finally gave up, not wanting to see any more war. That is why they moved. McLean used to say, “The war started in my front yard and ended in my parlor.” It just goes to show you, you can’t outrun trouble.”*

            The prophet Jonah thought that he could outrun his troubles.  You know the story -- God instructs Jonah to do something difficult and the first thing he does is attempt to run away.  He books passage on a ship headed to Tarshish instead of obediently heading for Nineveh.  But God isn’t so easily dissuaded.  Following an encounter with a divinely-appointed storm and great fish, Jonah rethinks his decision to try and outrun God.  I suppose being regurgitated alive from the belly of a fish would tend to cause anyone to reflect on their life choices.

            Jonah goes on to preach to the Ninevites, but he is still harboring some rebellion in his heart.  This is seen in his angry response to the repentance of the Ninevites.  There is a sense that, even though he was physically present, Jonah was still on the run.  But God still pursues him.  He confronts the petulant prophet’s “I told you so’s” with an up-close-and-personal lesson on compassion.

            It’s true.  We can’t out-run trouble.  But for the child of God, that can be a source of comfort.  Like Jonah, God loves us too much to let us keep running without attempting to turn us around.  The storm and big fishes of life just might be what’s needed to get us to consider the paths we have chosen.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/illustration-trouble-will-find-you/

What Was He Thinking?

I suspect most of you have seen the video of the man taunting the buffalo in Yellowstone Park a couple of weeks ago.  As happens often in the park, traffic had come to a stop due to some animal near the roadway.  Smart people stay in their vehicles during these times due to the unpredictability of these wild animals. But occasionally a “less than smart” (is that a kind way to put it?) individual decides to interact with nature in a more personal but definitely more dangerous way.  That happened on this particular occasion.  Raymond Reinke, age 55, was caught on video approaching the bull buffalo.  He then proceeded to wave his arms and yell at the animal.  Not surprisingly, the buffalo turned and ran with his horns lowered at Reinke.  Only at the last moment did the buffalo stop the charge, perhaps the only reason why this foolhardy tourist escaped serious injury or even death.  What in the world was Reinke thinking?  I suspect he wasn’t.  He had been stopped by authorities twice in the previous days and alcohol was a factor in both of those encounters.  So chances are pretty good that he was under the influence of “liquid courage” as he involved himself in this idiotic escapade as well.  But whatever motivated him to do what he did, it is a wonder that Reinke survived his foolishness.

While we shake our heads at this, I wonder if we end up doing the same thing in our lives spiritually.  We are warned very clearly in Scripture about the danger that our adversary, the devil, presents (1 Peter 5:8).  And thankfully, by the power of God, we do not have to cower before him.  We are instructed to resist him (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9) but never should we underestimate him or, worse yet, taunt him.  Such foolishness just invites spiritual harm and gives an unnecessary opportunity to the one who seeks to destroy us (Ephesians 4:27).  Don’t taunt buffalos or Satan!

God loves you!

Mike

Analysis Paralysis

            Steven Brice wrote recently of all the emotions he and his family are experiencing as they reach the culmination of decade’s worth of planning and training to launch a new ministry in Philadelphia.  During this time, the story of God’s calling of Abram to leave all that was familiar to him and go to a place that was unknown to him (Genesis 12) became more meaningful to Brice.  As he reflects on this part of Abram’s story and draws some parallels to his own move, he shares the following paragraph:

            “The point is that God calls Abram to leave everything to go to a place without any direction. In this hyper informative age, it would sound ludicrous for me to inform my family and friends that God told me to go to “adsfjsadhflds,” let alone go to Philadelphia. This reflection has birthed a question in my heart: has the information age drowned our ability to hear God call us to go to places and do things that would leave us clueless like Abram? Have we become so educated and business savvy that we need to be sure that every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed before we take our first step? Are we still hearing from God? Is God writing new stories of faith using us as participants in his mission, or have we been paralyzed with contentment and fascination by reading what God has done in the past through the lives of biblical characters?”*

            Can you relate to what Steven Brice says here?  I surely can.  I’m of the personality type that likes to have all the “i’s” dotted and “t’s” crossed before launching out on a project.  And while a certain amount of caution is probably good (see, I’m already justifying myself), when it comes to God’s call in my life, perhaps more faith and less analysis and information-gathering is best.  Maybe Abram had his questions too but, as far as we know, he didn’t voice them.  He just packed his bags.  What amazing faith!

God loves you!

Mike

*http://char.is/blog/2018/06/28/where-are-you-going-abram/

True Love

“Far too many of us think about dating and marriage as being all about “the spark.” A man looks into a woman’s eyes and he feels something. A woman glances at a man in a restaurant and her heart races. Some believe that this is how you find your spouse. You have to feel the chemistry first, or you are looking at the wrong person. Such a shallow and superficial view of dating (and ultimately marriage) is a dead end street.

“Followers of Jesus who date and ultimately marry understand that marriage is a covenant and a serious commitment. Yes, loving one another is very important. However, solid joyful marriages are built on character and promise keeping. If you have not yet married, ask yourself, “Is this person intentional about growing in godly virtues? What about truth-telling, patience, fidelity, and a commitment to trust and obey the Lord Jesus?”

“I heard not long ago about a husband who walked out on his wife when he learned that she had aggressive cancer. He said to his wife, “I didn’t sign up for this.” Meanwhile, I can tell you of a number of husbands and wives who love and adore one another and who have shared tough times together. Their marriages are not based on a “spark” or special chemistry. Rather, they have dared to travel together choosing what is deep and lasting rather than settling for how the world might define a marriage.”*

Our culture, through things like entertainment and social media, has sold us the lie that chemistry is the first step toward true love.  But many men and women who have experienced the breakup of their relationships can testify to the fact that the sparks that made the beginning so exciting don’t always lead to commitment for the long term.  Biblical love starts with the commitment that seeks the best for another through thick and thin.  And the serendipity is that such a commitment often leads to a chemistry that surpasses the sparks at the start.

God loves you!

Mike

*http://www.godhungry.org/marriage-when-you-refuse-to-settle-for-the-shallow/

Dealing With Critics

Greg Boyd was asked one time whether he had experienced any pushback over his beliefs and how he responded to it.  Here is part of his answer:

“My first encounter with the “backlash” you mentioned took place in the mid-90’s when John Piper launched a public crusade to get me fired from Bethel University and to have my church kicked out of the Baptist General Conference  on the grounds that I was a “heretic.”  There were also attempts by some to force publishers to stop publishing my books and for Christians to boycott bookstores that sold them. Hundreds of pastors signed a petition to get me fired, with only one of them taking the time to ask me what I actually believed and why I believed it.

“Being the sinner that I am, my initial response was anger mixed with a little fear. But it wasn’t too long before the Lord got my attention and helped me realize that this response was neither Christ-like nor healthy for me. I strongly sensed that the Lord gave me an assignment I was to carry out for a year to help me through this period: Every single day, I was to pray for the well-being of those who were leading this crusade! Initially, this was really hard, but I soon found that this exercise freed me from the cancer of bitterness and even empowered me to genuinely love my “enemy.” This deepened my conviction about the importance of obeying Jesus’ command to love, serve and pray for those who persecute us (Mt 5:44-45; Lk 6:27-35). I encourage anyone who is harboring anger toward someone to engage in this daily exercise.”*

What a great example of dealing with ugliness in a Christ-like way! It’s so tempting to get down into the mire and sling mud back against your critics, but I encourage you to resist temptation.  May I share an indelicate but accurate reminder I read somewhere?  “You will never win a puking contest with a buzzard.”  Think about that the next time you want to get even.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://rachelheldevans.com/blog/ask-open-theist-greg-boyd-response

Sharpen Your Tools

“A young man approached the foreman of a logging crew and asked for a job. “That depends,” replied the foreman. “Let’s see you fell this tree.” The young man stepped forward, and skilfully felled a great tree. Impressed, the foreman exclaimed, “You can start Monday.” Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday rolled by — and Thursday afternoon the foreman approached the young man and said, “You can pick up your paycheck on the way out today.” Startled, the young man replied, “I thought you paid on Friday.” “Normally we do,” said the foreman. “But we’re letting you go today because you’ve fallen behind. Our daily felling charts show that you’ve dropped from first place on Monday to last place today.” “But I’m a hard worker,” the young man objected. “I arrive first, leave last, and even have worked through my coffee breaks!” The foreman, sensing the young man’s integrity, thought for a minute and then asked, “Have you been sharpening your axe?” The young man replied, “No sir, I’ve been working too hard to take time for that!””*

Have you sharpened the tools in your spiritual growth toolbox lately?  We are called to grow as children of God (Ephesians 4:15; 2 Peter 3:18) but it is so easy to get complacent, especially as the tools we used previously to grow become dull.  Perhaps it was time spent in God’s Word that proved to be so effective in fueling growth in your early years as a disciple of Jesus. But for one reason or another (i.e. neglect or indifference) that particular tool has lost its edge.  Or maybe it was being with brothers and sisters in Christ in times of Bible study, worship, and fellowship that prompted the greatest movement toward maturity for you.  But, over time, being with your spiritual family became less of a priority, effectively blunting whatever benefit you once enjoyed.

Maybe it’s time to sharpen the tools we use to grow spiritually.  Spiritual growth is a never-ending task. Sharp tools make the job easier.

God loves you!

Mike

*http://storiesforpreaching.com/category/sermonillustrations/training

In Memorium

“Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.  Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let Someone Else do it.” Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results, “Someone Else can work with that group.”  It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.  Someone Else was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth to be known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.  Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?  When you are asked to help this year, remember—we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.”*

It’s so easy to see something that needs to be done and always expect someone else to do it.  It's so easy to complain about some problem and always expect someone else to fix it.  It’s so easy to dream big and always expect someone else to make it happen.  How do we begin to take the tremendous load off of someone else?  It starts by taking on our own share of personal responsibility.  When I see a need, I start by asking what I can do.   When I see a problem, I start by asking how I can address it.  When I have a grand plan, I start by being invested myself.  Instead of working Someone Else to death, why not try being Someone Else?

God loves you!

Mike

*http://www.pastoralcareinc.com

Mission or Museum?

“An inner city church, located in an area of the downtown where there were few residents, was forced to a decision. A large corporation was offering them a great deal of money for their site, on which the corporation wanted to put a parking lot. The money would enable the church to move to another part of the inner city where they would find many more people to serve.

“Even though this was exciting to some of the congregation, other members were resistant to the idea. They pointed out that the church was the guardian of a building whose history and architecture reached back into the early part of the nineteenth century. Denominational history had been made in that building, and some of the grand figures of the church had passed its portals

“Eventually the congregation decided to sell the site and make the move to a new building in a teeming inner-city neighborhood. The pastor who was with this congregation through all this upheaval said, “We had to decide whether we wanted to be in a museum or in mission.” They couldn’t have it both ways. It meant either staying on their site, glorying in their past history and serving a few people, or giving up their past and gearing themselves to a significant ministry among the city’s people. They opted for mission status over museum status.”*

A study of the gospels leave one with the impression that Jesus favored mission over museums.  When challenged by some who had enshrined their own religious practice in climate-controlled museum case, He responded by saying that His mission required new ways of thinking and acting (Mark 9:18-22).  The kingdom agenda of God would rip the seams of the old garments and burst old wineskins.  The mission of God is not designed to be confined to the dusty halls of a museum.  God’s people can honor the past without being chained to it.  In fact, the mission of God to an ever-changing world demands it.

God loves you!

Mike

*https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/illustration-on-mission/

The Real Thing

            Diamond industry giant De Beers is finally caving in to pressure to produce synthetic diamonds for the jewelry market.  For years they had publicly criticized other companies who offered the man-made stones and begged consumers to stick with the real thing, even going so far as to develop a machine that can detect the fakes.  But, as often happens, principle got sacrificed on the altar of consumer demand.  While they have been producing synthetic diamonds for years for industrial purposes, starting in September they will begin selling their own synthetic product to jewelry consumers.  In case you’re interested, prices for the De Beer’s fakes “...will start at $200 for a quarter carat, and increase to $800 for a full carat stone. The company's natural stones start at roughly 10 times that amount, depending on their clarity and other attributes.”*

            Pressure to provide a fake product can come from many different sources.  In De Beer’s case it is financial and they are being upfront about their intentions.  They aren’t trying to deceptively pass off the fake as the real thing.  But that’s not always the case with some “counterfeiters.”  Sometimes the stakes are higher and the consequences greater.

            I’m thinking of the efforts of some in the apostle Paul’s day who were trying to sell a fake gospel to the churches of Galatia (Galatians 1:6-9).  In this case, the ones promoting the counterfeit gospel were not upfront about their intentions and Paul denounced their efforts in the strongest of terms, invoking a curse on those who would endanger the very souls of others.  Even angels were not to tamper with the real thing!

            The true gospel of Jesus Christ is a gem of inestimable value that cannot be successfully counterfeited.  You may be able to impress everyone but an expert with a synthetic diamond, but when it comes to matters of the soul, insist on the real thing - the eternal and unfakeable gospel of Jesus Christ.

God loves you!

Mike

*http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/29/news/companies/de-beers-man-made-diamonds/index.html

I'm Afraid

            Jim Martin faced a fearful time earlier in his preaching career.  He was diagnosed with a large tumor on his spine and it would involve a major surgery to remove it.  One Sunday morning prior to the procedure, he shared his fears with his church family.  At one point, he said: “I am cautiously optimistic and scared to death.”  Nearly everyone responded supportively.  There was one who called later in the day (a former minister) to admonish him for sharing his fears.  He said this: “You shouldn’t have told the church that you were “scared to death.”  They must not know this.  They need to hear that you trust God.”

            Martin writes of his response this person and I want you to consider his words: “I told him that I do trust God!  I trust that he will be with me through the whole ordeal.  I then told him that nevertheless, my emotions are raw and yes, I am afraid and nervous.  Yet, I was trusting God regardless of these emotions.  What does it mean to move forward in your life?  It means to trust God regardless of what your emotions may be telling you.  It means to trust God when you face the unknown.  It means to trust God even when there are obstacles and hurdles.  Courage is not about putting on a brave face or pretending that nothing fazes you.  Courage is not bravado while you talk about how you’ve “been around the block.”  Courage is daring to trust God – regardless.”*

            When God encourages us not to fear, He isn’t chastising us for experiencing a natural human emotion.  Rather, He is reminding us not to be blinded by that fear, which tends to keep us from putting our full trust in the One Who will walk with us through each and every fear.  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4).

God loves you!

Mike

*http://www.godhungry.org/yes-i-have-been-afraid/

Bitterness

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled…” (Hebrews 12:15).

It’s so easy to become bitter.  The descent into bitterness begins when someone hurts us in some way.  The pain can catch us by surprise -- be it a financial loss, a slanderous remark, the betrayal of a relationship or whatever.  Regardless of the source of the wound, we become angry at being abused by another.  And if we are not very careful, our anger can lead to bitterness.  “Bitterness is unforgiveness fermented.  The more we hold onto past hurts the more we become drunk on our pain and the experience can rob us of the joy we can find in anything. Bitterness occurs when we feel someone has taken something from us that we are powerless to get back.  We hold on to the hurt in an attempt to remind ourselves and others of the injustice we’ve experienced in the hopes that someone will save us and restore what we’ve lost.  Unfortunately, bitterness only makes our sense of the injustice grow.  It does nothing to heal the wound caused by the injustice” (Dr. Greg Popcak, Overcoming Bitterness: 5 Steps for Healing the Hurt that Won’t Go Away).  Like a noxious weed, our bitterness can spread until we even begin to harbor ill-will toward those who aren’t directly involved.

Bitterness must be attacked at the root level.  We will never kill it by mowing it off at ground level.  Until we deal with the root, it will continue to sprout and bear it’s ugly, defiling fruit.  Sadly, while we aim our bitterness at others, we end up destroying ourselves in our efforts to punish others.  “Acrid bitterness inevitably seeps into the lives of people who harbor grudges and suppress anger, bitterness is always a poison. It keeps your pain alive instead of letting you deal with it and get beyond it. Bitterness sentences you to relive the hurt over and over” (Lee Strobel).

God loves you!

Mike

Breathing Places

“A few years ago, the world watched as three gray whales, icebound off Point Barrow, Alaska, floated battered and bloody, gasping for breath at a hole in the ice.  Their only hope: somehow to be transported five miles past the ice pack to open sea.  Rescuers began cutting a string of breathing holes about twenty yards apart in the six-inch-thick ice.  For eight days they coaxed the whales from one hole to the next, mile after mile.  Along the way, one vanished and was presumed dead.  But finally, with the help of Russian icebreakers, the whales Putu and Siku swam to freedom.  In a way, worship is a string of breathing holes the Lord provides His people.  Battered and bruised in a world frozen with greed, selfishness, and hatred, we rise for air in worship, a place to breath again, to be loved and encouraged, until that day when the Lord forever shatters the ice cap” (Craig Brian Larson, Leadership, Vol. 11, No. 2).

Do you struggle with picturing worship as a setting where “...we rise for air...a place to breathe again, to be loved and encouraged…?”  It’s a beautiful description but perhaps it hasn’t be your experience often enough.  One possible reason for that has to do with what motivates us to worship God in the first place.  Perhaps you were raised in an environment (like I was) that taught us to worship God primarily because He commanded us to worship Him.  And while that motivation is better than none at all, I would submit that it falls short in leading us to experience the blessings that times of worship can become when they provide for us what we can get nowhere else

Perhaps this is another one of those times when our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ in the past as well as in the present have an advantage over us.  Worship becomes more precious to those whose faith has caused them to be persecuted by enemies and rejected by family and friends.  For them, it becomes life-giving rather than just another option among many others.

God loves you!

Mike

Spiritual Maturity

          “Two teachers were once applying for the same Vice-Principal position at  a local high school. One had been teaching a total of 8 years and the other a total of 20. Everyone expected the teacher with the greater experience to get the job, but when a decision was made it was the person with 8 years teaching who was chosen. The teacher overlooked for the job complained bitterly – “I’ve got 20 years teaching to her 8” he cried. “I’m vastly more qualified.” The School Board’s reply went like this: “Yes sir, you do have 20 years teaching to her 8, but where she has 8 years experience you have 1 years experience repeated 20 times.” Simply experiencing the passage of time doesn’t mean we have grown or learned from those things we experience during that time” (storiesforpreaching.com).
          The Scriptures are clear concerning the need for disciples of Jesus to grow in their faith.  The apostle Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers “...to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ…” (Ephesians 4:15).  The apostle Peter counseled his readers in his first letter to “...long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation…” (1 Peter 2:2).  Then he ends his second letter with an admonition to “...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).  The letter to the Hebrews chides those disciples for not growing past the baby food stage in their lives (Hebrews 5:12-14).  It would appear that remaining static in the faith wasn’t an option for first century believers.  I find no reason to think that the expectation is any different today for us.
          Am I the same Christian i was 10, 20, or 30 years ago?  Am I content to remain an infant in my faith?  Do I seek opportunities to stretch my spiritual muscles so that I can become more involved in my church family?  Is it time for me to grow up?

God loves you!
Mike

Be On Your Way

  “The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king”” (1 Samuel 16:1).
          The endeavor to establish a monarchy in Israel hadn’t gone well up to this point.  King Saul had proven to be unfit for leadership, ultimately earning for himself the rejection of God.  The situation was filled with emotion for those most directly involved.  In spite of the fact that the prophet Samuel was firmly on God’s side in the matter, he still was grieving over what had happened.  Even the LORD himself had an emotional investment in the events (1 Samuel 15:35).
          But by the beginning of chapter 16, the time for mourning and regret regarding the past was over.  While grieving over sin was allowed and perhaps even necessary, the time given to such things apparently had a shelf life.  According to God, Samuel needed to be on his way.  It was time to get up and get going.  There was a new king to anoint.  The plans and intentions of God may experience turbulence but they will never be grounded.
          The “Preacher” of Ecclesiastes speaks of there being a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).  Perhap we could add one more to his list: A time to get busy.  There is a time to discuss options and consider alternatives.  There is a time to share emotions and reflect on events.  I get that.  I have a tendency to overthink things myself.  But there is such a thing as paralysis by analysis.  Sooner or later, the time comes to act.  Maybe the words of Elijah to the people of Israel are appropriate as a reminder here: "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him" (1 Kings 18:21).  Is it time to get up and get going?

God loves you!
Mike

Indulgences

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

King Saul had a hearing problem and it ultimately cost him his kingdom.  God had been clear and specific with His instructions regarding the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-3) but the king had a “better” plan -- one that involved not following God’s directions completely.  But apparently his “obedience” was close enough that Saul had convinced himself that had accomplished what God sent him to do (1 Samuel 15:13).  At any rate, when confronted by God’s prophet Samuel, Saul begins to backtrack and make excuses.  When pressed about his disobedience, he claims that the people spared some things that should have been destroyed for the purpose of offering them sacrificially to God (1 Samuel 15:21).  What’s the rationale?  Not fully listening to God is okay if done for a good purpose, like worshipping God.  But Samuel isn’t buying it!  His response is quoted in the two verses at the start of this article.  In summary, he reminds Saul that God is more interested in an obedient heart than an act of worship.  While worshiping God is important, it should never be used as a justification to set aside God’s directives.

I wonder if we fall into the same trap when we convince ourselves that, if we fill out our Sunday morning checklist of worship activities (singing, praying, communion, study, etc.), God will somehow overlook our disobedience to His directions during the rest of the week.  Worshipping God is not some new form of indulgences through which we purchase credits to live as we please.  The greatest worship offering is a heart committed to hearing and obeying the Lord (cf. Isaiah 1:11-17; Micah 6:6-8).

God loves you!

Mike

Where Is Your Trust?

          “Older adults who lose their life savings may also lose years from their life, a new study suggests.  Looking at more than 8,700 Americans older than 50, researchers found that those who lost most of their net worth were more likely to die over the next 20 years.  Compared with people who held onto their wealth, those who lost at least 75 percent of it over two years were 50 percent more likely to die over the next two decades.  One of the most striking findings, researchers said, was how often families suffered that kind of financial loss.  More than one-quarter of study participants lost most of their wealth at some point over the 20-year study. Another 7 percent had no savings or other assets to begin with.  "If this has happened to you, you're not alone," said lead researcher Lindsay Pool, a research assistant professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.  Why is wealth loss related to an earlier death? The study cannot answer that question, Pool said. But, she noted, the stress of losing your financial security -- especially later in life -- could take a toll on physical health.”*
          There is a danger in putting our trust in anything other than God -- whether it is wealth or any other material thing.  Long before the days of 401K’s, IRA’s, and mutual funds, Jesus warned his disciples about storing up treasures on earth -- not because doing so was inherently sinful, but because such investments can be fleeting (Matthew 6:19-20).  Paul reminded his young friend Timothy that true godliness is linked to contentment because everyone enters the world the same way they leave it -- penniless.  If our trust and focus is on riches, we are setting ourselves up for all kinds of trouble (1 Timothy 6:6-10).  True freedom from the problems associated with an over-emphasis on wealth is found in a close relationship with the One who will never abandon us (Hebrews 13:5).  Remember: “Money is a great servant but a bad master” (Francis Bacon).

God loves you!
Mike

*https://consumer.healthday.com/mental-health-information-25/anxiety-news-33/when-nest-egg-vanishes-death-risk-rises-732592.html