Seek First His Kingdom

We have just endured another election cycle.  It seems like they never end anymore.  The minute one election ends, the campaigning starts for the next one.  The airwaves are filled with candidates making various promises.  “I will cut spending and balance the budget!”  “It’s time for a change!”  “I won’t be swayed by special interest groups!”  “I will not raise taxes!”  “It’s time to take back America for God!"

In February of this year, John Frye took issue with the idea of “taking back America for God.”  I think he provides a good reminder for us.  Note the following: “If the USAmerican evangelical church would get its eyes off America and fix them on the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we might discover some surprises. Surprises like: God really doesn’t want America. He already has it. Not that everyone is converted to Jesus, of course. The Great Commission is not targeted at and limited to America. The redemption of lives of the people of the world and the renewal of the cosmos is what the Gospel Jesus is after. We do not read anywhere in the New Testament, “Go, make America Christian.”  Then he ends his post with this powerful sentence: “Getting Jesus right, not getting America right, is the great challenge we face."

From what we read in the Bible, Jesus spent a tiny fraction of his time concerned with the affairs of state.  And even when he did, the sense we get is that he had more important things to think about (cf. John 18:36; Mark 12:17).  But to listen to some of his followers today, you can get the impression that it is the most important thing.  Fellow believers, there is a kingdom that should be our first priority and it is not America or any other earthly realm (Matthew 6:33).  Nationalism, patriotism, or any other “ism” may have their place, but they should never be higher than second place in our lives.

God loves you!

Mike

Scars

In a post on Scot McKnights’ blog (Jesus Creed) titled “Every Scar Has A Story,” Josh Ross writes of a difficult and painful period in his life.  A combination of ministry stress, the tragic death of his sister, and other blows led to what he calls a “faith crisis” in his life -- a time when he wrestled with God.  Journaling provided an outlet for him to address with God what he refers to as the “scars” that life had inflicted upon him.
Ross reveals that his experience taught him some things about scars.  I won’t list them all, but one in particular resonated with me.  He said: “Thirdly, we live in a culture that spends billions of dollars trying to cover up scars.  But that’s not the way it has always been. Scars haven’t always been something to be avoided. In fact, the Jesus-story tells us that scars are stories meant to be redeemed.  I think the local church is sometimes at its best when we don’t suppress scar-filled stories, but rather we provide space for these stories to be told. This isn’t for people to wallow in the misery of physical or emotional pain, but to point to the beauty of how God joins us as we walk through it.  After all, when Jesus was raised from the dead, His scars remained, because they helped tell a story that is still capturing the world.”
Is it possible that we have we become too adept at covering up our scars in the body of Christ?  Why are we fearful of displaying the marks of our healing?  Is there any way that scars could be attractional to those outside of Christ?  What creative ways could be envisioned for the people of God to share the stories of their scars in redemptive ways?  Do you have any “scar stories” that you would be willing to share?  I don’t have all the answers -- I am just asking the questions.  What do think? (Joss Ross’ journal entries became a book he wrote entitled “Scarred Faith”)

God loves you!

Mike

Galactic Cannibalism

Just when you think you have enough to worry about, here’s something else to add to your list: “Only 5 Billion Years Until The Milky Way Gets Gobbled Up.”  This is the title of Rachel Feldman’s article published on the Washington Post’s website on September 19.  Feldman reports on a recent study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.  Unbeknownst to most of us, apparently “...galaxies turn to cannibalism when they get too big to keep growing on their own.”  The threat to our little corner of the universe comes from the “nearby” Andromeda galaxy.  “But the Milky Way isn’t going to be able to outrun Andromeda.  In about 5 billion years we’ll collide with the nearby galaxy, which contains at least twice as many stars as our own.  To Andromeda, we’ll be nothing but a cosmic candy bar.”

While the prophet Habakkuk lived in pre-scientific times and knew nothing about galactic cannibalism, he knew something about having his world crumbling down around him.  He saw the sin of his fellow Israelites and prayed to God for an answer.  But the answer proved to be even more terrifying: God was bringing the Chaldeans as judgment upon Israel!  Habakkuk struggles with all of this, but ends the book that bears his name with a great statement of faith: “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places: (Habakkuk 3:17–19).

Those with faith in God do not have to worry about galactic cannibalism.  May God help us to have the kind of faith that trusts and rejoices in Him regardless of the threat we face.

God loves you!

Mike

Humble Greatness

“The concert impresario, Sol Hurok, liked to say that Marian Anderson hadn't simply grown great, she'd grown great simply. He says: "A few years ago a reporter interviewed Marian and asked her to name the greatest moment in her life. I was in her dressing room at the time and was curious to hear the answer. I knew she had many big moments to choose from. There was the night Toscanini told her that hers was the finest voice of the century. There was the private concert she gave at the White House for the Roosevelts and the King and Queen of England. She had received the $10,000 Bok Award as the person who had done the most for her hometown, Philadelphia. To top it all, there was that Easter Sunday in Washington when she stood beneath the Lincoln statue and sang for a crowd of 75,000, which included Cabinet members, Supreme Court Justices, and most members of Congress. Which of those big moments did she choose? "None of them," said Hurok. "Miss Anderson told the reporter that the greatest moment of her life was the day she went home and told her mother she wouldn't have to take in washing anymore”” (Alan Loy McGinnis, The Friendship Factor, p. 30).

It is difficult to resist the lure of self-importance when others are heaping praise upon us. It is very easy for fame and fortune to go to our heads.  Rare is the individual who remains humble when the accolades begin to pile up.  The admonition of Peter remains just as important today as it was when it was first written.  He reminds believers to “...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time…” (1 Peter 5:5–6).

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking of yourself less” (C.S. Lewis).

God loves you!

Mike

Target Practice

          Matthew Emmons was a key member of the U.S. shooting team which competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics held in Athens, Greece.  Having already won the gold medal in the Men's 50m Rifle Prone event, he turned his attention to the 50m Three Position Rifle event with high hopes for another medal.  But it wasn’t to be.  “With one bullet left to shoot, all Matt Emmons needed was a score of 7.2 to win his second gold medal of the Olympic Games. On his first nine shots in the finals, Emmons' lowest score was a 9.3. He took careful aim, fired ... bull's eye.  Only Emmons' shot pierced the wrong target — known as a crossfire — resulting in a score of 0.  Instead of gold, Emmons, 23, of Browns Hill, N.J., was left trying to explain the rare mistake that left him in eighth place” (Steve Rivera, Gannett News Service, USA Today, 8-23-04).  A momentary loss of focus made the difference between a gold medal and eighth place because a bullseye on the wrong target doesn’t count.
          Focus is important in any successful endeavor, including being a disciple of Jesus.  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1–2).  Is it any wonder that Satan does his best to distract us?  If he can tempt us to take our eyes off of the right target and focus on anything else, he has gained the advantage.  Remember: a bullseye on the wrong target doesn’t count!
          “Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in.  Aim at earth and you get neither” (C.S. Lewis).

God loves you!
Mike

Civil War

The Civil War has the distinction of being the deadliest conflict in U.S. history.  Due to the lack of detailed records, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact death toll but historians have commonly claimed that around 620,000 lost their lives.  Recent studies suggest that the number could range significantly higher.  But regardless of the number one uses, the loss of human life was staggering.  To put it in perspective, the combined U.S. casualties from World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War total just short of 620,000.  U.S. military deaths for the entire Vietnam War are listed at 58,209.  The deaths attributed to just one battle in the Civil War (Gettysburg) are estimated to be 51,000.  The purpose of these comparisons is not to discount the human cost of the later conflicts, but to help us wrap our minds around the terrible consequences of the Civil War.

Civil wars tend to be bloodier than other kinds of conflict.  One would think that brothers would be kinder to brothers and sisters would be more tolerant with sisters, but such is not always the case.  When we reach the point where we can shoot at each other, it seems that restrain disappears.  Family squabbles are often the most volatile and dangerous.  Perhaps that is why the Scriptures are so adamant about maintaining peace, unity, and tolerance within the family of God.  Jesus calls upon us to love one another, not fight with each other (John 15:12; cf. also v. 17).  We we fail to love each other, it becomes easier to attack and destroy each other (Galatians 5:14–15).
Civil war is always deadly.  That is why we must always work hard at preserving peaceful unity (Ephesians 4:3).  Let’s drop the weapons that we use against each other and join forces to fight our common enemy (1 Peter 5:8).  Satan is the only winner when we fight among ourselves.

God loves you!

Mike

Do You Know The Lord?

          The phrase “...then you will know that I am the Lord…” (or something very similar to it) is found 63 times in the book of Ezekiel (NASB). Recurring words or phrases provide us with a key to understanding the purpose behind a biblical writing. The book of Ezekiel speaks of God’s efforts to reach out to His wayward children. The people of Judah had forgotten who God was. Oh sure, they probably would not have denied God’s existence but their words and actions revealed that they really didn’t know or respect Him.
          This situation was unacceptable to God. He refused to abandon His people without a fight. So he set out to provide them with the knowledge they lacked. This knowledge would come to them when they experienced the coming judgment God promised if they refused to repent. “‘For My eye will have no pity on you, nor will I spare you, but I will bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the LORD!” (Ezekiel 7:4). But they would also gain knowledge when God kept his promises of restoration following the judgment. “Thus I will establish My covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the LORD, so that you may remember and be ashamed and never open your mouth anymore because of your humiliation, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done,” the Lord GOD declares” (Ezekiel 16:62–63).
          Do we truly know the Lord? I’m talking about more than just acknowledging His existence. I’m speaking of the kind of knowledge that causes us to speak and act in ways that bring honor to Him (cf. Romans 1:21; Titus 1:16). It’s the kind of knowledge that leads us to actively love others (1 John 4:8). It’s the kind of knowledge that prompts us to obey Him (1 John 2:3-4). It’s this kind of knowledge that leads to eternal life (John 17:3).

God loves you!
Mike

When God Packs His Bags

One of the key images in the book of Ezekiel involves the presence of God among his people.  This presence is manifested as “the glory of the Lord.”  In the early chapters of Ezekiel, God reveals the many sins of the people of Judah and warns of the judgment that is coming as a result of it.  Incredibly, the abominations had grown to involve the temple of God itself, which was the earthly dwelling place of God’s glory (7:20 - 8:18).  The Lord had been patient, but the desecration of the temple was the last straw.  In chapter 9, the executioners are summoned and the glory of the Lord begins to vacate the premises by standing at the threshold of the temple (9:1-3).  From there, he mounts his heavenly “chariot” and proceeds to the east gate (10:18-19).  God’s glory is last pictured as leaving the midst of Jerusalem and hovering over the mountain east of the city (11:22-23).  Then, He is gone.  The city is abandoned to it’s iniquity and resulting destruction.
But, thankfully, the story is not over!  Before the book ends, Ezekiel is given a new vision to relay to the refugees of Judah who remained as captives in Babylon.  Given all that had transpired, they likely felt that God had left them forever.  But such was not the case.  In the vision, Ezekiel is taken to the east gate to witness the return of God’s glory  (43:1-5)!  Once again, “...the glory of the Lord filled the house.”  Once again, God expressed His desire to dwell among them forever, conditioned, of course, upon their recommitment to Him and willingness to turn away from their sin (43:6-9).
As New Covenant disciples, we are God’s dwelling place (Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:22).  But like Judah of old, we must guard against giving ourselves over to sin and rebellion to the point that God can no longer stand to be among us (Hebrews 10:26-31).

God loves you!

Mike

Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition

Grace Baptist Church in Troy, New York, held a raffle on Sunday, March 23, with an unusual prize -- an AR-15 assault rifle.  One visitor, Ron Stafford, was the lucky “worshipper” chosen.  Apparently the church was being careful to stay within law for such a giveaway because the advertising flyer they printed and distributed had the following disclosure: “All winning applicants will be subject to a federal background check, must be age 18 or older and provide a valid driver’s license. The church also reserves the right to deny anyone of “questionable character.”  Other churches are also using the idea of a gun giveaway as a way of increasing membership.  “Some churches in Kentucky have also been using guns to attract new members. Earlier this month, churches in Paducah — where three students were killed during a school shooting in 1997 — hosted “Second Amendment Celebrations.” At Lone Oak First Baptist Church, roughly 1,300 people crammed into the church hall for a steak dinner and pep talk by gun expert Chuck McAlister, who was hired by Kentucky’s Southern Baptists to grow membership. Twenty-five guns were raffled off during the dinner and winners were required to pass a background check” (Foxnews.com, “Peace(maker) be with you”, March 24, 2014).
Am I missing something here?  Does anyone else sense an incongruity between the raffling off of an assault rifle and the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ?  The most startling thing about the advertisement for the gun giveaway was the lone biblical quote they used.  Right under the bold heading “Win a FREE AR-15” were the words of Jesus: “...my peace I give to you…” (John 14:27).  Are you kidding me???
I’m thankful for my constitutional right to keep and bear arms.  I also support Grace Baptist’s freedom under the Constitution to use any legal means to further their cause.  But let’s leave the Lord out of it, okay?  The kingdom of God has one drawing power -- the cross of Christ.  The gospel doesn’t need gimmickry.

God loves you!

Mike

Telling The Truth

“During a trial, in a small Missouri town, the local prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand. The witness was a proper, well-dressed elderly lady, the Grandmother type, well spoken, and poised. She was sworn in, asked if she would tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, on the Bible, so help her God.

The prosecuting attorney approached the woman and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know me?’” She responded, “Why, yes I do know you, Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a young boy and frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, cheat on your wife, manipulate people and talk badly about them behind their backs. You think you’re a rising big shot when you haven’t the sense to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper-pushing shyster. Yes, I know you quite well.”

The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, “Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?”  She again replied, “Why, yes, I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He’s lazy, bigoted, has a bad drinking problem. The man can’t build or keep a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. Yes, I know him.”

The defense attorney almost fainted. Laughter mixed with gasps, thundered throughout the courtroom and the audience was on the verge of chaos.  At this point, the judge brought the courtroom to silence, called both counselors to the bench, and in a very quiet voice said, “If either of you morons asks her if she knows me, you’re going to jail”” (Mark Eberly, sermoncentral.com).
This humorous (and likely fictional story) reminds me to ask myself: Am I living in such a way that I would not be hesitant to have anyone tell the truth about me?  If not, what do I need to change?

God loves you!

Mike

What Happened To Flight 370?

For a week and a half now, news outlets have been closely following the story of an airliner which mysteriously vanished.  Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with 239 people aboard disappeared March 8 on a night flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Beijing, China.  At the time of this writing (March 19), no trace of the missing plane has been found.  Various theories as to why the plane disappeared have been suggested, including mechanical failure, sabotage, and hijacking.  Regardless of the cause, family and friends continue to anxiously await any news concerning the fate of their loved ones.

Periodically, Christians vanish for some of the same reasons.  Perhaps they had been cruising along faithfully in their service to the Lord, but then things begin to change.  They are not as involved as they once were.  They are less frequent at Christian gatherings.  They seem more and more distant.  And then, they drop off the radar screen.  Gone.

Sometimes its “mechanical failure.”  When the wheels fall off in life, it can lead to a spiritual crash.  Perhaps this is some of what Jesus had in mind when He referred to the rocky soil and thorns that can choke out spiritual growth (Luke 8:13-14).  Sometimes it’s “sabotage.”  Satan is like the thief Jesus talks about who only seeks to “steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).  The devil is a spiritual terrorist who wants to blow up faithful lives.  Sometimes its “hijacking.”  The attractions of this present world can be powerful, leading to a course correction toward disaster (1 John 2:14-14; 2 Timothy 4:10).

Whatever the cause, let’s be vigilant for the signs that can lead to disappearance.  Rarely does a Christian vanish immediately and without a trace.  There are usually some warning signals that point to potential disaster.  Spiritual lives are at state, perhaps our own or those of others.  Efforts made now before disaster strikes can help avoid searching for signs of wreckage later, when it may be too late.

God loves you!

Mike

Turbulence

Five passengers, including a baby, were injured this past Monday on Flight 1676 from Denver, Colorado to Billings, Montana.  As the jet began its descent toward the Billings airport, it encountered some severe turbulence.  The plane dropped sharply, causing those who were injured to be thrown around in the cabin of the aircraft.  Investigators are trying to determine if the “Fasten Your Seatbelts” sign was illuminated at the time of the incident (source: Amy Hubbard, latimes.com, 2-18-14).

Turbulence.  That is a great word to describe life at times, isn’t it?  You know what I am talking about, don’t you?  You are cruising along, minding your own business and then -- WHAM -- out of nowhere, the bottom drops out, leaving your bruised and battered.  A financial setback.  A lost job.  An unexpected diagnosis.  A death in the family.  All of these things and more can turn your life upside down.  How do we deal with the turbulence of life?  Allow me to suggest two things.

First, expect it.  Some flights have very little turbulence.  Other can leave you with a death grip on the armrests.  But turbulence happens.  It happens in every life.  It can take different forms and comes in varied measures, but no one is immune to it.  God has warned us that tough times are part of life, so expect it.

Second, prepare for it.  No, I’m not talking about always expecting the worst to happen, but to be mindful of the possibility.  It seems to me that hurtling along at over 600 miles per hour in an aluminum tube between tanks of jet fuel is always a great time to wear a seatbelt.  After all, who know what problems the weather outside the plane might cause?  If you keep the seatbelt on, you are better prepared for the unexpected.  Life is the same way.  If you are always wearing the seatbelt of God’s providential care and protection, you are more likely to survive the turbulent times of life.

The “Fasten Your Seatbelts” sign is on.  Are you buckled in?

God loves you!

Mike

Eating Your Words

It was a wise person who said: “Keep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them.”  Have you ever choked on some words that you spoke too rashly?  Have you ever regretted hitting the “send” button on a verbal missile launched in cyberspace?  Have you ever used your words as a weapon?  Chances are, each of us can think of times when we have done all of the above.  We quickly learn that ill-chosen words are never palatable as leftovers.

James certainly knew what he was talking about when he described our tongue as one of the most dangerous and unmanageable parts of our bodies.  “But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:8-10).

The Bible has much counsel regarding what to say as well as when and how to say it.  “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).  “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).  “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:27).  “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 29:20).

Having a sharp tongue is not a virtue.  Verbal abuse can be just as damaging as physical abuse.  Although it is difficult, it is always best to “let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth…” (Ephesians 4:29).  We may have to bite our tongues.  We might have to count to ten.  But it sure beats having to choke down unsavory words later.  Let’s choose our words carefully!

God loves you!

Mike

Lord Of The Schedule

If the Lord permits 2014 to run its course and we live to celebrate New Year’s Day 2015, we will all have had the opportunity during the year to choose how to use 8760 hours of time.  For the sake of discussion, let’s say we use seven hours a day on average for sleeping.  That means that we will use 2555 hours of our 8760 hours, leaving us with 6205 hours.  Now we need to carve out some time for eating.  Let’s be generous and allow 1 hour each for 3 meals a day.  That’s a total of 1095 hours for feeding ourselves.  That leaves 5110 hours in the year.  Let’s assume we are not independently wealthy or retired, so we also need a job.  If we work forty hour a week for 52 weeks, we will be busy at making a living for 2080 hours for the years.  Now we are left with 3030 hours after eating, sleeping, and working.

So we are talking about roughly 3000 hours of “discretionary” time in the coming year.  When you look at it that way, it doesn’t seem like much time, does it?  No wonder the year appears to go by so fast!  Of course there are other important and necessary claims on our time, such as family and friends.  Each of these (and more like them) also subtract various amounts of time from the total.  And for people of faith, we also want to make sure that God gets His share of the minutes, right?

Rather than merely giving God His “slice” of the time pie (or worse yet, the leftovers), let me encourage us all to view every hour of the year as “God’s hour.”  Every second, every minute, every hour is a gift from Him and can be devoted to His praise and glory.  God is not just another entry among others on our calendar.  He isn’t content with just being “worked into” our hectic schedule.  He ought to be the first consideration in all that we do or say (Colossians 3:17).

God loves you!
Mike

Until Death Do Us Part

“I heard of a couple who, as they were paying for groceries in the check-out line, were discussing their soon to be 50th wedding anniversary, when the young cashier interjected by saying, ‘I can’t imagine being married to same man for 50 years!’  The wife wisely replied, teaching the young girl a lesson at the same time, ‘Well, Honey, don’t get married until you can’” (sermoncentral.com).

That’s very wise advice!  It is also very biblical.  A marriage is more than just a mutually beneficial living arrangement.  Its not just something that will do until something better comes along.  It is a covenant based on a commitment (Malachi 2:14).  That’s why at least older versions of marriage vows usually included words like this: “I, ____, take you, ____, to be my lawfully wedded(husband/wife), to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”  Am I prepared to honor my marriage commitment when things get worse, when the money runs out, and when health begins to fail?  Those are fair questions that everyone considering marriage should ask themselves.

I understand that marriages fail for a number of reasons, even for those who were committed at the start.  God’s forgiveness and redemption is just as effective for those of us who have failed at marriage as it is for those of us who have failed at anything else.  We are ALL failures in one way or another.  But the remedy for marriage failure is not found in watering down the commitment.

“Until death do us part” should still be the goal.  May we never view our marriages like a cell phone contract that allows for an upgrade every two years.  We live in a “throw away” culture that doesn’t encourage hanging in there for the long haul.  But in spite of our failures and cultural pressures, let’s encourage marriage longevity, not disposability.

God loves you!

Mike