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Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

I am heading to Indy Wednesday with several other pastors for a pre-Conference meeting for Act Like Men, an event sponsored by Harvest Bible Chapel/Pastor James MacDonald. Indy will be a host site in November so they are doing this meeting to inform us about the event. I know I will be leaving really early and have no clue what time I will return in the afternoon.

As many of you know, I lost my bike when the rack malfunctioned two weeks ago while on vacation. I am still without a bike, but the day is getting closer. People often complain about manufacturers, but seldom praise them. Not this time. When my rack malfunctioned, as you can imagine, I was bummed. Big time. No make that BIG TIME!! But I figured that God was using this to slow me down and to have a relaxing vacation (as much as it can get with a human tornado). I began email communication with Thule, the rack people. I heard back from Melissa almost immediately. I filled out a form for the rack. She asked for pictures and I sent them of the rack and the bike thinking that’s what she wanted. I was hoping to have the bike taken care of in some way, but had said nothing. She sent me another form and sent me to another person. That was the Friday of vacation. On Monday, Laurence had contacted me by email and asked for certain things (receipts, pictures, etc). Within a couple hours of faxing all the receipts, he informed me that Thule would be sending me a newer and better rack (which I have already received) and would be cutting a check for my bike. NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE! Based on my experience, not only would I not be afraid to buy another Thule rack, I will “talk them up” to whomever will listen.

I would be remiss to not say something about the church. Thule is a fine example of caring for the people who trust you. They didn’t have to do anything, but they did. Can that be said of your church? Can that be said of the one I pastor? Contact. Communication. Caring. Listening. Taking care of people. That sure sounds like what Jesus told Peter here. And while we can’t help every one who comes along, we need to be open to God’s leading.

One more thing: I really like Thule’s philosophy:

Bring your board.
Bring your bike.
Bring your skis.
Bring your love.
Bring your passion.
Bring your dreams.
Bring your life.

Seems to me Someone Else says much of the same thing. In Him it is abundant life.

So what are your thoughts? I’d like to hear them about any part of this. Please remember I will be gone, but will use my phone (when I can) to approve comments.

Posted in Christian living, Church, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous, Scripture look | 1 Response »

Toxic

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

D. L. Moody, the late evangelist, once said

God doesn’t seek for golden vessels, and does not ask for silver ones, but He must have clean ones.

Billionaire Warren Buffet once said,

The CEO who misleads others in public will eventually mislead himself in private.

Both statements are true. The following illustration is not meant to be taken as a judgment against anyone.

Indiana has a state law with signs plastered on doors to let it be known: “State law requires no smoking within 8 feet of this door.” If you have ever watched any old TV shows, like the old b/w Perry Mason reruns, you will see something you see very seldom anymore. I recently saw a picture of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr and Frank Sinatra. Every one of them had a cigarette in their hand. The Marlboro Man and Virginia Slim commercials were as numerous as Viagra commercials are today. No more. The Camel charicature went the way of the dodo bird. Today, warnings about second hand smoke are all over the place. Walk next to someone, follow them in a car, or walk into their house, and it is evident if they smoke or around smoke.

That all sounds like I am taking shots at smokers. I’m not. We are constantly being warned (sometimes nauseatingly so) about toxic waste.

Tragically, we are seldom warned about the toxic waste that can crush and destroy our spiritual health. My sermon series for this summer will be dealing with these toxins. Words. Bitterness. Fear. Jealousy. Anger. (Lack of) forgiveness. And others. I know many pastors say this about their sermons, so I hope you don’t take this wrong: I honestly believe this series has the potential to radically change lives. Not because of me, but because of the topics and the presence of so many of the toxins in the lives of followers of Jesus.

Perhaps even more tragically many have no clue what the presence of these toxins are doing to their health-spiritually, mentally and physically. Contrary to what historians used to think, Titanic was not taken down by running into a huge iceberg. In fact, they say it may have been better for it to have hit it straight on. It was the attempt to avoid the berg that caused the small series of slits to the hull which eventually led to its watery grave. Many lives are like that- small series of slits which weaken the character and cause the take down.

My prayer is God will use this series to show the damage being done by toxins that need to be released. I would appreciate your prayers. This Sunday’s message is an introduction to the rest called “Hazardous Waste.” Thanks.

Do you struggle with toxins which are crippling you?

Posted in Christian living, Preaching, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 26 Responses »

Patience

Monday, June 3rd, 2013

I am on vacation this week. See here. My guest today is my “little sis.” Well, actually I don’t have a sister…not a blood one anyway. But if I was to have one, this young lady would be more than welcome to join my family. Zee is a native of Ukraine and blogs here. I look forward to the day we will meet-here or in the air. Here’s Zee.

A dear friend of mine once told me, “Never pray for patience.”

I looked up at him in surprise. “Why not?”

“Because it can only be learned by getting through trials.”

This conversation took place over seven years ago but since then I have learned the words of my friend were indeed wise.

Patience is one of the toughest virtues of all. And I am not simply talking about putting up with something, but waiting upon the right time to act. Waiting for an answer. Waiting for a sign of some sort. Waiting for something to happen.

Sometimes I wonder if hearing a “No” in response to a prayer is better than “Maybe.” Maybe can imply that a “Yes” is coming. At the same time, it might still bring a “No.” This uncertainty kills me. Yet, God is teaching me that all things come in their time. (Thankfully, He is a patient teacher who doesn’t get bothered with my constant nagging and asking “Are we there yet?” like the Donkey from Shrek.)

I can’t get a dialogue out of my head I have recently read in a book “Afloat” by Erin Healy.

“At least now you know you’re doing what you must do.”

“Is it enough?”

“Is it enough? That’s a question of a man who thinks waiting is the weaker activity. But patience requires the strength of Hercules.”

We are so used to acting. We want to do something, change things, move forward. It is what is expected from us by the society.

Yet sometimes we are called to “Be still and know that [God] is God.” (Psalm 46:10)

I live in a city populated by five million people. It is not as big as Moscow, Russia or New York, but it is big nonetheless. The hustle and bustle go on 24/7. Well, on Sunday mornings, as I walk to Church, the city is quiet because the majority is recovering after Friday night and Saturday. But still – cars are whizzing by on a highway in front of my apartment building, I can hear the elevator working in the middle of the night as people get back home from work or elsewhere. Trolleybusses are always full as well as all the other means of public transportation. It’s a constant GO GO GO. It is what is expected.

So when I read “Be still”… I look up and ask God, “But… there is so much to do!”

Yet it is in quietness I can hear Him and learn from Him. It is in stillness that I can glimpse His power instead of my weakness. It is counterintuitive, but, incredibly, it works.

Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee.

“Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”

Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Psalm 46:8-11, MSG

Feel free to share your thoughts with Zee and the other readers.

As an aside: today (June 3rd) is my daughter Tami’s birthday. Happy Birthday oldest daughter.

Posted in Christian living, Guest post, Scripture look | 23 Responses »

STOP!!

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013

I am away on vacation this week. (See here) I called on some friends to help. Each day a different blogger will share their thoughts with you. Today’s guest is Jason who blogs here. We have followed each other for close to four years. He is also very passionate about Human Trafficking. His site is here. Here’s Jason:

Please, for the love of our Father in heaven, STOP TAKING JEREMIAH 29:11 OUT OF CONTEXT.

Stop printing it on T-shirts.

Stop putting it on coffee mugs.

And PLEASE stop quoting it to those of us whose lives are little more than a pile of rubble heaped on top of us.

Why? Because that verse is not for us today.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

The “you” in the verse is not an individual “you.” It’s a collective “you” as in the nation of Israel. That verse is part of a passage where God is talking to the nation of Israel and is telling them that after 70 years of exile in Babylon He will restore them. (See verse 10 if you don’t believe me.)

The promise was then…and now…ONLY for the nation of Israel.

Not for the teenager struggling to figure out what to do after high school.

Not for the woman whose husband just ran off with a flight attendant from Sweden named Inga.

Not for the guy who lost his job and can’t find a way to support his family.

It’s for none of them.

And every single time we quote that verse to someone completely out of the context in which GOD HIMSELF spoke the words, we’re not only doing a disservice to those we’re speaking to but we’re also being false teachers of the Word of God.

The church, especially in America, has become little more than a place to tickle the ears of those who attend Sunday mornings and then disappear until the following Sunday. The idea of “joy” equates only to “happiness” and thus we try to put a Pollyanna spin on verses and situations to try and provide the “joy juice” that will make someone feel better in hard times.

I know that we want to comfort one another in times of hardship. I’m someone who wants nothing more than for God to put me in a place to help someone in need. But if I’m to be the hands and feet of Christ to those people, I can’t then choose not to be the mouth of Jesus as well. We’re called to be Christ…the whole Christ…to those we minister to on this planet. We’re to reflect him (as best we can, of course, being imperfect beings who need Him.)

We can’t reflect Him if we’re intentionally distorting Him.

Now, can we say the same God who promised Israel he would redeem them is still a God who loves to redeem those who are his people? Sure.

Can we say that the same God who loved the nation of Israel then is the same God who loves us today? Indeed.

Can we point to that verse as a time that God made a promise and then kept it showing that He does not have His word return void? You know it.

But that’s not the same as telling your son/daughter/mother/father/husband/wife/neighbor/yoga instructor that God has a plan to prosper them.

And it’s time that we stepped up and stopped distorting the Word.

Feel free to share your comments with Jason and others.

Posted in Christian living, Guest post, Opinion, Scripture look | 20 Responses »

Identified

Monday, May 27th, 2013

I used the following story to conclude my sermon Sunday and to lead right into our observance of the Lord’s Supper:

Else Keinmann was a survivor of the concentration camps from the Nazi regime. But she survived in a most unique way. Else was arrested because her father was wealthy. The Nazis thought that if they arrested her they might receive a large ransom. Else was put in with a group of prostitutes who hated her presence among them because she came from a wealthy family. They shoved her, kicked her, and rejected her completely. But Else fought back and defended herself. A German soldier took her out for interrogation. He kicked her, spit on her, beat her, and knocked out most of her teeth. She returned to her prison group bruised and broken, and also filled with fear because she knew she could no longer defend herself against the hostile prostitutes. She said, “I was scared for my life. I could no longer protect myself from these woman. But when they saw what I looked like, those who had tortured me before brought me water and took off my clothes to wash my wounds. They said, ‘Never again will we do anything to you, for now on you are one of us.’ They made it possible for me to endure the time we spent in the camp. They gave me strength to look out the window and see the beauty of the world outside and not the horror of the world within.”

That story reminded me of several Scriptures:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form…” Phil.2:5-8a

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

He became one of us, and in that becoming, He not only became our way to God, but also showed us God. God revealed Himself through His Son. We can now know the Father intimately because He did. He identified with us. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Heb.4:15

HE. IDENTIFIED. WITH. US!!

How has your understanding of God been enhanced by this truth? Does it make a difference how you see God?

Posted in Christian living, Doctrine, God, Jesus, Scripture look | 26 Responses »

Youth

Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Do you remember this scene from It’s a Wonderful Life? I think of that often…especially at the age of 60…when I realize I have a lot fewer years left than I have lived.

I also realize I WOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT WANT TO BE A YOUNG PERSON LIVING IN TODAY’S WORLD! I mean…I have enough temptation as a 60-year old man without the seemingly unlimited exposure and seemingly uninhibited morals of our culture. I have a grandson whom I have prayed for every day since I found out Janna was pregnant. I pray for his heart to belong to the Father at all times.

We also hear the statement “The young people of today are the church of tomorrow.” I beg to differ. They are also the church of today. Study anything about the Millennials (born after 1980) and they are a unique bunch. But they are also presented unique opportunities/challenges I never had. Same temptations mind you, but more blatant.

Ryan, our youth pastor, and I will be team preaching the message Sunday. The message will focusing on being youth of values. I’ll be opening it with an emphasis on I Timothy 4: 6-16. Ryan will be following it up by talking about his ideas and plans for growing the young people in their faith. My part is simple:

#1: Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. [v.7a] Filters need to be on HIGH these days.

#2: Discipline yourself for godliness. [v.7b] Discipline in the Greek is “to train.” Pursue spiritual growth.

#3: Model a Godly Lifestyle. [vv.12-14] This is tough for all ages, but especially young people. They don’t want to be left out or stick out.

#4: Pay close attention to yourself and your ministry. [vv.15-16] The words used in these verses speak of vigilance.

Any to add? Feel free to make any suggestions. There is still time for me to add/change!

Posted in Christian living, Preaching, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 22 Responses »

Sight

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

This is a continuation of my last post that was getting too long. I had so much more to say, but word limit was working against me. Sort of like preaching on Sunday, you know? Anyway…

I was thrilled Jane came Sunday and found a welcome reception. She also said some things to her friend that leads me to believe she will want to talk to me some day. That will totally cool! I look forward to that day, even though I know she has some tough questions. Yes, prayers would be appreciated.

BACK. TO. TOPIC.

In all honesty, I don’t know why people want to have piercings and tats. The piercings look like they hurt and like most people I am not into that kind of pain. I can’t say I desire a tat, especially at my age. My one comment is what happens when the guppy becomes a whale? BUT WHO AM I TO JUDGE WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO DO, WHICH IN MY MIND, INVOLVES A GRAY AREA. Now granted “cutting” is something totally different, and I do care about that. What I do want people to know is this:

WITH. OR. WITHOUT. ‘BODY. DESIGNS.” THEY. ARE. WORTH. A. LOT. IN. GOD’S. EYES.

I read a story recently in Mud and the Masterpiece by John Burke about pro baseball player Matt White. He had an aunt who struggled to make ends meet for years, living on 50 acres of property in Massachusetts. Due to failing health, she was forced to sell. As an act of kindness he bought her property for the appraised value of $50,000. While exploring the land to see about building a house, he discovered some outcroppings of stone ledges.

Matt contacted a geologist, who surveyed the land and informed Matt this stone had commercial value for patios and landscapes and could actually be sold for $100 a ton…and he had about 24 million tons on the land. Appraised surface value=$50,000; beneath the surface = over $2 billion! (pp.64-65)

I think that is called “Unless I really like baseball I think I’ll retire.” Sort of reminds me of Jesus’ story about the man who found a hidden treasure and sold all he had to buy the land. Or the parable of the pearl of great price.

The point of this story and the point of this post and the last one is this: Jesus looked out at the masses of people and looked beneath the surface. He saw something of great value. If we are going to be like Jesus to others, we must see what Jesus sees beneath the surface that’s of infinite worth to God. We need to see the hidden treasure and pearl of great price, whether “doctored” in piercings and tats; multi-layered makeup and multi-colored hair; physically fit or overweight; or any other outward appearance.

SEE PEOPLE AS JESUS SEES THEM!!

How are you at this? Do you have trouble getting past the obvious outward signs to see inside?

Posted in Christian living, Church, Jesus, Just Wondering, Miscellaneous, Scripture look | 19 Responses »

FollowUp

Sunday, May 12th, 2013

In my last post I talked about what I would be preaching on this past Sunday. I thought I would do a follow up on more of the subject. I had thought about calling this sermon “A Chicken Pastor’s Approach to Mother’s Day” but I thought better of it. Although, now that I think of it, that would have been an interesting title. As I mentioned in the last post, I have taken several different approaches over the past few years.

I have taken the traditional approach of speaking from Proverbs 31 and telling the woman how they are supposed to be. (Yikes!) That always goes over like a lead balloon. Somebody slap me.

For a couple of years, I asked different women (about 4) to choose a woman in the Bible with whom they can relate and share that with the church. Those actually went over really well. (I was so proud of my wife who opened her heart on the very first one).

Last year, I opted to take different women in the Bible and use them as an example. (Dubious at best).

This year I wanted to go back to “women involvement,” but it seems whenever I mentioned Mother’s Day to a woman she went into hiding. Their reaction sort of reminded me of that insurance commercial where the rival sales people dive into bushes or the back of a pickup to avoid being seen. So, I approached some personally, and our ladies group as a whole, and asked them a simple question: what 3 qualities do you believe are the most important to pass on to your children? They could use Proverbs 31 as a jumping off point if they desired. I actually received a pretty good response. Several by email and some by the small form I had handed to them. Here are their answers:

The following are what I called “stand alones.” They were mentioned on one or two of the responses:

Kindness- compassion and empathy
Grace & Truth/Boundaries/Right and Wrong- (combined by me since they follow the same line of thought)
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff- (I like this one)
Generosity- possessions, time, self

The following were mentioned on about all of the responses but maybe one or two:

Hard Work- a solid work ethic which also involved obedience. One mom said, “We had a discussion on doing our best for God’s glory, whether something small (like brushing teeth) or something bigger (like school work).” Wise mom. (Check out verses 11-24)

Honesty and Transparency- this was accompanied by Unconditional Love. (Verses 23-29)

Following Jesus- this was also worded as Fear of God; Devotion to God is #1; Faith. I was thrilled to see this as the most written response. (Check out verse 30).

I don’t have much to add. I wonder what you would write in response to my question to the ladies? I would like to hear them. Hope you and those you love had a good Mother’s Day.

Posted in Family, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 24 Responses »

MOMS

Thursday, May 9th, 2013

Yeah, I know it’s early but let me be the first

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

For some people Mother’s Day is bittersweet.

If you are a woman who has had no children, but want them…it is a day to forget.

If you are a woman and your children have left the nest and will not be able to be with you…it is a day of hoping (they will call).

If you are a man or a woman who has a good relationship with his/her mother…it is a day of celebration.

If you are a man or a woman whose mother has gone to be with Jesus (as mine has)…it is a day of wistful longing, but great appreciation.

There are others I know. Many woman look forward to Mother’s Day like single people look forward to Valentine’s Day.

I was blessed with a godly mother. I didn’t always see eye to eye with her, especially when she went through her judgmental Charismatic stage at the same time I was going through my legalistic “you’re full of it” stage. I’m glad we both woke up long before she went to heaven.

I have also been blessed with a wonderful wife. Did you know the Hebrew for “helper” or “companion” or “help meet” is actually a combination of two words that mean “lifesaver” and “counterpart?” This June she will have been that for 40 years.

Every man “has a battle to fight; an adventure to live; and a beauty to rescue.” Check out more about that here. What about the woman, affectionately known as Eve?

Eve has a desire for a relationship. She longs to be pursued.

Eve wants to be part of the adventure. A mistake many men make is leaving their wives out of their adventures.

Eve also has a beauty to unveil. The haunting question most women have is “Am I lovely?”

I did something different this year. In the past I have asked several women to speak on a lady in the Bible whom they admire or can relate to. This year they backed away from me whenever I approached. So I asked a few personally, and then asked the ladies group to take a look at Proverbs 31 and give me 3 qualities they have tried to pass on to their children. I then put them together to form a message on values. I plan to share them with you in my next post. My sermon is a “Chicken Pastor’s Effort” to encourage the women to be God’s women for this age. Thanks for your prayers.

What are you doing to honor your mother/wife/grandmother/etc this Mother’s Day?

One more thing: I am going to introduce the message with a video I found when I read some lyrics in a book. It is haunting. If you have a moment, would you please take the time to listen to it here? Thanks.

Posted in Family, Preaching, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 15 Responses »

Swords

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

For some reason, swords (I want one of those) and guns (stop at 3:15) are most often associated with me. But I’m getting ahead of myself a bit.

LET’S PLAY MAKE BELIEVE

Let’s pretend Clark Kent woke up one morning and forgot he had superpowers. The alarm goes off and he squashes the alarm to the size of an index card. He puts his cup of coffee down a little too hard on the table and it goes right through. He gets angry that his Pittsburgh Pirates lost and yells at the TV, shattering the screen and his wife, Lois’ eardrum. He walks down the hall and brushes against his son and breaks his collarbone. He heads out the door and shuts it too hard, leaving it hanging on its hinges. The cats sits in his favorite chair and when he swats it, the cat becomes a permanent part of the siding. The bicycle in the sidewalk is kicked 50 yeards away (a UFO they perceive). And that is just the beginning of his day.

Impossible you say. How could Clark forget his superpowers? Pure make believe, of course, since Clark would never forget that. But wouldn’t that make a great comic for DC to do?

Many men never realize the power they yield in their every day relationships, especially with their wives and children. They forget they wield swords that can have an incredible impact upon their family and their coworkers. John Eldredge in his book, Wild at Heart, says, “Every man has a battle to fight; and adventure to live; and a beauty to rescue.”

His underlying question is “Do I have what it takes?”

“Do I have what it takes to be the warrior for me and my family that I need to be?”

“Do I have what it takes to follow God into the unknown?

“Do I have what it takes to rescue my beauty?”

Every man is equipped with two swords according to Gary Smalley and John Trent:

The silver-handled sword is a man’s positional power. That is the clout, control, prestige, and authority that comes to a man from his position.

The gold-handled sword is a man’s personal power. This is the ability to have meaningful relationships; a willingness to do whatever it takes to strengthen his family. Words of character fit describe his value and strength.

I reckon you figured out my topic for Sunday’s message. I will also be including the qualities listed in I Timothy 3:1-7 as fitting for all men, not just church leaders. Thanks for your prayers. They are much appreciated.

What do you think is a man’s real strength? How do these swords fit the men you know? You?

Posted in Family, Preaching, Scripture look, Sermon Series/Topic | 24 Responses »