20 Years Of Ministry

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen%2012:1-3&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%2011:1&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:17&version=NIV

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Chinese proverb

Abraham.  After the earlier accounts of Adam & Eve and Noah, he bursts on to the scene at the end of Genesis 11.  The first thing we learn about Abraham is that he is about to take a journey.  God speaks to Abraham and directs him to leave his native Ur of the Chaldees and go west - to some unknown land that He would show him.  The incredible thing is that Abraham obeyed!  He left behind his home.  His relatives.  His native city.  Everything that he had ever known.  To take a journey to realms unknown.  Certainly this was a huge risk on his part.  He was, in effect, going away from civilization - to some foreign, sparsely-populated, uncivilized place. 

So Abraham stepped out in faith and, following God’s directions, arrived in Canaan.  This was where Abraham was to live.  To spend the rest of his life.  This was the land that God was going to give to his descendants - who would one day be more numerous than the stars in the sky - or the grains of sand on the seashore.  Yes, the whole story of Abraham began with a single step of faith.  And once he arrived in Canaan, though his physical journey was over - Abraham’s spiritual journey was just beginning.  He was going to have to live by faith.  Faith that God would sustain him.  Faith that God would provide him with an heir.  Faith that God would keep His promises.  Many centuries later we know that God rewarded Abraham’s faith.  How different might things have turned out for Abraham, and our world, if he had not stepped out in faith!

20 years ago our family also embarked on a significant journey.  On August 27, 1992, we arrived in Kalispell, MT inside our old 1984 Ford station wagon.  It was the end of a physical journey that had begun 4 years earlier.  It was then that we left our native Niagara Falls, NY to travel to Minnesota.  So that I could attend Crown College.  And prepare for ministry.  Now we were in Kalispell and the spiritual part of our journey - the journey into ministry - was about to take place.  Kalispell is where I would officially be known as, and called, ‘Pastor’.  Kalispell is where I would be responsible for the spiritual welfare of a group of people.  Kalispell is where I would have the opportunity to take all that ‘theory’ that I had acquired - and put it into practice. 

Certainly there was a learning curve at the beginning.  When you arrive in ministry in your first church, people automatically assume that you are skilled in every area.  Preaching.  Teaching.  Counseling.  Leadership.  Administration.  The reality is that any ‘newbie’ to ministry has very little skill.  A lot of potential perhaps.  But not much experience.

But God was gracious.  And the people were kind.  Supportive.  Loving.  And God blessed.  Eventually I gained some valuable and much-needed experience.  I was able to translate my education into skills.  I learned on-the-job and eventually became comfortable with a particular style of ministry that represented who God made me to be.

20 years later I look back on our time in Kalispell and I am amazed.  Amazed because rarely do most pastors last this long in their first church.  Amazed at the skills that I have today that were so undeveloped back then.  Amazed at the sermons I preach - for each week I get to see first-hand how God brings it all together.  Amazed at how much I have grown spiritually.  Amazed at how much I have learned about myself.  And human nature.  And the Bible.  Amazed at what God has done in our family.  Amazed at how faithful God has been each step along the way.  Amazed at the various ways that God has worked through me to impact the lives of others.  Who knew?  I certainly longed for, and hoped for, this.  But still - it is amazing when one sees it actually happen!  And to think that all of this is a result of a single step of faith years ago.  What if we hadn’t taken that step of faith?  How different would our lives be today.  And the lives of countless others.

There is a lesson in all this.  That lesson is the importance of faith.  Faith is a journey.  Faith is always moving forward - into realms yet unknown.  Faith trusts God for what it cannot see - believing that He can make the impossible possible.

So where are you taking a step of faith today?   In what areas of your life are you trusting God?  Your job?  Your marriage?  Your family?  Your finances?  Your ministry?  Wherever it is, don’t stop!  Keep going forward.  Keep trusting God.  Eventually your faith will be rewarded.  You will be able to look back and see the hand of God at work in your life.  You will be able to see how much you’ve learned.  And grown.  You will be able to see how God has used you to impact the lives of others.  And someday, in Heaven, everyone will be able to see the results of your faith.  And they will give glory to God!

Lord, I thank you for the journey of faith that led me and my family to Kalispell.  That 20 years later has produced so much fruit.  It’s all because of You.  And for You.  Help us to continue to walk by faith.  On a daily basis.  Trusting You.  Knowing that You will accomplish great things.  In us.  And through us.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

My Dad And The Lawn

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+9:10&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col%203:23-24&version=NIV

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Col%203:17&version=NIV

We grew up in a low-income housing project back in Niagara Falls, New York.  As a result of this, we had what I call was a ‘city’ lawn.  It’s the kind of lawn that most houses in the city have - small.  To show how small it was, during summer my father would mow both the front and back lawns in about 20 minutes.  With a rotary push mower.  Enough said.

About the time I became a teenager I wanted to mow lawns.  There was this elderly neighbor who needed his lawn cut.  And he was willing to pay someone to do it.  Not only was the prospect of getting some unheard-of cash in my happy little hands very exciting, so was getting to use the lawnmower.  It was sharp.  It could hurt someone.  The result?  No children allowed.  So getting to use the lawnmower was a kind of rite of passage for me.

Well, my dad, being the thorough kind of guy he was, didn’t just turn me loose with the lawnmower.  Oh, no.  He had to instruct me on how to operate it.  First, there was the proper stance so that you could push it.  Then there was the admonition about being careful not to hit any rocks, sticks or other objects that might dull the blade.  Finally, there was the half-cut method.  This meant that you only mowed half the width of the lawnmower.  The idea being that when you came back the opposite way, you mowed the same patch of grass from the opposite direction.  This ensured that you cut the lawn thoroughly.  That there would be no isolated patches of uncut lawn leftover from trying to cut too much with each pass.  Unfortunately, it also meant basically cutting the lawn twice.

After the newness of mowing the lawn wore off (it always does, and rather quickly) I no longer appreciated my dad’s method of cutting the grass.  So I started cheating.  Taking 3/4's cuts.  Sometimes even whole-width cuts.  Even more than whole-width cuts!  Of course, the inevitable happened.  The result was isolated patches of uncut grass.  Grass that was an eye-sore compared to the rest of the lawn.  Grass that I needed to go back and cut.

Now I am much older.  And wiser.  I still mow the lawn.  But not with a rotary mower!  I use a gas, self-propelled walk-behind mower.  It takes me about 90 minutes to mow my entire lawn.  I can’t say that I really enjoy it.  (I sort of envy my dad’s ‘city’-sized lawn).  But my large lawn gives me a little space from my neighbors.  And it’s great for the grandkids.  Funny thing is, as much as I dislike mowing the lawn, I find myself cutting it half the width of the mower!  Why, I don’t know.  Because I can cut the whole width of the mower if I want to.  There’s nothing preventing me from doing that.  So, why do I mow my lawn dad’s way?

I suppose it’s because I see the logic behind what my dad was teaching me way back then.  He wasn’t teaching me how to mow the lawn so much as he was teaching me how to do the job right.  The first time.  Because my reputation was on the line.  Because lifelong habits were being formed.  Habits that would serve me well later in life.  Habits that, if they were bad, would be difficult to break.

I find that our Heavenly Father often does the same thing with us.  He teaches us certain methods.  He instructs us in certain ways.  Methods and ways that we often don’t understand.  Methods and ways that we often rebel against.  And resist.  Such as the way to greatness is through servanthood.  The way to glory is humility.  The way to strength is weakness.  Funny thing is, that there are reasons why God teaches us the methods & ways that He does.  They are for our benefit.  They help form our character.  Character that will pay rich dividends throughout our lives.  Character that will positively impact the lives of others.

Of course, when I taught my sons how to mow the lawn, I taught them the half-cut method.  I’m not sure that they appreciated it.  (Most teens don't.)  And if I get a chance to teach my grandchildren how to mow the lawn, you can be sure that I am going to teach them the half-cut method as well.  Why?  Because I’m not just teaching them how to mow the lawn.  Like dad, I’m teaching them good habits.  Habits that will have a positive impact on them the rest of their lives.

Lord, I thank you for a father who was wise.  A man who taught me life lessons at an early age.  I also thank you for the life lessons that You are teaching me.  May I pay attention to them.  Implement them.  And be blessed by them.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Flat Sheets Or Fitted?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20103:13-14&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Phil%204:19&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2012:9&version=NIV1984

I try to help out my wife Beth around the house whenever I can.  Once or twice a week this means folding the laundry for her.  Sometimes that involves folding the sheets.  What I have learned after many years of marriage is that there are 2 kinds of sheets - fitted and flat.  Fitted sheets go directly on the mattress.  They usually are a struggle to get on because they fit so tight.  Which is good.  I hate sloppy sheets.  The flat sheet then gets put on top of the fitted sheet.  And pulled back slightly at the top.  When you go to sleep at night you sleep between the fitted sheet (bottom) and the flat sheet (top).  OK.  Sheets 101.  Back to the folding part.

Flat sheets are easy to fold.  Whichever way that you fold them (and it seems that there are several ways to do this), since they are rectangular, they match up nicely.  Fold in half.  Fold in half again.  Fold the other way several times and presto, you have a nicely folded sheet.  Not so with fitted sheets.

Fitted sheets have those pesky corners that make them fit very snug on the mattress.  But they are terrible for folding.  What I normally try to do is to put the corners of one end of the sheet and then match them with the corners of the other side.  Because of the layout of the fitted sheet, this is an approximation at best.  Then I fold the sheet in half the other way so that both corners match.  Again, this is an approximation.  Then I just start randomly folding until the fitted sheet is about the same size as the flat sheet.  Unfortunately, when I am finished folding it, the fitted sheet couldn’t look any worse than if I had just rolled it up into a ball.  The point is that flat sheets are a perfectionist’s dream.  Fitted sheets are a perfectionist’s nightmare.

Is this a lot like life or what!  There are some areas of our lives that are like flat sheets.  These areas differ from person to person.  For some people a ‘flat sheet’ could be their finances.  Or their house.  Their yard.  Their job.  The point is that these areas are nice and neat.  Organized.  And we are able to manage them fairly well.  Then there are the areas of our lives that are more like fitted sheets.  How appropriate since they actually give us ‘fits’!  Again, these areas differ from person to person.  Finances.  House.  Yard.  Job.  The point is that these areas are a mess.  They look like a bomb has exploded.  We have little semblance of control over them and most of the time they control us.  We try to get these areas to look like the flat sheets but to no avail.  They are what they are.  A jumbled mess.

Lately I have been finding a disturbing trend in my life.  I don’t know if it’s the fact that I am getting old, busier, or less ambitious (or maybe a combination of all three) but I am finding that some former ‘flat sheet’ areas have now become ‘fitted sheet’ areas.  They are a mess.  And so am I.  I keep trying to get them back under control but it ain’t happening!  This leaves me with two choices - renew my efforts to get these areas back under control, to make them a little more organized and manageable - or to accept the fact that they are not going to be nice and neat anytime soon.  If ever.

The good news is that we don’t have to be perfect.  (That is very good news!)  We don’t have to have every single area of our lives organized.  And under control.  In fact, a quick survey of the Bible finds that many people mentioned in its pages didn’t have their lives totally in order.  Jesus did.  But Peter didn’t.  In fact, Peter had a lot of loose ends in his life.  So did David.  And Abraham.  And many others.  So if people like these didn’t have their act entirely together, what are we worrying and stressing about?  The truth is that Jesus loves us exactly the way we are.  Mess and all.  Yes, He wants us to grow and mature.  To allow the Holy Spirit to tidy up some untidy areas of our lives.  But we don’t have to be perfect in order to receive Jesus’ love and approval.  We already have it!

So let’s go ahead and celebrate the flat sheets in our lives.  And be glad that at least some areas are in pretty decent shape.  But let’s not be ashamed of the fitted sheets either.  Life is messy.  Some areas just don’t just come together very nicely.  And there’s not much we can do about it.  Flat or fitted, we have to rely on Jesus anyway!

Lord, although I wish that I were on top of every area of my life, the reality is that I am not.  And I fear that some areas are never going to be what I want them to be.  Or what You want them to be.  I must remember that I am still a work in progress.  Thank you for Your willingness to help me.  With both the fitted sheets as well as the flat ones.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A God Who Flushes Toilets

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http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%20103:10-12&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+43:25&version=NIV1984

As I recall, our oldest grandson, Brett, seemed to get the hang of being potty-trained fairly easy.  Of course, one of the reasons why he did so well was his fascination with the whole process.  First, there was his excitement of being able to produce lots of bubbles when he peed in the toilet.  Then there was his fascination with flushing the toilet and watching everything make a downward spiral and out of sight.  When a child gets to this stage your water bill will automatically spike.  It’s because they often flush the toilet multiple times.  Whether it needs to be flushed or not.  Just for the fun of it.

Unfortunately, over the past couple years, Brett’s fascination with flushing has been replaced by absent-mindedness.  Lately whenever I go in to use the guest bathroom, I find that it has not been flushed.  It seems that Brett now has other things on his mind (like getting to the dinner table or going outside) so he often forgets to flush the toilet.  The past month or so Beth and I have reminded him several times that he needs to complete the process.  He needs to flush the toilet.

This past week Brett joined me up at Dickey Lake Bible Camp for a day.  Several times in our journeys back and forth across the camp I had to stop in and use the restroom.  (It seems that the older you get, the more you need to go.)  Now historically, camp restrooms are not always the cleanest of places, especially during a children’s camp.  Used paper towels on the counter or on the floor.  A few articles of clothing lying around.  And unflushed toilets.  It seems like every time we went in to use the restroom, it smelled.  Bad.  Brett noticed the odor right away.  I told him to check the toilets.  There were 3 of them.  Sure enough, at least one if not two toilets had not been flushed.  So Brett flushed them.  And the smell gradually dissipated.  This led to a good discussion with Brett about why it’s important to flush the toilet after using it.  If you don’t, the bathroom will start to smell.  Besides, neither you nor anyone else really wants to see what you left behind.  (Behind - get it!)

As I thought about this it reminded me of an important spiritual truth.  The Bible says that sin is nasty.  Disgusting.  Smelly.  Putrid.  It smells up a person’s life.  And it is unsightly.  The fact is that we are repulsed at the sight of our sins.  So are others.  And so is God.  Fortunately, God made a way for our sins to be flushed away.  This ‘way’ was a result of Jesus’ death on the cross.  When Jesus uttered the words ‘It is finished’ and died on the cross, forgiveness for our sins was made available to us.  When we repent and confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness, God does just that.  He forgives them.  This is the equivalent of Him flushing our sins so that they disappear.  Never to be seen again.  All the putridness, all the smell, all the repulsiveness, are gone in an instant!  Gone forever!  And whenever we subsequently sin, I John 1:9 tells us all we need to do is repent, confess those sins, and God will flush them away as well.

Wow!  A God who is willing to flush toilets!  Our toilet!  Someone who won’t let the smell and the putridness of our sins put Him off.  A God who is willing to do whatever it takes to make us holy.  Righteous.  Pure.  What a wonderful God we have!

Lord, there are times when I am absolutely horrified by the ugliness, the putridness, the stench of my sins.  I am so glad that You provided a way to get rid of them.  That in Your love and grace, You flush them away.  All of them.  Forever.  Thank you for Your willingness to do this for me.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The 23rd Psalm - Part III

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2023:2-3&version=NASB

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2023:2-3&version=NIV1984

Continuing our look at the 23rd Psalm, we come to verses 2 and 3.  In these verses there are four parts, each beginning with the word ‘He’.  I want to look at three of these.

He makes me lie down in green pastures

Is there anything better than nice, lush, green grass in a field?  Especially if we don’t have to mow it!  Think of some of the lush, green landscapes that one finds in the United Kingdom and you get an idea of what this looks like.  Of course, if we find beauty in such a scene how much more do sheep!  All the grass they can eat.  This must be the closest thing to Heaven on earth they could imagine.  Then, when they have eaten to their heart’s content, they can lie down in it.  I would imagine that sheep have the same feelings about lying down that we humans do.  And us humans would take lying down in a field of grass any day to lying down in dirt and rocks.

He leads me beside quiet waters

Right about now in Montana the streams are running pretty high.  This is because of the snow melt at lower elevations.  And also the result of some of the recent rain that we’ve had.  Now while kayakers and whitewater enthusiasts like high, fast streams, the rest of us don’t.  Fast, high streams are generally muddy so they aren’t conducive to good fishing.  And I suppose that they aren’t exactly the best water to drink from either.  The fact is that if a sheep should get to close to fast water it could possibly fall in and drown.  The result is that high, fast streams mean danger for sheep.  And so the wise shepherd will find a nice, slow-moving stream to lead his sheep to.  Or an oasis.  Or a pool of water.  There the sheep can enjoy drinking cool, clean, refreshing water. And also enjoy the accompanying coolness that such a stream brings to a rather hot landscape.

He restores my soul

Again, understanding that sheep are pretty similar to humans in some respects, once a sheep has eaten its share of green grass and drank its share of refreshing water, what does it want to do?  Relax.  Lie down.  Rest.  This serves to renew the sheep’s energy and vitality.  This is important so it can be healthy and ward off sickness and disease.  When it comes to people, there is a good reason why they enjoy dinner = food and drink.  Once their bodies’ physical needs have been taken care of, then a person can sit back.  Rest.  Relax.  Enjoy themselves.  Whether it’s at a restaurant, a friend’s house, or home, there is something very restorative about dinner.  Spirit’s are revived.  Things are put in their proper perspective.  Now let's put all of these phrases together.

In a word, these three phrases represent care.  This could easily be the theme of the entire Psalm.   Life is such that it has a way of wearing us down.  Causing us to grow weary.  To lose strength.  Tired and exhausted, we become susceptible to discouragement, depression and even sin.  As our Good Shepherd, Jesus cares for us.  He leads us to those green pastures of rest and relaxation.  He leads us to places where we can drink from His Spirit and His Word.  He restores our soul.  To restore means ‘to repair, renovate, or return to a former condition’.  Jesus revitalizes our spirit to the point where we are able not only to function once again but to live life triumphantly.

What a wonderful picture this is of Jesus - not only our Savior but our Shepherd.  Are you experiencing His care today?  If not, you can.  All you need to do is to seek Him out and follow His leading.  As I Peter 5:7 encourages us, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

Lord, I thank you that You care for me.  Me!  In every way.  May I continue to follow You and submit to Your leading, as so find rest for my body and soul.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

The 23rd Psalm - Part II

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2023:1&version=NASB

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2023:1&version=NIV1984

Continuing with my thoughts about Psalm 23, moving on to the rest of verse 1...“I shall not be in want.”

‘Want’ is an interesting word.  As any parent knows, ‘want’ is an integral part of a child’s language.  Every time a commercial comes on for some new toy, they immediately ‘want’ it.  Around our house, our grandchildren are already letting us know what they ‘want’ for Christmas...which is still 7 months away!  Of course, adults are also pretty familiar with 'want’ as well.  We all ‘want’ something - be it clothes, jewelry, tools, a new vehicle, a vacation, whatever.  Fill in the blank.  So in the positive sense of the word, ‘want’ is equivalent to desire.  And, as we all know, there is no shortage of things that we desire.

‘Want’, however, also has a negative sense.  In a word, ‘want’ indicates lack.  As in something missing or lacking.  We see this in Daniel 5:27, and the writing on the wall which Daniel interprets for King Belshazzar, “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.”   Not good.  In other words, God was telling King Belshazzar that he was lacking in the area of character and godliness.  The result was he was killed that very night.  Another word that would substitute for ‘want’ is need.  This is a word that we are more familiar with.  What is interesting about the phrase “I shall not be in want”, is that ‘want’ is used in the negative sense in a positive way.  (Stay with me on this one.)  What David is saying is that since the Lord is his Shepherd, he will have no ‘wants’.  No lack.  No needs.  In other words, David will lack for nothing in his life.  All of his needs will be taken care of.  This is obviously a huge positive for David.

What a precious promise this is for each of us as well!  All of us have needs in this life.  From the most basic needs of food and water to the more complex needs of purpose and fulfillment.  In short, life is a constant struggle by us to meet all of our needs.  Unfortunately, not only do we have a lot of needs, many of them are reoccurring, which means that they have to be met over and over again.  This is part of the perplexing nature of human existence.  No sooner do we have a need met, than it requires our attention once again soon after (food, water, rest, etc.).  The good news is that our Shepherd, Jesus (John 10) is able to meet all of our needs.  He is able to take care of us to the point where we are not ‘wanting’ for anything.  Everything, from the most basic needs to the most complex, are taken care of by Him.  All we have to do is to trust Him.  To willingly place ourselves under His control.  To follow His leading.

Again, isn’t this wonderful news!  This means we can get off the proverbial treadmill of life.  We don’t have to relentlessly try to meet our needs only to discover that we have to start all over again.  Countless millions of people are doing this very thing every single day.  And they are worn out from it.  Exhausted.  Discouraged.  As Jesus said in Matthew 6, if we will put the Kingdom of God first in our lives, all of our needs will be taken care of.  All of them!  This means we can relax.  We can enjoy life.  We can follow close at the heels of our Good Shepherd without a single care in the world.  Our needs will be taken care of.  Daily.  Abundantly.  We will not be in want.

Lord, I thank you for the reality that is found here in the first verse of the 23rd Psalm - that when I follow Your leading I will not be in want - today, tomorrow, ever!  How simple this makes my life!  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The 23rd Psalm - Part I

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2023:1&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ps%2023:1&version=NIV1984

Psalm 1:2 says that “Blessed is the one whose delight is in the law of the Lord and who meditates on His law day and night.”  I’ve been thinking about this verse for some time.  And asking God what it looks like?  I mean, exactly what portions of Scripture could I meditate on that would draw me into His presence?  Yesterday God answered that prayer.

As I was mowing my lawn (this gives me 90 minutes to think and pray) my mind was drawn to the 23rd Psalm.  I think everyone would agree that this is the most popular Psalm.  And probably one of the most famous passages of Scripture.  Right up there with John 3:16 and a few other verses.  In my mind I went over the Psalm verse-by-verse.  And even word-by-word.  In my post today I just want to mention what God showed my in famous opening line of the Psalm - The Lord is my Shepherd.

The Lord - Wow.  Where to begin?  The Bible tells us that the Lord is eternal in the Heavens.  Master and Creator of the Universe.  Maker of Heaven and earth.  Almighty.  Omniscient.  Omnipresent.  Holy.  The center and attention of Heaven.  I thought about Isaiah’s vision of the Lord in Isaiah 6.  Seated on His throne.  High and lifted up.  The train of His robe filling the Temple.  Attended to by angels.  Smoke.  Thunder.  Glory.  These are just a few insights into who the Lord is.

Is - One of the smaller words, for sure.  Yet is has a lot to say.  The same mighty, exalted, glorious Lord that we just looked at ‘is’.  I don’t profess to be an English major but it seems to me that ‘is’ denotes present tense.  In other words, not the past, or the future, but right now.  ‘The Lord is’.  In other words, He exists right now.  This brings great comfort and encouragement to me because I need the Lord now!  The past is over and done with.  Tomorrow is still in the future.  I need the Lord today.  Right now.  Right this very minute.

My - Another small word that says a lot.  Again, venturing into territory that I am probably not qualified to explore, as I understand it, ‘my’ is possessive.  In other words, whatever or whoever the object is, when I say ‘my’, it belongs to me.  Me!  This means that I have some sort of stake of ownership in it.  It personalizes things.  No longer is it ‘the’ Lord, as in everyone’s Lord but ‘my’ Lord!  This reminds me of the words of Thomas after He saw the resurrected Jesus with his own eyes in John 20:28, “My Lord and my God!”  The word ‘my’ takes things from being abstract and makes them personal.  Is there any better word to attach ‘my’ to than the Lord?

Shepherd - Here is the object of the entire first phrase.  Most of us who are familiar with the Bible are also familiar with what a shepherd is.  Shepherds have a long, rich tradition in Scripture.  The patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac & Jacob) were all shepherds to some degree.  So was Moses.  And David.  Amos the prophet.  Shepherds were also the ones who received the news of the birth of Jesus and who saw Him the night He was born.  What does a shepherd do?  Care for sheep.  Which is a pretty big job when it comes right down to it.  Without getting ahead of myself, a shepherd takes care of a sheep’s need for food and water.  Shelter and protection.  He inspects it from time-to-time to make sure that it hasn’t been infected with parasites or some kind of illness.  The shepherd lives with the sheep day and night.  As a result the shepherd knows his sheep better than any one else.  He knows his sheep intimately. 

The Lord is my Shepherd - So now we put it all together.  The great, almighty, sovereign Lord of the universe is a shepherd.  And He is my Shepherd!  Right now.  At this very moment.  This means He is currently watching over me.  Meeting all of my needs.  Protecting me.  Guiding me.  Loving me.  Again, I say wow!  What an incredible thought!  No wonder why the 23rd Psalm is one the most beloved passages of Scripture.  We’ve only looked at five words and already we are overwhelmed with wonder and gratefulness!

What words to think about and meditate on!  What words of comfort and encouragement!  What words of hope and joy!  So let's take some time and go over these words in our minds.  To think about what they mean for us.  To let them speak to our spirit and soul.  This is why they have been preserved for us.  These are God’s own words straight to our hearts!

Lord, I thank you for Your Word.  In particular for the 23rd Psalm.  Oh how much those first few words say to me.  How they speak to my heart.  How they encourage and strengthen me.  And humble me.  Who am I that You should care for me?  And watch over me?  And know me so intimately?  And love me so much?  May the reality of these words penetrate to the depths of my being.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Incredible Hulk

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:19-20&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+29:22&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2022:24-25&version=NIV1984

The other day, I was watching some DVD’s with my grandsons, Brett & Jaydon, 5 and 3 respectively.  They love watching superhero DVD’s (yes!!) and so they had selected The Avengers.  One of the episodes on the DVD featured the Incredible Hulk.  I remember reading about the Incredible Hulk in comic books when I was a teenager.  And then I watched the TV series by the same name starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno from 1978-1982.  But I haven't seen the movie about the big, green guy that came out in 2008.  Guess I'm going to have to do that.

If you aren’t familiar with the Incredible Hulk, the story goes like this.  A scientist, Dr. David Banner, accidently exposes himself to high levels of gamma radiation.  The radiation doesn’t appear to have an effect on him at first, but when Banner gets angry, he suddenly turns into a very powerful green monster known as the Incredible Hulk.  The theme is basically a combination of the Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde and Frankenstein stories.  Of course, the Incredible Hulk, with his raw power, greatly appeals to boys and men.

 

As I said, I grew up reading comic books about all the superheros, but as I sat there watching the animated version of the Hulk with my grandsons, I was reminded why I have a problem with him.  The problem is that when David Banner gets angry he turns into the Incredible Hulk.  The Hulk then uses his superior strength to take care of whatever situation he’s dealing with.  So the underlying lesson is that getting angry solves problems.  That is not the kind of lesson I want to teach my grandchildren.  Or anyone else’s children or grandchildren, for that matter.  The reason why is that nothing could be further from the truth.

In real life, anger creates far more problems than it solves.  Think of a marriage where a couple gets into an argument. Yelling and screaming.  Name-calling. Slamming doors.  Throwing objects. Maybe even physical abuse.  Instead of discussing their differences in a rational manner that makes solving problems possible, anger makes reconciliation very difficult.  If not impossible.  The same is true of other situations.  Whenever a person or persons become angry, common-sense and level-headedness usually go out the window.  The result is that a relatively small disagreement can mushroom into a huge argument or altercation.  One that leaves behind hurt feelings.  Guilt.  Remorse.  Lasting scars. 

Now there are athletes who use anger to help motivate them to play better.  They nurse grudges against an opponent.  Or they manufacture an offense from the most innocent of comments.  Or perceive a slight.  This athlete then uses their anger to help them play better.  Of course, the downside to this is that an athlete’s anger can cause them to take revenge on another player.  To do something that is illegal.  If caught, they get penalized and so does their team.  The end result is that sometimes the anger the athlete was trying to use to help them ends up hurting them and their team instead.  Then there is the larger issue that anger often becomes a learned behavior.  How many athletes do we know who get angry off the field as well?  Who wind up getting into fights at bars.  Or who are involved in domestic violence in the home.

The fact is that there is not much good that comes from anger.  In the overwhelming majority of cases, anger only makes things worse.  Which is why the Bible has so much to say about it.  Among other things, we are told to refrain from anger.  To deal with it immediately and not let it go on unaddressed (Ephesians 4:26).  To stay away from people who are given to anger so that we don’t adopt the pattern ourselves (Proverbs 22:24-25).  To give a gentle reply to people and not a harsh one (Proverbs 15:1).  Yes, it is true that Jesus displayed anger.  His cleansing of the Temple is a prime example of this.  But Jesus’ anger was a holy anger.  It was indignation at the callous disregard He saw of His people toward God.  It was focused anger.  Controlled.  Unlike the anger that we often experience which leads us to become out-of-control.

The bottom line is that I’ll probably still watch the Incredible Hulk with my grandsons.  But I will use it as a teaching tool.  I will explain to them that anger does not solve problems.  It creates them.  And makes them worse.  I will then tell them what the Bible says about anger.  And talk to them about the poster child for anger in the Bible - Samson.  Anger certainly was the undoing of his life.  I will explain how allowing the Holy Spirit to control our lives is a much better route to take.  That such things as patience, forgiveness and love are much better responses to problems.  And problem people. 

Lord, You know that anger is one issue that I struggled with as a child.  Most likely I learned it from my dad.  It was an area that threatened to ruin my entire life.  I thank you that when I put my faith in Jesus as my Savior that Your Holy Spirit helped me in this area.  To the point where now people can’t believe that I ever had a problem with it.  Continue to help me to avoid anger.  To be loving.  Kind.  Patient.  Forgiving.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

FOX News: The Christian News Channel?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians+10:3-5&version=NIV1984 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%206:28&version=NIV1984 

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2055:8-9&version=NIV

I confess.  I don’t watch a lot of news.  In fact, I don’t watch any news.  I used to.  I’ve never been one for national news.  But Beth & I used to watch the local news.  Every night.  But then our routine changed.  And it’s not like there’s much good on the news.  A crime here.  A tragedy there.  More controversies that a person can even keep track of.  Besides, I get to see the headlines everyday when I log on to my home page.  So I feel like I am pretty up-to-date with what’s happening in the world.

If I were going to watch a national news program it certainly would be FOX News.  Out of all the networks I think they present a much less biased and liberal view.  Now this does not mean that FOX News is conservative.  But they are much more conservative than the network news programs.  I did watch FOX News fairly extensively during the Iraqi invasion.  I trusted them to be fairly unbiased in their reporting.  I liked Shephard Smith and thought that he did a good job of covering the war.

In a world devoid of options, many Christians have gravitated to FOX News as the news channel of choice.   Like me, they like FOX’s less-liberal-biased reporting.  And their willingness to present the conservative view on matters.  After all, FOX News purports itself to be fair and balanced.  As a result, FOX News has been adopted by many Christians as the only news channel to be watched.  The same way that the Republican Party has become the only political party for Christians.  In the process, commentators such as Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have become revered as courageous people who stand up to the liberals.  They tell it like it is.  They put the liberals in their place.  They throw their arguments back in their face.  I admit that part of me enjoys this, too.  It is so gratifying to see the same tactics that the liberals are using, used against them.  Fight fire with fire.  See how you like it!

But while I appreciate FOX News as being the best that we have to choose from, I am going to stop short of anointing it as the spokesperson for my faith.  First of all, I don’t know if many of the commentators are Christians.  This means that while they can give clever and insightful responses to many of our country’s problems, they don’t do so from a Biblical perspective.  For example, when was the last time that a commentator actually said that Jesus was the answer to a problem?  When was the last time that a commentator stated that the proper way to respond to hate was with love?  I understand why they don’t.  It’s because they don’t know Jesus in the first place.  So how could they possibly promote Christian-based values and strategies? 

Secondly, the tactics that the commentators use to defend their beliefs are not Christian.  The Bible has many verses that talk about ‘speaking the truth in love’, not letting ‘any unwholesome word’ come from our lips, about making sure that our conversation is ‘always full of grace, seasoned with salt’.  The fact is that when you start making fun of your opponents, attack them, call them names, and belittle them, you are stooping down to their level.  But hey, it attracts viewers.  And isn’t that what really matters?  However, as a Christian, I would never speak to someone, or about someone else, in this way.  Nor would I expect any other Christian to speak to someone else in this way.

And this is precisely the point.  Is any of our haranguing about the left changing them?  Is it transforming their hearts and minds?  No.  It is simply causing them to dig in that much more.  The strategy to use is love.  Sure, state the facts.  Present the logical argument.  Stand up for the truth.  But do it with grace and love.  That’s what Jesus would do.

So while FOX News is the best available source for reliable, unbiased news on the networks, we need to remember that, at its heart, it still is humanistic.  And humanistic solutions, while they sound good, will never work.  At least not in the long term.  So let’s not buy into them.  Only godly solutions will work.  And one day, when Jesus appears back on this planet, those godly solutions are going to be implemented.  Peace will reign.  Righteousness will be the norm.  And this world will be exactly the way God created it to be.  The way that we long for it to be.  Now that will be news indeed!

Lord, help me to remember that the way to counter hate, deception and evil is with love, truth and righteousness.  Help me to be able to sincerely pray for my enemies.  For those who are actively seeking to destroy this country.  For those who are opposing Your kingdom in the process.  May You bring the light of Your presence into their lives.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

He Likes It! He Likes It! - Part II

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+20:9&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2043:2&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%209:16&version=NIV1984

Continuing yesterday’s post and my feelings of failure and frustration in ministry.  I am called to be a pastor.  But I don’t often feel like I’m making the grade.  What should I do?

I pray.  A lot.  I cry out to God.  I am so pathetic.  I have so many shortcomings and weaknesses.  How in the world is anyone getting anything out of my ministry?  Then something happens.  I think for a moment.  I have been caught in the trap of being self-critical.  Of looking only where I come up short.  And not where I have succeeded.  Of looking only at what I don't like about ministry.  And not what I enjoy.  It turns out that there is a lot I actually like about ministry.  I enjoy reading and studying the Bible each day.  And I definitely like preaching.  And teaching.  I like seeing people being transformed by God's amazing power.  I enjoy the relationships that I've developed over the years with so many people.  As I am thinking about all this, something else happens.  I get positive feedback from others.  They confirm that God is using me.  An encouragement card.  A verbal word of praise.  Or thanks.  Occasionally someone mentions how a sermon spoke to them.  Or they mention how much a visit meant to them.  They tell me that they regularly read my blog.  And are blessed by it.  Who knew?

To bring this full circle, what I have finally discovered about ministry is, “I like it!  I really like it!”  There is nothing else I want to do with my life.  As hard and as difficult as it is at times, ministry is the only thing I can do.  Anything else would be waste of my God-given talents.  No, I haven’t arrived.  And probably never will.  And no, I will never be able to get all the ministries that I want to have up-and-running in my church.  And it is probably never going to become a very large church.  But that’s OK.  I’m doing what God wants me to.  Where He wants me to do it.

And isn’t that about the best that any of us can hope for?  I mean, which one of us has the ‘perfect’ job?  Which one of us feels like we are constantly performing to our potential?  That we are doing well in every area of our lives?  Which one of us isn't painfully aware of our weaknesses and shortcomings?  Which one of us doesn’t deal with feelings of failure?  Or get discouraged from time to time?  The fact is that we all do.  Some do more than others but no one is exempt.

What's the answer?  First of all, to know that we are in the center of God's will.  When you know that you are right where God wants you to be, it is a great means of comfort and encouragement.  Secondly, to know that God will help us.  I love Romans 8:32 and think of it often.  "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"  The point is clear.  If God gave us Jesus to save us from our sins, He will give us whatever we need to accomplish His will - strength, wisdom, patience, understanding, etc.  Thirdly, to know that God is pleased with effort.  He knows that we are human.  He made us!  He knows that we will stumble from time to time.  And even fail.  And He's OK with that!  Because He knows that we are doing the best that we can under the circumstances.  The fact is that God never asks more than what we are capable of! 

So if you feel that you're not cutting it in life, that you're not a good spouse, or parent, or employee, or Sunday School teacher, relax.  Continue to have faith in God.  Keep on doing what you're doing.  If He wants you to do things differently He will tell you.  Remember that others are not your judge.  And neither are you!  God is your judge.  And it just might be that He is not as hard and demanding as you think He is.  Also be aware that you have more successes than you give yourself credit for.  Think about what it is that you are doing right.  The places where you see God blessing.  You need to hold on to this when discouragement and disillusionment come.  Learn to be content where you are.  That was Paul's advice.  Focus on what you like.  It's probably more than what you think it is.  Bloom where you are.  Someday you will see what God accomplished through you.  And you will be amazed!  And grateful to Him!

Lord, there are times when I am my own worst enemy!  Help me to remember that I am where You have led me - doing what You want me to do.  If you want me to go somewhere else - or to do things differently - let me know.  I will obey.  Otherwise I am going to continue to do my best, right where I am, as You enable me.  Help me to be faithful and to trust You for the results.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

He Likes It! He Likes It! - Part I

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Timothy+3:1&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Timothy+4:2&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+5:2&version=NASB

In 1974 a TV commercial for Life Cereal was unveiled.  It involved 2 young brothers who weren’t sure that they wanted to try a new cereal.  So they decided to give it to their youngest brother, 4-year-old Mikey.  Mikey, it seems, didn’t like much of anything.  Well, Mikey tried the cereal, and to his brother’s surprise, he liked it.  In fact, their reply, “He likes it!  Hey Mikey!” became an instant hit.  The commercial was so successful that it ran for 12 years, becoming one of the longest-running commercials since.  You can watch the commercial at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow5cHJx43i0  I was thinking about that old commercial earlier today.

At the end of August I will have been in ministry for 20 years.  That’s probably not much of a milestone to many pastors.  But it is to me.  I had no clue as to whether I would be a good pastor or not.  So just surviving has to say something.  During this time ministry has been pretty much what I expected it to be.  I knew that it involved preaching & teaching.  Counseling & administration.  And officiating at weddings and funerals.  What I didn’t realize was the immensity of the job.  That there was so much to do.  And I gradually became aware that I wasn’t getting it all done.  Each time I would go to District Conference some speaker would talk about the importance of a particular aspect of ministry.  “If you’re not discipling your people, you’re not doing your job!”  “Reaching the lost is a pastor’s first and most important task.”  “You need to be training your people.”  “Missions is God’s heartbeat.  A pastor needs to be out front leading the charge in this area.”  Every time I listened to these guys I would sink a little lower in my seat.  “I need to ramp things up and get after it.  I’m not even close to doing what I should be doing!” I thought.

Then I would listen to other pastors talk.  One pastor would mention how he fasts for days at a time.  Every month.  Another pastor says that he gets up at 5:30 AM, every morning, and spends 2 hours in prayer and devotions.  Another pastor says that he spends time every week out in his community.  Wow!  I thought I was doing pretty good before all this.  I’m not doing any of these things!  Then there are the testimonies from pastors who are tearing it up.  And the articles that you read.  Or maybe the churches right in your own community.  Things like: 200 conversions last year.  Church attendance doubled.  Built a brand new church.  Worship musicians that are semi-professional.  Finally, there’s the nagging feeling that your District Superintendent isn’t happy with your performance.  Oh, he may not say anything negative.  At least not to you.  But he doesn’t say anything positive either.  So what am I supposed to believe.  Apparently I’m not doing a good job.

Of course, being a perfectionist doesn’t help matters.  Even without all of the stuff above, I am constantly disappointed with my performance.  There is so much to do!  And all I seem to be able to do is to maintain the status quo.  But that isn’t good enough.  So I work harder.  Smarter.  Longer.  I’m making a little progress.  But nowhere near enough.  Then I get discouraged.  “Maybe...I’m not cut out for this job.”  “Maybe...someone else could do better.”  “Maybe...I ought to think about some other line of work.”  With pressure and thoughts like this I can’t really say that I have enjoyed ministry.  Oh sure, there are moments here and there where I feel successful.  But they are few and far between.  And this is at a church that treats their pastor well!  I have no clue how I would survive in a dysfunctional church.  I wouldn’t!  They would chew me up and spit me out so fast it’d make my head spin!  More on this subject in tomorrow's post.

Lord, I know that I often don't measure up to my own expectations for ministry.  And perhaps I don't measure up to the expectations of others either.  But this I know - I am being faithful to Your call upon my life.  And I will never be able to accomplish anything in ministry except as you enable me.  Work through me to accomplish Your will in my life.  And in my church.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

My College Graduation: 20 Years Later

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17:20&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10:38&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Heb%2011:1&version=NIV1984

Yesterday was 20 years since I graduated from Crown (St Paul Bible) College.  Wow.  Time really does fly!  I was 38 years old - soon to be 39.  Almost old enough to be the parent of many of my classmates! I remember walking across the stage with pride receiving my diploma.  A lot of time, money and effort went into that piece of paper!  A huge blessing was that my parents and all of my brothers made the trip out from New York to see me graduate.  One of my most treasured pictures is of my dad, three brothers and my two sons with me at the front of the college the morning of graduation.  My graduation was actually the fulfillment of a dream that God gave me as a child.

If you can believe this, I was called into ministry before I was actually a Christian!  It is an interesting story.  After being miraculously healed of a brain tumor (another great story) my parents upheld their end of the bargain by starting to attend church.  We were unchurched and unsaved at the time.  Unfortunately the church we started attending was a mainline denomination that didn’t preach the Gospel.  Anyway, liking to read, as well as having a love for biography and history, I took to the Bible like a duck takes to water.  In the span of 3 years I knew more about the Bible than any of the children who’d grown up in the church.  I remember that I took pieces of paper and put Bible verses on them.  Then I’d tape them all over the walls and hallway of our house. (I’m sure my parents really liked that!).  This was how I memorized Scripture.  Then I’d get my younger brothers and sisters together and we’d play church.  Of course, I was both the teacher and pastor.  I’d make tests on pieces of paper where they had to fill in the blanks.  Then I would preach to them.  I believed in a full-service church! 

Somewhere along the line I must have mentioned something to my parents about wanting to become a pastor.  While I was in 6th grade my dad took me to see the pastor.  We sat in his study and talked.  I remember that he gave me 4 or 5 books to read about Jesus and the Bible.  Of course, I read them in no time.  At home we would periodically watch Billy Graham Crusades on our old black-and-white TV.  I wanted to become the next Billy Graham.  It was another year or two later, after we started attending an evangelical church, that I put my faith in Jesus as my Savior.  The first one in my entire family of 8.  Unfortunately, by the time I graduated from high school, I had lost sight of the dream.  I got a job and went to work.  Was married.  In 1976 I enrolled at Houghton College, south of Buffalo, to pursue a degree in pastoral ministry.  I went for a week.  I really enjoyed it.  But I was working rotating shifts at a paper plant.  And it was an hour-plus commute there and back each day.  So I prayed about it.  And withdrew.  At least I got all my tuition money back!

In the Spring of 1988 I talked to Beth about attending Bible College.  It seemed like the impossible dream.  I would have to quit my job.  (I was the only one working).  We had 3 children.  We’d have to sell our house.  (It was a fixer-upper that we didn’t have the money to fix!).  We had an old beater of a car.  And no money!  Well, how was this going to work out?  I applied to Crown College and was accepted.  We put our house up for sale.  (It didn’t sell until 18 months later - and then we practically gave it away!)  We sold or gave away a lot of our furniture.  I quit my job.  We packed up our car and an old pick-up truck and headed for the college.  What a traumatic move that was!  We left behind both sets of parents.  All of our friends.  The only place we’d ever lived.  I felt like Abraham.  (Except that I knew where I was going).  I just didn’t know how we were ever going to make it work!  Needless to say God provided everything that we needed.  I received some scholarships.  I qualified for some grants.  I worked 20 hours a week.  Beth went to work at a local daycare.  All of this led to the momentous day in 1992.  Which, in turn, led us to Kalispell a few months later.  The place we continue to minister at.

Why do I share this story?  Well, not only because it means so much to me, but also to encourage you.  You see, when we headed off to Crown College in Minnesota, we were no different than you.  We had everyday lives and commitments. Then God came calling.  He put me in a situation where I was desperate - so desperate that I would do anything!  Which led me to do something that, on paper, looked impossible.  And that many friends and relatives thought was crazy.  Of course, I didn’t do this without a lot of prayer.  And seeking the guidance of spiritually-mature believers.  But it was still a huge step of faith.  The financial, emotional and spiritual costs were enormous.  The point is this: God rewards faith.  Always has and always will.  And the bigger the step of faith the bigger the reward.

So where have you taken a step of faith lately?  Have you witnessed to somebody?  Or taken on a new ministry in your church?  Have you begun tithing?  Or given money that you didn’t have to give?  Have you recently quit your job?  Or taken another one?  Have you started a business?  Or joined a league or an organization?  It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.  It only matters that you’ve done something.  Anything.  That you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone into the unknown.  That you’re faith is in God.  Remember:  No matter how big or small the step of faith is, every step of faith is a step toward God!

Lord, I thank you for the way that You rewarded our faith 24 years ago when we left New York to attend Crown College.  How uncertain those days were!  There were so many questions and so few answers.  And yet You led, provided, and blessed all along the way.  And now I look back and see all the fruit from that one decision.  And I am amazed!  Help me to continue to walk by faith.  And so please You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Is Jesus Mean?

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt%2011:28-31&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:1-11&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+9:36&version=NIV1984

For most people, even those who may not have read the Gospels, Jesus is a seen as loving and kind.  And with good reason.  The Gospels tell us that Jesus healed all kinds of people of all kinds of diseases and illnesses.  He healed the deaf.  The mute.  The lame.  The paralyzed.  He cast demons out of people.  He blessed babies and small children.  He had compassion for hungry people and fed them when they were without food.  He extended forgiveness to a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery.  He healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever.  He brought Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter back to life.  And also the widow of Nain’s son.  Of course, there was the resurrection of His friend Lazarus.  So there is ample evidence to prove that Jesus was compassionate, loving and kind.

Then there is the other side of Jesus. There was His driving the money changers and merchants out of the Temple with a whip. There was His difficult teachings, such as in John 6, where He talks about people eating His flesh and drinking His blood.  Why didn’t Jesus just come out and explain what He was talking about?  Two chapters later, in John 8, we see that Jesus told the crowd that their father was Satan.  Meaning that they were children of Satan.  Ouch!

But perhaps the most perplexing thing for some people are Jesus’ comments to the religious leaders of His day.  Time after time we see that Jesus had some very harsh things to say to them.  In Matthew 23 we have what has become known as The Seven Woes.  In this section Jesus goes off on the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees.  He repeatedly calls them hypocrites.  He also refers to them as snakes and vipers.  As whitewashed tombs.  And blind guides.  And there are other occasions where Jesus thoroughly denounced His critics in a similar scathing fashion.  This has caused some people to view Jesus as being rather mean.  Abrupt.  Spiteful.  Someone who is quick to condemn.  Someone who is very intolerant of others.  As a result of this some people are afraid of Jesus.  They see Him as being someone who is hard to get to know.  Someone who is rather difficult to love.  But is this really the case?

The thing to keep in mind is that Jesus never scolded or was rude to an earnest seeker.  The woman caught in adultery?  He didn’t condemn her.  The rich, young man who came to Jesus wanting to know how he could obtain eternal life?  The Scripture tells us that Jesus looked at him with love.  Peter, who began to slip beneath the waves when his faith faltered?  Jesus immediately stretched out His hand to rescue him.  Time after time Jesus was patient, kind, forgiving, merciful and compassionate with people.  The only people He ever responded harshly to were those of the religious establishment who actively opposed Him.  People who claimed to be righteous but who were far from it.  People who made a public pretense of being spiritual who were anything but.

So, is Jesus mean?  It depends.  Not when we approach Him in humility.  Not when we come to Him in repentance.  Not when we come to Him for forgiveness.  Or mercy.  Not when we are earnestly seeking to know and understand Him.  When we approach Jesus like this we find out that He is patient with us.  Gentle.  Kind.  Understanding.  Loving.  By the same token, we should never take Jesus as a pushover.  As someone that we can deceive.  Or control.  Or use.  If we approach Jesus like this then we can expect to experience His anger.  His words will be sharp.  Pointed.  They will expose our hypocrisy.  And wound us.  Not out of revenge.  But out of a desire to cause us to see ourselves for who we really are.  And hopefully to repent.

In the final analysis, the Jesus that we see in Scripture is the kind of Jesus that we want to see.  So what kind of Jesus are you seeing?  I hope it's the loving, caring, compassionate Jesus.  The Jesus who loved you enough to die on the cross for your sins.

Lord, I thank you that the Jesus I know is loving.  Kind.  Caring.  Compassionate.  Always ready to forgive.  To strengthen.  Comfort.  Encourage.  I pray for those who struggle with their perception of Jesus that they would see that He is a wonderful Savior.  A Gentle Shepherd.  A forever Friend.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Universalism - Will Everyone Eventually Be Saved? Part III

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude%207&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude%2012-13&version=NIV1984

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203:16&version=NIV1984

For the past couple posts we have been looking at the doctrine of Universalism - the belief that someday everybody makes it to Heaven.  Certainly this is the desire of every believer.  And it is even the desire of God.  In 2 Peter 3:9 we are told, “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  Yes, God wants everyone to be saved.  This is His desire.  But at the same time, He values human choice.  And Scripture is clear that not everyone is going to choose to repent.  In fact, Jesus said that there would be few who would repent and go down the narrow road.  So what are some additional problems with Universalism?

Fourthly, Universalism means that there will be people in Heaven who have never repented.  Because God relented.  If people steadfastly refuse to repent of their sin, what is God to do?  I suppose that He could just let bygones be bygones and let them into Heaven.  But what about His justice?  Justice demands that sin be punished.  And who says that just because people suffer in Hell that they will one day repent?  This is kind of like the criminal who is behind bars who is sorry that they have been caught but who has no interest in changing at all.  Should we let criminals like this go free?  No way.  And neither will God let people who have refused to repent enter Heaven.  Not now.  Not ever.

Fifthly, universalism means that God will have violated a person’s free will.  As we have already seen, repentance is an absolute must for the forgiveness of sins.  So if a person refuses to repent, and God does place them in Heaven, He has done that which He pledged never to do.  He violated a person’s free will.  He overrode their ability to choose their own fate.  I have known of some people who were violently opposed to God right up to the day they died.  What kind of God would He be to take someone like this and put them in Heaven anyway?  Against their wishes?  The Bible is clear that God respects the choices we make.  Good choices have good consequences.  Bad choices have bad consequences.  God will respect every person’s choice not to repent.  The consequence of that choice will be an eternity in Hell.

Sixthly, Universalism gives people a false sense of hope.  That if they die without Christ they will eventually make it to Heaven.  “So what if I don’t get around to it in this life?  I will eventually make it to Heaven anyway!”  Wow.  This is another direct contradiction of God’s Word.  In Hebrews 9:27 we are told, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.”  What does this verse mean?  That we need to repent while we still have breath.  After we die it is too late.  There is no reincarnation.  There is no second chance.  No divine reprieve.  Lost.  In Hell.  Forever.

Seventhly, Universalism makes evangelism and missions pointless.  If everyone is eventually going to be saved, then why are we so driven to reach people with the Gospel?  Sure, some of them might have to suffer for a period of time in Hell.  But eventually they will get out.  And wind up in Heaven.  And who knows?  Maybe they will even be better off for the experience?  Maybe they will make model citizens in Heaven?  Once again, the Bible is clear: every Christian has a mandate to share the Gospel with others.  Now.  While there is still time.  Before it is too late.

Now, admittedly, thousands of years of people suffering is a very daunting and disturbing thought.  But to suffer eternally?  This is beyond comprehension.  As such, it casts God in a very unkind light.  But, again, my contention is that we simply don’t see things from God’s point of view.  How terrible, how disgusting, how evil sin is.  How much sin offends His holy character.  How much damage sin has to done to His creation.  How much pain and suffering sin has caused humankind.  Sin is unredeemable.  Unfixable.  As such it must be punished.  Eternally.  There is no other option.

One final thought on Universalism.  If you believe in it, what if you’re wrong?  What if Hell is a thousand times worse than you ever imagined?  What if it is eternal?  Then what?  Then it’s too late.  And you will have all eternity to regret your decision.  If you are not a Christian, you need to repent of your sins and put your faith in Jesus TODAY!  While there is still time.  While God’s grace is still extended to you.  Because tomorrow could be too late.  You really can’t afford to take that chance.

Lord, how sad it is that people don’t believe You.  That they refuse to believe what You say.  Even worse, that they refuse to take advantage of Your offer of salvation.  Paid for by Your Son’s own blood.  Please have mercy on them.  Do whatever You have to do to get them to see the light.  To repent.  And find forgiveness.  And thereby gain Heaven.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.