To Worship Him

If you attended a Christmas pageant at some time over the last few weeks, the wise men probably showed up on stage before the shepherds had left. In fact, the wise men almost certainly didn’t make it to Bethlehem for quite a while. Not only had the shepherds gone back to their fields, but the folks who took all the rooms in all the inns in town had returned to their homes, as well. So when they arrived—whether it was a couple of weeks or a couple of years after Jesus’ birth; the wise men found Joseph and Mary and the baby in a house—not a stable.

Although it is interesting to consider when and where they found the Christ child, what is more important to note is what they did when and where they found him: they worshiped him. They told Herod that was the purpose of their trip. “We have come to worship him” (Matthew 2:2). There is wisdom in seeking the newborn king, but those who are truly wise worship him.

As you move into a new year let me encourage you to renew your commitment to worship the Christ. Admit that there are many things that keep God from being the first priority in your life. Ask God to help you recognize and resist those things that lead you away from him.

Acknowledge that God—the One who has revealed himself to you as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer—is the only God, and the only One worthy to set the agenda for your life. God loves you and gave Jesus as the only way and means of coming to him. If you have any reservations about accepting Christ, lay them aside. The only merit any believer has is the righteousness of Christ.

Realize that a life of worship will not be easy. Jesus warns his followers of opposition, ridicule and suffering. He also assures them that the lessons he has taught them will lead them to a life filled with love and joy.

That’s what I pray for you in this new year: a life filled with love and joy.

Letting God Have His Way

Someone may have recently encouraged you to follow your dream. You had shared some of your goals with them, and they knew you were struggling to make progress. They didn’t want to see you give up, and you sure didn’t want them to think of you as a loser; so you hunkered down and pressed on. Perhaps another voice was calling you to a different response.

Consider this testimony from Judson W. Van DeVenter:

For many years I had been studying art. My whole life was wrapped up in its pursuit and the thing farthest from my mind was active Christian service. My dream was to become an outstanding and famous artist. After graduating from college, I studied drawing and painting under a well-known German teacher. To help me financially, I taught school and eventually I became supervisor of art in the public schools of Sharon, Pennsylvania.

It was during this period in my life that a revival was held in the First Methodist Church of which I was a member. I became very interested in these meetings as a personal worker. The Spirit of God was urging me to give up teaching and to enter the evangelistic field, but I would not yield. I still had a burning desire to be an artist. This battle raged for five years. At last the time came when I could hold out no longer and I surrendered my all—my time and my talents. It was then that a new day was ushered into my life. I wrote "I Surrender All" in memory of the time when, after the long struggle, I had surrendered and dedicated my life to active Christian service for the Lord.

Sometimes God calls people to give up their dreams because God's plan for the world is bigger than anything they can imagine. Mary and Joseph had plans, but when God announced a new course for their lives they responded with faithful obedience.

May God give you the strength and the courage to respond to his call to join him in the work he is doing, so that all people may come to know of his faithful love.

Rejoice Always

When faced with the challenge to quote a verse of scripture from memory, many people have at one time or another turned to John 11:35—a verse that is well-known for being the shortest verse in the King James Version of the Bible: “Jesus wept.” While this verse is an important sign of Jesus’ compassion for his friends—Mary, Martha and Lazarus; it is not an accurate indicator of the predominant tenor of Jesus’ emotional state. Indeed, one of the chief complaints the religious leaders had about Jesus was that he was always going to parties; and even worse than that, they were parties where people seemed to be having fun.

Jesus’ life is marked with joy from its very beginning. Even before either of them is born, John leaps for joy in his mother’s womb when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth. Mary breaks into song as her heart is filled with joy.

When the angel appears to the shepherds in the fields outside the village of Bethlehem, he proclaims, “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10). When the shepherds told Mary and Joseph—and anyone else who would listen—about their experience with the angels, they were amazed . . . and the shepherds couldn’t help but praise God for everything they had heard and seen.

When a group of wise men showed up in Jerusalem looking for a new born king, it disturbed Herod—which disturbed most of the other residents of the city. Nevertheless, once they got their bearings and turned their gaze toward Bethlehem; they spotted the star again. “When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!” (Matthew 2:10).

During his last few hours with his closest friends, Jesus reveals the purpose of all the things he has taught them: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).

It is no wonder then that Paul would tell the early followers of Jesus to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). Joy has always been one of the marks of the people of God.

So if this season begins to wear on you, and you feel your joy beginning to fade; let me suggest you commit another scripture verse to memory. It is nearly as short as John 11:35—just two words. Here it is: 1 Thessalonians 5:16—“Rejoice always!” And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you as the one who was born in Bethlehem fills your life with joy.

Remembering Saint Nicholas

As we prepare our homes for the visit of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, many people around the world are preparing to celebrate the feast day of Saint Nicholas on December 6. Children around the world know and love Saint Nicholas, even though he is known by different names and looks different from place to place—for he brings gifts and treats in December.

Nicholas was born during the third century in the Greek village of Patara. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man.

Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of Saint Nicholas' life and deeds. One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters were destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home—providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold—tossed through an open window or down a chimney—are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes as they eagerly await gifts from Saint Nicholas.
Other stories tell of Nicholas saving people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, even calming the sea. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return.

Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith. He was exiled and imprisoned. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea—called in 325 to preserve the unity of the church which was being threatened by competing claims about the nature of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Nicholas died December 6, 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, Saint Nicholas Day. Today he is venerated as patron of a great variety of persons—children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need. As we remember his example, let us renew our commitment to befriend and protect those who are in trouble or need.


For more info on Saint Nicholas, check out www.stnicholascenter.org

Waiting Room

How do you spend the time when you have to wait? I am thankful that I don’t have to spend very much time in a doctor’s waiting room; but I will admit that when I’ve had to wait for my turn, I have been fascinated by how differently people pass the time.

Some folks seem content to just sit there until their name is called. Others park themselves in front of a television. Some people pull a book or magazine out of their bag and resume their reading. There are usually stacks of magazines lying around for those who didn’t plan ahead. A few folks bring work from home or the office. There are usually a couple of folks who have a friend or family member with them and they spend the time in conversation.

No matter what activity they are using to occupy their time; every time someone comes to the door to call for the next patient, all of them stop what they are doing, look up and listen for their name. No one wants to miss their turn. Each one hopes this is their opportunity to move closer to keeping their appointment.

Advent is a season of waiting. When you have an appointment to see the doctor, it’s pretty clear what you are waiting for. With Advent it’s a little more ambiguous. Are you waiting to see what will be under the tree on Christmas morning? Are you waiting to impress your friends and family with lavish decorations and a sumptuous feast? Or are you waiting for something else?

While Advent begins our season of preparation to celebrate the birth of the Christ child, it also serves as a time to recall that we are still waiting for the triumphant return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus assured his followers that he would return to establish his kingdom. Jesus also urged them to live in eager anticipation of his return. Jesus did not want anyone to miss out, so he urged them all to stay alert.

There are a lot of different ways you might spend this season of Advent. Some of you may choose to spend time in silence listening for God’s voice. Some may choose to read passages from the Bible that speak of God’s plan and purposes for the world. You may find the writings of others who lead you to discover the deep truths of God.

However you choose to spend this time of waiting, I pray that you will make room in your life to focus on the hope we have in Christ. May this be a season when you hear God call your name. May you realize your opportunity to move closer to God.

Who’s in Charge?

Most people manage life pretty well as long as most things happen the way they expect them to. The alarm clock works. There is cream for the coffee. The car starts. Even if the traffic into work is not what you would prefer, after a while you get used to it and find ways to make the most of the ride.

Even the slightest variation can throw you off, though. If the power goes off for a few minutes during the night . . . . If someone puts an empty carton back in the fridge . . . . If all you hear is a “click, click, click” when you turn the key in the ignition . . . . If there’s a fender bender (even if you’re not involved in the actual collision), it can leave you feel out of control.

Now if something really significant and unexpected happens, it calls on a whole new set of coping skills. Unfortunately, it seems that these kinds of events are occurring more frequently each day. World markets fluctuate wildly making it difficult, if not impossible, to feel confident about saving for the future. Political leaders—at home and abroad—seem intent on placing blame than on fixing the problems governments face. Even the weather seems to have become more unpredictable.

On a more personal level, “downsizing” and “underemployment” are terms that feel much more threatening now than they did a couple of years ago. You find yourself at the funeral home much more often than you would have expected. As people make accusations and raise questions about the behavior of venerable public figures, you find yourself asking, “Who can I trust?”

It is exactly in the midst of this kind of uncertainty that it is important to recall who is in charge of your life—and your destiny. The people who were living in Ephesus in the first century were experiencing greater and greater uncertainty. In the midst of their anxiety, Paul prays that they will remember “the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him,” and “the authority of Christ”—who is “far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come” (cf. Ephesians 1:19-21).

The world can seem mighty scary at times. The uncertainty can threaten to disable us. As we gather as a community of faith, let us join with Paul and pray for one another, “that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.”

Preparing for Thanksgiving

The flood of catalogs has already started. Most retailers have completed the transition from orange and black to red and green. Several online merchants are featuring countdown clocks to “Black Friday.” In the midst of all the voices calling you to start your Christmas shopping early this year, it could be easy to shortchange your celebration of Thanksgiving.

If your “cash flow” is feeling more like a “cash trickle,” you may even be wondering what you have to be thankful for. With so many voices encouraging you to spend your way to a “happy holidays,” you may have a growing sense of dread as December approaches. That’s even more of a reason to make a decision now to make sure that Thanksgiving is more than just the start of the shopping season for you and your family.

It is good to remember that the first celebrations of Thanksgiving in this country were observed in conditions that were much less than ideal. The colonists who were trying to establish a settlement at Plymouth had seen many of their friends and members of their families pass away due to the harsh conditions. Even with a better harvest that summer, they may not have had enough to feed everyone if the Wampanoag Native Americans had not helped them out.

When David moved the Ark into the city of Jerusalem, he appointed priests whose primary job was to lead the people in giving thanks to God. That first day David gave them a new song to teach the people. It begins, “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done” (1 Chronicles 16:8).

While Jeremiah was still confined for disturbing the peace, God reassured him that the day would come when God’s people would be restored. And when that happened God told Jeremiah, “The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the Lord. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for the Lord is good. His faithful love endures forever!’” (Jeremiah 33:11).

It is from prison that Paul writes to the Colossians, “and whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).

You can begin to prepare now to make this season of Thanksgiving a celebration that acknowledges God’s unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for all—especially for you!

May this holiday be a blessing to you and your household.

Celebrating Our Hope

You have been waiting for this for weeks. You have been planning what you will wear, thinking about who else will be there, and hoping –hoping it will live up to all your expectations. You wonder how your anticipation could be any more intense as you ride the last few miles in the car.

Now that you are parked you see all the other folks who have come to be a part of this great event. Even people you don’t know look familiar because they are wearing the same colors you are. It’s great to be part of a winning team.

You look up ahead toward the stadium and you see people coming from every direction. They are streaming into the stadium. There is a party atmosphere. People are greeting one another. Cheers break out spontaneously. The air is electric. You find yourself walking faster and faster. You want to be in place to watch the team take the field.

As exciting as it can be to go to a football game, I imagine it is just a pale shadow of the experience that awaits those who have lived as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. While Jesus assured his disciples they would be welcomed into his Father’s kingdom, there would be a place for them at the great banquet, and that they would receive a reward for their obedience to his commands; the vision that John shares of the great multitude standing before the throne stirs a sense of excitement within me that is nearly impossible to contain.

Read from the Book of Revelation 7:9-17. Can you picture this crowd gathering? Can you sense their joy? Can you hear their voices as they sing?

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.

It is an exhilarating scene!

As people gather for worship this Sunday, many will take time to remember those who have “fought the good fight . . . , finished the race . . . , kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). They will gather to give thanks for their lives and the hope that sustained them.

Let your worship renew your hope so that you may “run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). Let it refresh your vision of the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. Let it strengthen your resolve to faithfully follow your Savior all your days.

The Great Recovery

Our economy is in bad shape. The problem is not just limited to the United States. Indeed, things look quite bleak in Europe; and the rest of the world is struggling with widespread poverty—in many places the result of widespread corruption and debt.

If you are discouraged every time you hear politicians arguing around the solutions, let me ask you to consider watching Dave Ramsey’s The Great Recovery Kickoff Event (www.TheGreatRecovery.com). This may be the biggest call for managing money according to Biblical principles our country has ever seen.

The Great Recovery is a movement to change our country and economy one person at a time. Dave says we can’t depend on the government to fix our problems, and as Christians our hope should be in God. God’s principles for managing money work. The Great Recovery movement starts with you—as you learn and apply God’s principles of stewardship to your life.

Dave raises the question, “What would happen if people started following God’s way for managing money?” What if people got out of debt, saved more, gave more? Their lives would change! What would happen if communities did the same? Communities and cities would change! What would happen if the movement spread throughout our country? Our economy would change! The change starts with you and me and the way we manage God’s money as faithful stewards.

Dave is asking people to join the movement by taking a pledge and then sharing it with others. Here is the pledge:

This great nation can recover. I believe it will happen from the bottom up, one family at a time. I commit to make sure my family is equipped to do our part by educating ourselves on God’s way of handling money, living responsibly, saving for the future and giving to others.

We have several families who are currently enrolled in Financial Peace University. They are learning more about God’s principles for managing their money. Many of them are already celebrating victories they are experiencing as they apply these principles to their households. Let me encourage you to find out where you can enroll in this powerful 13-week course so that you can begin applying God's principles to your household.

Jeremiah spoke to a people who were experiencing a total collapse of their society. This was the message he received from God: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (29:11).

May we continue to put our trust in God’s plans so that we will enjoy God’s future.

A Particular Type of Community

In spite of the persistent myth of the “self-made man,” no one accomplishes success without a lot of help. Even in areas where it seems that the endeavor is particularly dependent on the talent and determination of an individual—like writing, for instance; without someone to harvest the timber, manufacture the paper, stock and sell the necessary supplies, etc., an author’s work would go entirely unnoticed.

While growing in spiritual maturity does require a personal commitment, it is practically impossible to become a real spiritual champion without being connected to a vital community of believers. You may ask, “What makes a community of believers vital?”

People find it difficult, if not painful, to participate in a community where they do not feel accepted. It is important that those who are exploring what it means to be fully-devoted followers of Christ know that they are accepted—just the way they are.

At the same time, a community of believers who are growing spiritual champions will clearly communicate that there is much to learn. They will be organized to instruct whoever wants to become a skilled steward of the “mysteries of God.”

There is much to learn, and sometimes the lessons seem particularly difficult. That is the reason it is also important for a vital community of believers to be a community of encouragers. Whether folks are making slow progress or fast, they are much more likely to stick with the process, if others are cheering them on.

At times, encouragement is not enough. That is when members of a vital community know to come alongside someone who is struggling and offer support. People can accomplish great things when they know there is someone who will back them up—or hold them up—when they need it.

In a world that often settles for second best, a community that calls people to reach higher standards often sees remarkable results. Left to our own evaluation of our performance, we can fool ourselves into believing that we are better than we are. A community that holds its members accountable to God’s standards—with grace and love—helps its members experience true progress in their spiritual development.

In a world in which moral anarchy is increasingly the norm, let us renew our commitment to be a community that connects emotionally and spiritually with those who are growing in the faith.

Exceeding Expectations

Whenever someone recommends a restaurant to a friend, they may anticipate questions about the food: the taste, the temperature, the amount, and the presentation. They may be asked about the ambiance: lighting, seating, decorations, and the level of noise. They should most definitely be prepared to answer questions about the quality of the service.

Businesses that thrive know that providing service that exceeds their customers’ expectations is key to repeat business and profitability. Nothing promotes positive “word of mouth” like satisfied customers; and satisfied customers are those who feel like their needs have been recognized and met to their satisfaction or beyond.

A lot of people, who go to church on a regular basis, go with the assumption that they are the customers. They are at church on Sunday morning to consume religious goods and services. The truth is that it is unhealthy to get in the routine of attending church events and taking spiritual resources from those activities while failing to give away whatever they have received.

As George Barna puts it, “The Christian faith is not meant to be hoarded but shared. Our faith is founded on the notion of expressing love in real ways, not simply discussing it as an intellectual concept.” Or evaluating the quality of the events they attend.

The call to Christ is the call to serve. Spiritual champions know that they are not the “customer.” Jesus told his followers, “Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others” (Matthew 20:28). Disciples are the “servants;” others are the “customers.” Consequently, one of the best ways to develop your faith is to serve others in practical ways.

It is crucial to the life of the church for all of us to consider how we are helping our young people develop the habit of service. Are you inviting young people to join you as you help those around you? Are you helping them recognize situations and circumstances where they could provide real assistance? Are you encouraging them to identify their spiritual gifts and claim them as resources to use as they serve others?

Spiritual champions are those who demonstrate a lifelong practice of helping others. Let us do all we can to instill such a mind-set and lifestyle in those who are coming to faith in our congregations.

Taking Care of Business

Mine!

It is one of the first words most children learn. You are mostly likely to hear it pronounced most forcefully when there is more than one toddler playing in a room full of toys. Invariably, one of the youngsters will choose a toy and start playing with it. Another child will notice, and make the move to claim it for himself.

Toddlers are not known for their negotiation skills. The second child either crawls or waddles up to the unsuspecting victim and grabs what he wants. Since he is under two, he is rarely successful. The other child senses the threat and tightens her grip on this toy, which has become the most prized item in the whole room. “Mine!” she says—emphatically and without hesitation or apology.

This lesson, learned early in life, often shapes our understanding of the place of most of the resources in our life. Whether we have toys, clothes, tools, cars, houses, or whatever; we feel a strong sense of personal ownership. Often this goes beyond just our physical possessions to include ideas, skills, relationships and time. It is easy to come to believe that the primary reason you have all that you have is so that you can enjoy life and achieve personal fulfillment. Of course, this leads to the mistaken idea that the more you have, the happier you will be; and so we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get more—more that I can call “mine.”

To build spiritual champions we need to remind our children—and one another—that the resources over which we have control have been entrusted to us by God. God calls us to be good managers of these resources. Learning to be a good manager means learning how to effectively administer these resources for God’s purposes and in accordance with God’s principles. Spiritual champions know that they have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others.

While teaching children how to responsibly use the money they receive as gifts, allowance or wages from their work is important; we need to consider what we are doing to help them reflect on how they are managing God’s other resources. We also need to contemplate our own use of all we have. If we want to raise spiritual champions, stewardship has to become much more than a campaign we hold once a year to raise the money to fund the mission and ministry of the congregation. We must challenge one another to take better care of all the blessings of God.

Discipleship Matters

Let’s say you are thinking about enrolling in a program at a new training facility. You have heard that they are gearing up for as many students as they can enroll. They are building lots of classrooms and hiring an impressive faculty; but there is something that is troubling you.

As you look over their promotional material there is nothing about their goals for their students. You can’t find anything to indicate that they have clear standards against which they will measure their students’ growth. There seem to be no plans for procedures to hold the students or their instructors accountable for their development. They just promise that everyone who goes through their program will be “better.” You find yourself asking, “Do I really want to sign up for this?”

While most churches have done a good job of promoting the importance of spiritual maturity, few have done a very good job of providing an environment or the resources which encourage folks to see the spiritual growth of children and youth as a lifelong, moment-to-moment process. In most congregations kids receive spiritual teaching when it is convenient for parents or when it fits into their otherwise busy schedule.

In his book, Growing True Disciples, George Barna writes, “Discipleship matters. It matters because Jesus modeled it and commanded it. It matters because discipleship is necessary for the church to become healthy and productive. It matters because we cannot reach our potential without spiritual growth. And it matters because we cannot influence the world unless we can demonstrate faith-based transformation.”

As we work together to help our children be transformed into spiritual champions, we have the great responsibility to help them develop a lifelong habit of continual spiritual growth. Much of this growth is dependent on prayer, Bible study, service and other traditional spiritual disciplines. Still, the most effective discipleship process is the one Jesus used with his followers. He challenged them to view common experiences and everyday circumstances as opportunities to evaluate their passion, perspective, priorities and perseverance to a particular way of life—a life that would please God.

Let us renew our commitment to follow Jesus’ example in equipping those he has called to follow him.

A Great Responsibility

Imagine you have spent a couple of years with a gifted leader. Day after day he has demonstrated an amazing grasp of his particular area of expertise. On top of that, it seems there are no situations that appear to overwhelm him. Indeed, people bring him all kinds of perplexing problems and questions full of paradox; but he always seems prepared to answer out of the wisdom of the ages.

Now the time for your apprenticeship is coming to an end. You realize that your time with this person has transformed you, but you also recognize that you still have a lot to learn. Nevertheless, this incomparable mentor assures you that you are ready for the task he has been equipping you to do; and now he gives you the explicit instructions he expects you to follow as you continue the work he has begun:

“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

It should be no surprise that Jesus gives his disciples these instructions. What you may be surprised to learn is that surveys of large national samples of unchurched people reveal that most of them have never been invited to a church by a Christian; and most of them say they have never been told by a Christian what it means to believe in Jesus Christ and never invited to embrace Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Every follower of Christ has the responsibility to share the good news of forgiveness, redemption and salvation with others. As soon as you accept the invitation to enter a relationship with Jesus, you also receive the call to spread the news to those who are not eternally connected to him. So, how can we encourage and equip one another—and especially, our children and youth—to confidently share our faith with friends, relatives, associates and neighbors?

As we focus on growing spiritual champions, let me ask you to consider what you can do to prepare our young people to share the good news with humility, wisdom and love. Let us commit to growing bold evangelists, and then see how the Holy Spirit uses them to extend God’s reputation and influence in the world.

Making the Connection

For the young people entering college this fall there has always been an internet ramp onto the information highway. They’ve grown up on websites and cell phones. Music has always been available via free downloads. They won’t go near a retailer that lacks a website. They’ve often broken up with their significant others via texting, Facebook, or MySpace.*

Most of them would find it difficult to believe that when their grandparents first had telephone service, there was only one handset in the house and they shared the line with their neighbors. They have never tried to see how many people they could cram into a phone booth. If they have any questions or need some information, they know they can “Google it.”

There are not many people who have not embraced at least some of the advances in communication technology. It seems like nearly everyone has a cell phone. There are very few households that do not have cable or satellite TV. Indeed, communications providers often bundle their internet, phone and television services so that customers have an incentive to connect to them all through one vendor.

With so many people adept at using so many ways to connect, you might think that we would have no trouble connecting with anyone—especially when no technology is involved. Unfortunately, it seems that many church members struggle when it comes to connecting with God.

Worship is an encounter with the living God. Whether it is personal or corporate worship, the awareness of the presence of God will result in times of joyous exultation and times of quiet reverence. Inspiring worship services are celebrations of and opportunities for the shared experience of God’s awesome presence.

Connecting with the living God is something worth preparing for. As we help our children – and one another – grow into spiritual champions, what are we doing to help them recognize God’s presence in their lives and respond to God’s blessings with joy and reverence?

God delights in the praises of his people. May our congregations do all we can to ensure that our children delight in praising God.


*Beloit College Mindset List for the Class of 2015

Raising Spiritual Champions

Most parents want the best for their children. They make sure they get the food, rest and medical attention they need. They arrange for them to have every opportunity to learn the lessons that will help them make the most of their particular gifts, interests and abilities. They rehearse and remind and review them on the habits of common courtesy and civility. They want them to grow up to be healthy, successful, responsible adults.

As a community of faith, we want the best for our children, too; but we know that takes more than just teaching them to be good citizens. We want them to grow into fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ and that takes the energy, attention and commitment of a congregation. Indeed, when we baptize a child, the whole congregation promises to “do all in [our] power to increase their faith, confirm their hope, and perfect them in love.”

Paul reminds his young protégé, Timothy, that, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:8). We have entered a season of “training for godliness” with a special group of young people. They have entered a period of preparation for confirmation.

Confirmation in the United Methodist tradition is a rite through which young people affirm the faith of the church, renew the vows of baptism, and commit to live lives of discipleship as professing members of The United Methodist Church. Class sessions, personal reflection, mentoring relationships, worship, service, field trips and retreats will be some of the experiences they will have as a part of their confirmation journey. Our hope is that this period of exploration and preparation will help them know their story, confirm their faith and live their commitment. We hope to celebrate the public profession of their faith in worship on Pentecost, Sunday, May 27, 2012.

Please pray for each of them as they enter this process of growing into spiritual champions.

More than a Few Seconds

When most people are shopping for a car, one of the things they check out is the acceleration. It may not be the most important factor for them; but when they take it out for a test drive, you can be sure—at some point—they will see how the engine responds when they push the gas pedal to the floor. The car industry knows this is important to a lot of people, so they include information about how quickly their model will go from zero to sixty.

The four-door sedan I drive with its four-cylinder engine has a published time of 9.2 seconds. That is a long way from the 3.4 seconds that Chevy reports for their 2011 ZR1 Corvette. Nevertheless, there have been very few times when I have even considered putting my car to the test. In fact, in most situations it would be both wasteful and dangerous to reach sixty miles-per-hour in under ten seconds—even if I was driving the ‘Vette.

A few months ago I was riding with a friend in his new car. The on-board computer could calculate and display the current fuel economy; and he had challenged himself to see how efficiently he could drive. When we pulled out on the road, he very slowly and smoothly accelerated until we began to approach the posted speed limit. As we rode along, he would take his foot off the gas as soon as he spotted a red light ahead. I must admit there were times when I was concerned that we would make it to our appointment; but he was the perfect example of moderation, restraint and control . . . and he got great gas mileage . . . and he got us there with time to spare.

As the fruit of God’s love grows in your life, it is important to remember that God’s love grows best in a well-tended garden; and that requires discipline. You have to be attentive to the attitudes, affections and activities that would prevent you from reflecting the light of God’s love into the lives of the people around you. You have to weed those things out, and commit yourself to adopting the kind of practices that move you toward your goal.

The pursuit of greater consistency in your personal life might be the most important step you can take toward becoming a more loving person. Self-control is not an end in itself; rather, its goal is to serve other people better by reflecting more of the light of God’s love into their lives. That is something that is demonstrated most effectively over a lifetime—not just a few seconds.

More than a Plate of Pork

In a world where there seem to be fewer and fewer things you can depend on, people recognize and appreciate faithfulness. We saw that clearly last Sunday as we served lunch to nearly five hundred people. Our congregation worked together to keep a promise that few would expect us to recall.

On May 13 Logan Shelton, a junior at South Effingham High School, was a passenger in a car that was involved in a terrible accident at the intersection of Pooler Parkway and Benton Boulevard. Logan was airlifted to Memorial Hospital where he remained in a coma for several weeks. There were days when the doctors offered little hope. Still Logan has continued to make slow progress over the summer and has been moved to Atlanta where he can receive the specialized rehabilitation treatment he needs now.

Caring for Logan has put a heavy burden on his family. His parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles have all pitched in to make sure that Logan gets the attention and care he requires. Carrying such a load is more than only a few people can bear.

A few members of our congregation remember what it is like when you think you have to carry that burden on your own. And they also remember how people came around them and helped lift the load, if for only a little while. And they remember making a promise to help out however they could when they had the opportunity.

Paul says it very clearly and concisely: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). And not only do you “fulfill the law of Christ,” but you also reflect the character of Christ. Remember this: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’” (Matthew 11:28).

Thanks to everyone who worked to help us raise over $6000.00 to help the Shelton family with their day-to-day expenses as they care for their son, Logan. And thanks not only for the cooking and serving and cleaning up; but also for the remarkable witness of your faithfulness. People notice when members of the community of faith their keep promises—and it extends God’s reputation.

Gently Does It

You face a lot of challenges when you begin to learn to drive. Of course, there are all the rules of the road and the myriad of signs that you have to learn to decipher; but the biggest challenge is learning to safely start and stop this three- to four-thousand-pound hunk of metal.

Learning to accelerate is much easier with an automatic transmission than it is with a straight-drive; but getting the feel for the gas pedal is essential to being an effective driver. While it might be tempting to just stomp on the pedal, you learn pretty quickly that’s not good for your tires, the engine, or your passengers. Besides that, it wastes lots of fuel (which, at over $3/gallon, means it wastes lots of money).

The best drivers learn how to press gently on the accelerator to take the vehicle smoothly to the desired speed, and then how much to ease off to maintain the proper speed based on the current conditions. Cruise control may be fine for an open highway, but skillful drivers will always do a better job than a computer of keeping the automobile at the appropriate speed by keeping their foot firmly planted on the accelerator.

Once you take your foot off the accelerator, vehicles do tend to slow and eventually come to a stop. However, most of the time you don’t have the luxury of waiting for “eventually.” You have to stop at the red light. You have to stop in the garage. You have to stop before you run over the shoppers pushing their cart through the parking lot. You have to learn to use the brake.

Getting a feel for the brake can be as challenging, if not more so, than getting a feel for the gas. Push too hard, and you jerk yourself and your passengers around. Don’t push hard enough, and, well, the consequences can be anywhere from embarrassing to catastrophic. You have to learn apply the brake with a gentle firmness that slows your momentum and allows you to stop when and where you want.

Gentleness is one of the characteristics of God’s love for us—and one of the ways God calls us to love others. You might think that gentleness suggests weakness, but true gentleness requires deep strength, humility, and grace. Jesus gave a model for the kind of gentleness he expects of us when he washed his disciples’ feet (John 13).

May that gentleness grow in your life and in your community of faith; so that you will go where God calls you to go, and pause where God calls you to stay.

When the Best Is Not Good Enough

Whether you are looking for a new doctor, a new mechanic or a new restaurant, there is one question that will undoubtedly be at the top of your list: “Are they good?” Once you find several candidates your consultants convince you meet your basic criteria, then you begin the sifting process: “Who’s the best?”

Some people may be glad that grocery stores have begun to package their produce. It does make things go more quickly when you can just pick up a bag of potatoes or onions or cherries. On the other hand, when you find yourself in front of bin full of fresh peaches or apples or green beans, do you take the first few that are closest to you or do you carefully pick and choose until you have the few you believe are the best ones there?

The level of performance of professional athletes is truly remarkable—almost superhuman. Day after day they perform at levels that most people find difficult to imagine. In fact, it would be unreasonable to expect even a reasonably fit person to match a pro athlete on almost any skill that was their specialty. Nevertheless, when the pros compete against one another—even when the difference in their performance may only be able to be measured in millimeters or fractions of a second—it is the one who comes out on top who is proclaimed the best.

Indeed, we have become so obsessed with “the best” that we may be in danger of losing an appreciation for what it means to be good.

One day after Jesus had spent some time answering the questions of his antagonists, a young man ran up to Jesus with a sincere request. To show his appreciation and respect for Jesus and the way that he handled himself with both the powerful and the weak, this young man addressed Jesus as a “good teacher.” So I imagine he was quite surprised when Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? . . . Only God is truly good” (Mark 10:18).

Have you ever considered the proposition that God may be less interested in what you are doing to make yourself better than he is in how you are allowing the light of his love to make you good?

Perhaps you should.

More than Words

If you were to ask a few friends to describe their church, you should expect most of them to say, “It’s a friendly church.” While I hope most of the churches in your area are friendly, not everyone can be “above average.” To really learn something about the quality of their relationships, you might ask some questions about the ways people are encouraged to share deeply about the joys and challenges in their life. Do they encourage one another to openly praise and appreciate each other’s particular contribution and talents? What happens when two people or two groups experience conflict? What do they do for fun? How often do they laugh together?

While people may say they value a particular virtue or characteristic, it is their behavior that truly reveals how strongly it operates as a controlling principle in their life. In other words, what you do speaks louder than what you say.

Very few people would want anyone to think they were unkind. Given that; isn’t it amazing how many unkind people you meet every day? These are the people who tend to notice—and comment and complain about—the faults of others. They almost always see other people with critical eyes.

So how can tell if you are really kind or if it’s just wishful thinking? You may want to ask yourself a few questions: How often has it been your experience that your presence has encouraged other people? Do many folks tell you that they feel at home with you? Do you see the needs that others overlook? Do you like to make other people’s lives more pleasant by taking care of the small details of life? How easy is it to be friendly to people who are not very friendly to you? Do you find it difficult to minister to people when you cannot expect anything in return?

Kindness expresses itself through the many simple details of life and relationships: being interested in others, giving gifts, showing attention, listening to people, remembering names. Kindness radiates an atmosphere of grace—God’s grace. As God floods your life with the light of his love, may you reflect the light of that love into the lives of others, so they may truly experience kindness that is more than words.

No Need to Hurry

Everyone knows that it never pays to be in a hurry. Since you were a child you’ve heard, “Haste makes waste.” You know how feeling rushed leads to careless mistakes: keys dropped, papers torn, fenders dented. You get a little bit behind, start running a little late, and soon you find yourself hurtling headlong, out of control, breathless through the moments of your days.

Saint Jerome is reported to have said, “Haste is of the devil.” Undoubtedly, you have experienced the graceless, chaotic torment that grows in the rush to get more done in less time. Centuries later Carl Jung added his opinion, “Hurry is not of the devil, hurry is the devil.”

Paul tells the church in Corinth, “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Of course, that is not all he says about love; but Paul knows that patience is a vital element in showing others the kind of love God has shown us. Paul reminds the Romans that God has shown patience since the time he entered into a special relationship with Abraham—a patience that has endured one offense after another (Romans 9). Indeed, God’s patience is a revelation of the way God’s justice and his grace work together to teach us about his love.

Let me ask you to imagine what would happen if you began to reflect that kind of patience to those around you. How would it change the nature of your relationship with your children? How would it alter your conversations with your spouse? What about your interactions at work? On the way to work? When you are shopping?

Patience doesn’t give up on getting anything accomplished. It is not fatalism; but it is the willingness to give yourself and others time to grow into the people God longs for them to be. It is a perseverance that works toward seeing God’s will become reality.

I pray that day by day the church may become a community of believers who are committed to showing the combination of mercy and determination through which people may experience the enduring love of God. I hope you’ll take the time to let this characteristic of God’s love grow in your life.

There’s no need to hurry.

A Place to Thrive

There is no denying that some people seem to thrive on conflict. Wherever they go, they seem unusually adept at sowing dissension. Their preferred negotiating strategy is confrontation. They seem poised to contest every rivalry. Their path is marked by turmoil, discord, and confusion.

When you look more closely at the pattern of their lives, you may discover that they have a very low regard for the truth. Indeed, they are prone to play fast and loose with the facts. They see nothing wrong with withholding information that might weaken their position. If they can deceive their opponent, they seize that opportunity without hesitation.

Others who create division are focused entirely on their own welfare. They do not feel compelled to abide by the rules; although they may be quick to call their opponent to account for some minor infraction, if they believe it will benefit their cause. There is no hint of compassion in their understanding of justice. For them “justice” is whatever they can get away with.

You will be hard-pressed to find any evidence of grace in the lives of those who are always stirring things up. They may insist that others accept their point of view, but they have little regard—and even less sympathy—for the opinions of others. Mercy is a sign of weakness to them. They are always poised for the attack.

While you may be tempted to blame “those people” for the lack of peace in your life, it may be more helpful to work on improving your own primary relationships. You may want to consider your own tendency to create discord. A commitment to embrace grace, truth, and justice is an important step. In Psalm 85:10 “peace” is placed in the midst of these three key terms for understanding God’s love: “Grace and truth meet together; justice and peace kiss each other.”

Jesus wanted his followers to experience the reconciling love of God: “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” (John 14:27). In Matthew 5:9 Jesus blesses the peacemakers and promises them that they will be called “children of God.”

The truth is that people actually thrive where there is peace—God’s peace—the kind of peace that grows in the light of God’s love. May those who follow Christ allow that light to shine in their midst.

The Joy of the Lord

Whenever folks begin to consider the fruit of the Spirit, there is a real temptation to consider them as virtues to be developed. Perhaps you find yourself saying, “I need to work on that one!” Or you begin to think of a member of your family, a neighbor, or a coworker who you wish would consider spending some effort acquiring one of these character traits to their personal development to-do list.

Years ago Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote, “Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” If you have ever committed yourself to “pursuing happiness,” then you know how unsatisfying that endeavor can be. So many activities seem promising at first. They may fascinate for a while. They may even distract you from some of the more painful experiences in your life momentarily. Eventually, though, you find yourself no more happy—just a little more tired and with a few less dollars in your wallet.

Paul tells the community of believers in Galatia that God is working through the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in them. It is the fruit of love; and that love is expressed in joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities of God’s love in you are evidence of presence of God’s power at work in your life. While there are certainly ways that we can frustrate God’s presence and power in our lives, we cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit in our own strength.

Some people find it helpful to think of God’s love as light pouring into their lives. If you think of it this way, then your purpose is to reflect the light of God to the rest of the world. That means you aren’t responsible for generating the light, but for reflecting it. That raises the question, “What is keeping people from seeing the light of God reflected in me?”

Nehemiah reminded the remnant of those returning from exile, “the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10). As the fruit of God’s love grows in you may you experience joy in every moment of your life. May it not be dependent on your circumstances or your prospects; but entirely on your faith in God’s gracious love for you.

Reflecting the Light of Love

Some of the most important elements of life seem to defy definition. For instance, what is happiness? Perhaps you are satisfied with the description that Charles Schultz made popular years ago in his Peanuts comic strip: “Happiness is a warm puppy.”

The Peanuts gang also took a stab at defining love. In a collection of their combined efforts entitled, Love is Walking Hand in Hand, you’ll find such gems as “Love is mussing up someone’s hair” and “Love is loaning your best comic magazines.” While these sentiments may begin to communicate something about the nature of love, they certainly leave a lot to be desired.

Lots of other people from many walks of life—poets, philosophers, theologians, and academics—have attempted to define, describe and express this elemental emotion. Still we struggle with what it means to allow it to become the defining principle of our lives.

That is the challenge Jesus presents his followers when he gives them a “new” command: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34). Even as he gives his followers this “new” command, Jesus also gives them a clue about a new way to live into it. Our standard for loving others is Jesus’ love for us.

When we begin to examine how Jesus put his love into action, we learn that love is more than making someone feel warm inside. It is more than just giving something to someone else. When Jesus expresses his love toward us, he doesn’t just give us something, he gives us himself. Therefore, the essence of the Christian understanding of love is that we give ourselves away. Love is an expression of the character of Jesus. He is calling us to reflect the light of his love to others.

Jesus showed his love by living a life that expressed truth, grace, and justice. He proved that he could be trusted. He accepted those whom others had cast aside. He showed compassion to those who had been treated unfairly. These expressions of love stood in stark contrast to the darkness that was the result of widespread deception, mercilessness, and injustice.

I hope you will engage in this challenge to more fully understand the love of Jesus because he promises, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35). By our love followers of Jesus will be recognized as God’s people. The result: many will be drawn to become disciples themselves.

That is a fruit worth cultivating.

A Fruitful Harvest

One of the great pleasures of this time of year is walking down the row of a well-tended garden and harvesting produce. Whether you have done all the working of tilling and planting and weeding yourself, or if you are fortunate enough that someone else has invited you to harvest from the garden they have been caring for; it is deeply satisfying to find something that is ready to pick and put it in your basket.

The more carefully the garden has been tended, the more enjoyable it is to harvest the crop. It is quite obvious when a garden has not been weeded. In fact, if the weeds are allowed to grow, they make it hard to even determine where the rows have been planted. Of course, weeds use some of the same nutrients in the soil that the planted crops need, so those plants tend to be less vigorous and produce smaller fruit than they would if they didn’t have to compete with the weeds. Weeds also seem to invite pests to come and feast on the plants that are working to produce the fruit you hope to enjoy.

You know that God was the first gardener. He planted a garden in Eden and would take walks there with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. God would often inspire the prophets to remind the people of Israel of God’s care for them with the images of a garden. Many of Jesus’ parables refer to God’s work in the world as being like the work of one who tends a garden. Paul occasionally referred to his work of spreading the good news as part of the process of growing an abundant harvest.

This summer I hope that many gardens produce much fruit—lots of squash, tomatoes, beans and corn; but I have a deeper hope—that God will produce a great harvest of fruit in the lives of those he loves. Paul tells the community of believers in Galatia that God is working through the Holy Spirit to produce fruit in them. It is the fruit of love; and that love is expressed in peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As we celebrate Pentecost and the sending of the Holy Spirit into the midst of the community of believers, we will begin to focus on the seed that God has planted and the ways we can cooperate with God as he tends the garden that is growing among us. I pray the family of faith at Garden City has the most fruitful summer ever!

Making Everything Right

“Everybody makes mistakes.”

The produce manager forgets to change the price of melons at all three places they are displayed. The person driving the big red pickup truck fails to signal—or even look—before they pull in front of you. Your spouse swears they told you about an event that conflicts with an appointment you’ve just made—one that will be even more difficult to change that it was to make. Yes, “everybody makes mistakes,” but sometimes you find yourself wishing they would make fewer mistakes that affect you.

Well, “nobody’s perfect.”

That is the logical corollary to the previous axiom. It is pretty easy to look at the people closest to us and come up quickly with a list of ways they could improve. Tabloid journalism thrives on the foibles of the rich and famous. As the presidential campaign starts to crank up, you can count on hearing more from the candidates about the faults of their rivals than about the virtues they possess.

We certainly have no problem affirming Paul’s claim, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It seems we run into the “fallenness” wherever we turn. Sometimes you may wonder how your life would be different if the people around you would just get their act together.

It is just at moments like that when it occurs to you that, perhaps, not all of the difficulties you encounter are the result of other people’s mistakes. Indeed, even though you have dedicated countless hours and heroic efforts at self-improvement, you have to admit that you are not perfect, either. Of course, you are not comfortable when other people point that out. In fact, you have become quite adept at explaining why you have made the choices you have—and, at times, still secretly believe that if it weren’t for a few inattentive or mean-spirited people; your life would be much closer to perfect than it is.

It is so easy to find yourself in a place of judgment and self-justification—and that is not a place of peace and rest. Indeed, it is an attitude which makes it very difficult to receive God’s blessing.

Even as Paul is reminding the Romans of their shortcomings, he is preparing them to hear this good news: “People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood” (3:24b). You are forgiven! That is God’s gift to you—and to the people who keep messing up around you.

It reminds Paul of Psalm 32: “Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”

I pray you may know more of that joy.

A Grace that Redeems

It’s been quite some time since I visited a pawn shop. Years ago I was looking for a guitar and several people suggested I might want to see what might be available in the local pawn shops. Almost every one had at least one guitar among all the other appliances, car stereos, and obsolete computers; but the stores were depressing.

When someone needs cash to take care of some pressing obligation, a pawn shop is a place where they can take an item they own and leave it as collateral for a short-term loan. The pawnbroker bases the amount of money he will loan to the customer based on how much he might get for it if the person is unable or unwilling to repay the loan. That means a guitar that may have originally sold for around $3,000 might secure a loan for $800 to $1,000.

Now if the person pawning their guitar isn’t able to repay the loan, the pawnbroker can sell it for $1,500 to $1,800 and make a pretty nice profit—and it would be a sweet deal for the person who was hoping to buy a quality instrument. Still, there is something about profiting from another person’s misfortune that just doesn’t sit right with me.

And looking around the pawn shop—in and among the used DVD’s, worn power tools, and first-generation video games—you spot a few real treasures. There’s a vintage ring that belonged to someone’s grandmother. Here’s a silver chest that was handed done several times. A porcelain statue someone carefully brought back with them from a once-in-a-lifetime journey sits on a shelf crowded cheap knickknacks.

Of course, the person who hocked that “treasure” knew what they were doing. They freely entered into the contract with the pawnbroker. Still, there’s a part of me that would like to be able to reunite some people with their “treasure”—that would love to hear them play sweet music again.

I imagine that is the way God feels when he sees one of his children who have “sold” themselves. The good news is that Christ came to pay the price to buy you back—no matter how deep your debt. You’ve been redeemed! Let that good news shape your new life in Christ!

Waiting for an Answer

Filling out an application can be a very exciting undertaking. Whether you are applying for a new job, hoping to enroll in a new school, or considering joining a new organization; as you answer each successive question, your imagination begins to anticipate what it will be like to be invited to participate in this new opportunity.

Perhaps you have also experienced the anxiety that grows as you move through the easy questions (like your name and address) to the ones that are difficult to answer (like “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”). Now you’re wondering how many other people are also applying for this opportunity. You might find yourself wishing you had been a little more friendly with your last boss or more focused in a couple of classes. Would it make your application stronger if you could list a couple of places where you had volunteered?

The time between submitting your application and receiving a decision becomes a place where both the excitement and the anxiety grow. You move back and forth between being confident that you are the person they’ve been looking for, to wondering why you ever thought you had a chance of being considered. You begin to think about who you might need to know, or where you might need to go, or what you might need to acquire, or how you might need to think to improve your chances of be accepted.

Whether you have an application you are waiting to hear back from or not, you may wonder if there is a place where you are accepted. Paul assures the believers in Rome that if they will only give themselves to God without reservation, God will accept their offering—because the grace of God is the proof that God accepts them.

May you accept the fact that you are accepted by a gracious God who wants you to experience a life that is good and pleasing and perfect; and may the knowledge of that acceptance give you peace with yourself, your neighbor, and your God.

More than “Kindred Spirits” or “Bosom Friends”

As Matthew is leaving for the train station to pick up the young person they have arranged to come live with them, Marilla reminds him they have asked for a boy. They are both growing older and the work on the farm has become too much for them to do alone. There is a glut of orphans in Nova Scotia, so it seems to be the perfect solution.

When Matthew arrives at the station, the “boy” they have been sent turns out to be a slight, eleven-year-old girl. Anne Shirley quickly charms her way into Matthew’s heart. Marilla is much more difficult to convince; and Anne’s vivid imagination, flair for drama, and inclination to fill every silence with conversation nearly drives Marilla to distraction. Nevertheless, the Cuthbert’s decide to make a place in their home and in their lives for this peculiar young woman—and Green Gables is never the same.

While Anne of Green Gables focuses on the adventures and misadventures of Anne Shirley, her new wards, and the friends she makes as she moves into the community; it also presents a picture of adoption as the opportunity to experience a life that is full of promise. Because of her freckles and red hair, Anne thinks she is so unattractive that she could understand why the Cuthbert’s might not welcome her. In spite of her best efforts to do the right thing, Anne manages to make one profound blunder after another. She willingly admits that she deserves to be sent back to the orphanage.

In her imagination she has a fully developed picture of how miserable her life would be if that were to happen. Her dread of that possibility touches even the stoic heart of Marilla. As they all learn to live together as a family, we have the privilege of watching them each experience more of the abundance of life than they would have if they had decided not to stay faithful to their commitment to become one family.

Paul tells the Ephesians that, “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (1:5). Perhaps you wonder if God would welcome you into his home. You may be afraid that some of the things you have done have ruined your chances of finding your place in God’s family. Let me assure you that God is ready to show you grace beyond measure—grace that will make you more than “kindred spirits” or “bosom friends”—grace that will enable you to believe that God truly is your Father.

Your Place on the Team

When was the last time you saw a group of kids standing around the ball field trying to decide who is going to be on whose team? I wonder if it ever happens these days with all the organized leagues and kids dressed in uniforms that rival the pro’s.

Perhaps you can remember playing in the front yard when one of your neighbors walked by and let you know there was going to be a game at the field in thirty minutes. You ran inside to tell your mom where you were headed, grabbed your glove, and took off.

Just a handful of kids were there when you arrived. You even wondered if there would be enough to make one team, let alone two. Within a few minutes a few more kids had showed up. A couple had a ball. Two or three bats appeared from somewhere. It was time for a game.

Now came one of the most significant—and anxiety-producing—events in your life. It was time to choose up sides. Somehow two kids (not always the oldest or the strongest, but usually) were standing on either side of home plate and pointing at one kid and then another, saying, “I choose you.”

If you were always one of the first couple of kids who were chosen, then you probably don’t remember that knot that started growing in your stomach as the “captains” continued to pick their teams and treat you as if you were invisible. Some of you will remember waving your hand as you tried to get the attention of the “captain” of the team you wanted to be on; and then turning away when it came time for the other “captain” to choose. Still, being chosen to be on the “wrong” team was better than being chosen last or—worse, yet—not being chosen at all.

It may not have begun on the ball field, but many people continue to carry that nagging question in the back of their minds, “Would anyone choose me?” It is a question that can trouble people in many different areas of their lives: professional, relational, and spiritual.

If this is a question that haunts you, hear this good news: God chooses you! Yes, God wants you to be on the team. Your new life in Jesus Christ means that you are not meant for the sidelines. God has a place for you in the game.

May you come to realize your value to God and your importance to the community of faith as you hear God say, “I choose you!”

A Whisper through the Rain

The storms that marched across the southeast on Wednesday and Thursday left behind a trail of damage, destruction, and devastation that will take weeks, if not months, to fully assess. In communities from Mississippi to Virginia we have seen images of homes and businesses reduced to rubble, trees snapped in two, and cars and trucks covered with debris and left crumpled in ditches, fields, and even on top of one another.

If the storms had only damaged property, the cost would be significant; but the storms took an even greater toll—the loss of human life. The expanse and the degree of the destruction are making it difficult to know how many people have been killed. With each passing day the death toll continues to rise. Emergency workers are spending their time these first few days going from house, searching for survivors, and leaving their report in spray paint on whatever is left standing.

It will take quite some time to account for all those who are missing. Few are willing to even guess what the costs may be for the property damage. And yet, in the midst of this immense catastrophe there has been a recurring affirmation of faith.

As the news crews have put a microphone in front of survivors, one after another has testified that even though they have lost their home or business; they are thankful that God has brought them through the storm, and they affirm their faith that God will continue to bless them as they work to recover and rebuild.

These testimonies reminded me of a song made popular a few years ago by the contemporary Christian band, Casting Crowns, called “Praise You in this Storm.” Reflect on these words from the chorus: “And I'll praise you in this storm / and I will lift my hands / for You are who You are / no matter where I am / and every tear I've cried / You hold in your hand. / You never left my side / and though my heart is torn / I will praise You in this storm.”

Some people find it difficult to believe they are blessed even when things are going pretty well for them. As you begin to discover the new life you have in Christ, you learn that the reality of being blessed by God is not determined by your circumstances. Even when the thunder rolls, the storm is shaking the foundations of the earth, and the wind is blowing away everything you worked a lifetime to build; the voice of God whispers, “I am with you!”

That may be the moment when you truly understand what it means to be blessed.

Risen Indeed!

“Christ is risen!” “He is risen, indeed!” That is the great good news of Easter. In obedience to God’s plan, Jesus gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for the sin of all humanity. Now God has raised him from the dead and given him new life. Jesus, who was resurrected from the grave, is now our Savior and our Lord!

That is not where the good news stops, though. Through Christ’s resurrection, God has demonstrated his power to defeat death, and has made it possible for all who put their trust in Jesus to experience new life themselves.

Easter is more than just an occasion for wearing new clothes. Easter is more than an opportunity to share a special meal with your extended family. Easter is more than a day to decorate the church with pretty flowers. Easter is the culmination of the expression of God’s grace for you. Easter is the undeniable evidence that God can transform your life.

We will begin to explore our new life in Christ this Sunday, but there is so much more to it than we can cover in a single message. Paul uses six adjectives to describe elements of this transformed life in his letter to the Ephesians: blessed, chosen, adopted, accepted, redeemed, and forgiven. We will be exploring each of these more thoroughly as we move toward the celebration of Pentecost.

As you celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, I pray that you may also come to a more complete realization of the life that God has made possible for you. God’s grace is truly amazing!

“Christ is risen!” “He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!”

Too Easily Confused

You are driving through a town you’ve traveled through many times before; but this time there are signs ahead: “Detour!” Reluctantly you turn off your familiar route. The arrows mark the turns clearly—left, right, left, right. You are seeing parts of the city you’ve never seen before. Fascinated by the new scenery, you become distracted. You miss a turn and in a few moments you realize are totally turned around—disoriented and confused.

Your first reaction may be to curse the Department of Transportation. “Why do they have to work on the road when I want to use it? Why don’t they make the signs bigger? Why don’t they have people out here directing traffic?”

Or perhaps this has happened to you: You show up for work and there is a notice that the company will soon be switching over to a new software application. A workshop to introduce the new program is scheduled for next week. The announcement promises greater ease of use and increased productivity; but you were here the last time management decided change things. You remember how difficult it was to do your work with the “improved” system—all the extra hours you had to put in just to accomplish what you were originally doing. You still remember things about the old system that worked better.

Or, how confusing is this? An annoying health issue has finally led you to make an appointment with the doctor. The doctor orders a battery of tests. All the tests disrupt your life for a couple of weeks. Once all the results are in, the doctor shares the news…and it’s not good.

It’s a confusing world. Just when we think we have everything figured out, something happens to throw it all into question. That is, if you begin to question what kind of God we serve.

As we move through Holy Week and recall the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, may the evidence of God’s goodness, faithfulness, and grace save us from the despair that is born of confusion. Let us hold fast to the truth Paul shared with the Romans: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (5:8).

Yes, God’s grace is truly amazing!

Shelter in the Storm

The world is a dangerous place. Tornados . . . earthquakes . . . tsunamis . . . and that was just last month. Besides all of the “acts of God” (as the insurance companies call them), wildfires and nuclear radiation have pushed warnings about the dangers of global warming from the front page of the national news.

American troops are engaged in armed conflict in three different areas of the world. That’s not good; but as the news of another civil war breaking out in another country seems to become routine, it may certainly cause you to reconsider your plans to travel internationally.

Have you looked at a local crime map recently? If you have, you know there are some places where you better make sure the doors are locked and windows are rolled up when you park your car. Even the short stroll from the car to the front door can feel like a sortie in enemy territory.

It all makes you think you might just be better off if you stayed close to home. The problem with that is over half of auto accidents occur within a five-mile radius of your home. Staying home is not a solution, either. As people spend more time at home, they raise their chances of getting injured in their house.

Danger, trouble, even calamity may cause you to wonder what you are doing wrong. Let me remind you that Jesus told his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33b). The apostle Paul certainly experienced trouble: opposition, riots, threats, beatings, imprisonment, ship wreck, just to name a few. And yet, Paul tells the Romans, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (8:18).

How can Paul make such a bold claim? It is because he has faith that the God who saved him by grace will be with him to preserve and protect him. Grace does not leave us defenseless. Indeed, God’s grace assures our security—and not just from the threats from natural disaster, environmental destruction, or civil unrest. God’s grace is the reason you can stand confidently when it seems that there is an all-out assault against your soul.

How do you respond to questions and accusations that trouble your conscience? How do you deal with fears and doubts that unsettle your heart? Paul invites us to consider several important questions in Romans 8:31-35 that lead to an unshakable confidence of God’s grace.

It’s truly amazing!

What a Mess!

If you have ever dropped a full, unopened jar of prepared spaghetti sauce on a hard tiled floor, you know it makes one of the worst kinds of a mess. If it happened at the grocery store, your first impulse was probably to look up and down the aisle to see if anyone saw you. If not, you were most likely tempted to flee the spot as quickly as you could. If it happened to someone else, you probably just turned and walked away.

It can be an even bigger mess when it happens at home…in the pantry. Not only does sauce go all over the floor, it seems to splatter onto everything in an eight-foot radius…and not just in a straight line. And you can’t just wipe it off—the stain remains! On the cartons. On the walls. On the napkins and towels and dishrags you grab to wipe up the mess.

You have to be very careful, though. You never know how far the glass has spread. Sometimes the sauce does seem to keep the glass a little closer to the impact site. (It certainly is not as bad as dropping a piece of Corelle® dinnerware. It can take months to collect all the pieces—and the smallest ones are mere slivers…and so sharp they’ll cut you in an instant.) Scooping up sauce and glass is particularly troubling as you realize there is no way to save what was going to be your dinner.

Nevertheless, as big a mess as a shattered jar of spaghetti sauce can make; it is nowhere as big as the mess people make of the relationships in their lives on a much too regular basis. Sometimes friendships are broken through the same kind of careless inattention that knocks the jar off the shelf. Other times, people seem intent on seeing how much grief they can cause their mothers and father, sisters and brothers. (Imagine folks hurling jars of sauce at one another.)

While you may have never had the misfortune of watching a jar of sauce hit the floor, you have probably experienced the brokenness of a significant relationship. Even now, you may be wondering if there is anything you can do to make things right.

There is one thing you should know: God is in the business of reconciliation…of restoring broken relationships through the power of grace. And God is not just concerned about how you are getting along with your neighbors; God is committed to restoring your relationship with him…through the life, death, and resurrection of his son, Jesus.

It is truly amazing!

Good news!

And another way the grace of God can transform your life.

Boundless Love

Consider this. A king comes to power after years of being relentlessly pursued by his predecessor. His rival is killed in battle, along with most of his family; but now the king discovers a lone surviving prince—the grandson of the former king. He sends his soldiers to bring his adversary’s heir to appear before him. The young prince is terrified. He is certain that his life is in jeopardy. As he steels himself to receive his sentence, these are the words he hears: “Don’t be afraid! … I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” (2 Samuel 9:7)

King David had received abundant grace from God for many years. Jonathan, Saul’s son and Mephibosheth’s father, had shown grace to David when his life was first threatened as Saul’s jealousy grew to rage. Now David shows astonishing grace and generosity to his rival’s descendant.

Now consider this: A religious leader marries a woman who has clearly lived a life of unfaithfulness. Once they are married, she begins to have children, but they are unquestionably not his own. He welcomes each of these children into his life and cares for them; even as his heart breaks with every additional indiscretion of his wife. She leaves him and becomes the slave of another. He is prepared to go on without her; but this is the word he hears from God: “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them” (Hosea 3:1).

Hosea was called to demonstrate the astonishing grace of God in the particularly personal and painful events of his life. The example of the grace he showed his unfaithful wife gave added power and authority to the word he brought to the people of Israel.

Why is the grace of God more amazing than ever? Because we can never fully grasp “how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is” (Ephesians 3:18). God’s love for you is truly boundless. May God’s love fill you with peace and work in you “to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20b).

A Season of Grace

When you cross some people, you may wonder if there is any way you can make it right again. You think through the cordial words you hope will convince them of your sincerity. You consider gifts that might serve as a fitting peace offering. You wonder if there is some good deed you could do for them to show you are committed to restoring your relationship. Perhaps you do it all, but you still know they hold the offense against you.

Some people believe God is like that. They believe God will not forgive them for something they have done. Here’s the truth: ”If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Why will God forgive you? Because God practices grace.

Lent is a season of preparation and repentance. For some it may feel like a heavy burden. I hope you will discover what has encouraged many others—the grace of God is still amazing. For the next few weeks as we move toward Easter, we will be looking at the different aspects of God’s grace.

“My Chains Fell Off”
In John 8:31-36 Jesus promises to set us free.

“Scandalous Love”
In Luke 15:11-32 Jesus tells a story about an incredible love.

“At God’s Expense”
In Hebrews 9:11-12 you hear about the price God paid to save his people.

“Changing Places”
In 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2 you read of God's plan for reconciliation.

“A Sure Defense”
In Romans 8:26-39 Paul encourages believers to remember the protection God provides in the midst of persecution, struggle and trial.

“Clearing Up the Confusion”
In Isaiah 50:4-9a you find words of deep assurance of God's continuing care.

“Freed by God’s Grace”
In Romans 6:1-14 Paul proclaims the good news that through the resurrection of Jesus Christ you can experience new life.

I pray that this season of prepartion will help you discover that grace is more amazing than ever.

A Bold Witness

Let’s be clear from the start. You cannot save anyone; and neither can I. As Peter was standing before the High Priest, other leaders, elders, and teachers of the Law of Moses in Jerusalem—just days after the Holy Spirit had filled them with great power; he told them unequivocally, “Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone” (Acts 4:12).

If that sounds narrow or absolute or exclusive, that’s because it is. Was Peter suffering from a lapse of triumphalism? Was he just trying to make his audience angry? Was he overstating his case? No! Peter was faithfully responding to the Holy Spirit by telling everyone who would listen what he had heard from Jesus himself: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me” (John 14:6).

If you know Jesus, if you confess Jesus as your Savior, if you put your whole trust in his grace, if you promise to serve him as your Lord; to make the most of your life you will make the most of every opportunity to share the single greatest gift you can give to your friends and family members—an introduction to the God who created them, loves them, and has a purpose for their lives.

Those opportunities are around you every day. You can develop friendships with people who are far from God. By listening to them and showing genuine concern, you can discover the stories behind their life’s journey. Through prayer and seeking direction from the Holy Spirit, you can discern what “next steps” will help point them to faith.

If you are struggling with your commitment to witness, let me suggest that you commit to know Jesus in a more personal way. Think about Jesus. Communicate with him day to day, even moment to moment, in prayer. Read his words, meditating on them and memorizing them; not out of ritual, but out of love. As you get to know him better, it will be easier for you to tell others what he means to you.

Pastor Bill Hybels reminds us, “Pointing people to faith is something all of us can do.” I am thankful for those people who pointed me toward God and for all of you who continue to lead people closer to God each day. I pray you will continue to be true to your commitment to witness.

Free to Give

Just admit it. If you are like most people, you believe that in order to have more you have to keep as much of what you get as you can. That’s the reason as soon as anyone makes even the slightest suggestion of how you might give some of what you’ve got to support their organization or advance their cause, you start looking for the nearest exit.

After all, you have your own organization to support and your own cause to advance; and it takes more and more to keep all those needs supplied each month—and who knows what it is going to take next month…or in six months.

You know that Jesus said, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19); so you have hired an exterminator, packed it all in Space Bags®, and installed an advanced security system. You really are not interested in hearing much, if anything, about the benefits of generosity.

Before you go, let me ask you to consider that making the most of your commitment to give may be a key component of making the most of your life. Consider what Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap” (Luke 6:38). That certainly sounds like giving is not necessarily about ending up with less. Perhaps it does raise the question, though, of who gives to you.

Giving begins with God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son” (John 3:16). God is the infinite and perfect Giver. Giving is integral to who God is. Giving is central to God’s character. When you give you identify with God and reflect God’s likeness.

Giving is at the heart of the Christian life, at the heart of the Gospel, and at the heart of God. God gives everything that has value. God gave you life—physical life in the blood that courses through your body, and spiritual life in the blood of his son, Jesus Christ. God has set the pattern for giving, and there is no worthier goal than to give like God gives.

Consider this, too: when you give like God—and when you get the benefit and the blessing of giving like that—what you are actually giving is not yours. Everything belongs to God. He has only placed it in your care for a season. May that paradox liberate you from the bondage of trying to accumulate as much as you can or striving to constantly have bigger and better things than your neighbors.

The Mark of a Christian

People have found a lot of different ways to let other people know they are Christians. Some of them wear t-shirts with a scripture passage printed on it or a clever statement that might spark a conversation about faith. Some folks wear a cross on a chain around their neck. You may have noticed cars around town with various emblems representing the owners’ church affiliation. Then there are the paperweights, wall plaques, and coffee mugs people use to indicate their affection for their heavenly father.

Jesus wanted the world to notice his disciples. The last evening he spent with them he told them, “This is the way all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 12:35). Even though, Jesus told them that this was a new command for them; if they had been paying attention to his teaching and his example, it shouldn’t have caught them entirely by surprise.

Jesus had said on several occasions that loving God and loving others were central to living a life that would please God. Throughout his ministry Jesus had reached out to people who were forgotten, neglected and lonely. He had healed men and women who had resigned themselves to being defined by their disease. He had encouraged people to leave behind the habits that had made a mess of their relationships. And at the end of his life, Jesus had demonstrated the depth of his love by forgiving those who were responsible for his agonizing death.

So, how do people know that you are a Christian? Theologian Francis A. Schaeffer sums it up like this: “Love is the mark Christ gave Christians to wear before the world. Only with this mark may the world know that Christians are indeed Christians and that Jesus was sent by the Father.” It would seem, then, that spending some time considering what that love looks like would be worthwhile.

What does love look like? Is it heart-shaped box in various shades of pink filled with a variety of chocolate candies? Or a frilly card decorated with lace and scented with perfume? Or a bouquet of roses spilling out of an elegant crystal vase?

Perhaps Paul gives us the most thorough description of the love Jesus commands in his first letter to the Corinthians (13:1-15). “Love is patient,…” he begins. Making the most of your life means making the most of your commitment to love like this. Is that the kind of love that marks your life? I pray you love more like that each day.

Setting Your Course

For many people “commitment” is a dirty word. They are reluctant to make commitments to anything or anyone. You would be hard pressed to get them to commit to attend an event, join an organization, or even accompany you on a pleasure trip. They may even tell you they just like to keep their options open.

I confess there have been moments when I have envied such people. They seem so free and unconstrained. But there is a problem with being so open to going in any direction. As Yogi Berra said, “If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.”

Your commitments do define your course in life. They take you in a definite direction. They are clear sign of what is most important to you as they guide your everyday actions. Unfortunately, you may have made commitments that compete with one another. You feel stuck in an endless quandary—wondering which way to go next. In order to make the most of your life you need to make sure your commitments are moving you toward the life God wants for you—a life full of joy, blessing, and peace.

Your commitments are so important that we are going to spend a few weeks looking at some of the most important commitments of those who faithfully follow Christ:

·The commitment to give help to those who need your compassion and assistance.
·The commitment to give your money and resources, wisely investing to reap a spiritual reward.
·The commitment to give the truth of the gospel to those who ask the reason for your hope in Jesus Christ.
·And, above all, the commitment to give the gift of love to all God’s children—the gift that transcends all others in value and importance.

As you consider these essential commitments, I pray you will carefully consider what you will say “yes” and “no” to in the days ahead. The commitments you make really do matter. I would hate for you to discover you were headed “somewhere else.”

Making the Most of Your Money

From trying to figure out how to order the best meal from the dollar menu to deciding how to invest the funds in their retirement accounts people spend a lot of time and energy trying to make the most of their money and their possessions. What is particularly interesting is that some people who rarely pay any attention to their relationships with other people, or who rarely exercise their talents (and never for the benefit of someone other than themselves) are the same people who are obsessed with keeping an account of every dollar they make and spend.

It is important to be careful with the assets you have. John Wesley taught that economical living and responsible spending was a duty. In his sermon, “The Use of Money,” Wesley suggested three rules that every believer should follow: 1. Gain all you can. 2. Save all you can. 3. Give all you can. He went on to give an example of such a life without ever mentioning that the person being described was himself.

"[He] had thirty pounds a year. He lived on twenty-eight and gave away forty shillings. The next year receiving sixty pounds, he still lived on twenty-eight, and gave away two-and-thirty. The third year, he received ninety pounds, and gave away sixty-two. The fourth year he received a hundred and twenty pounds."

For four years, Wesley lived on the same amount, twenty-eight pounds. As his income increased, he gave the surplus away, regardless of how much it amounted to or what percentage of his income it was. For Wesley this was his way to honor Jesus command: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be” (Matthew 6:19-21).

Wesley wasn’t opposed to his followers earning a lot of money, but he knew that making the most of your life meant having the right relationship with the assets God entrusts to you. The monetary and material assets in your life are to be invested in a way that brings the greatest return in spiritual terms. As you make those decisions, it is essential that you are committed to God’s purposes, that you understand God’s principles, and that you follow God’s plan.