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Thursday, December 20, 2012

Thank You from Good Cheer Food Bank Team

Dear Matt and Friends at South Whidbey Assembly of God,

Thank you for honoring the Good Cheer staff and volunteers with your spectacular evening of fine food and appreciation. From the moment we walked in, we knew it would be a special evening. The warmth brought out by the festive table decorations was so welcoming. The whole evening was so well planned and the joy of service was evident in all of the folks who volunteered that evening.

The evening held so many special moments from the presentation of the plaque from Norma Smith and Helen Price Johnson to the wonderful food. The coffee bar was a big hit on such a wintery night. We appreciated being able to participate with our program while you took care of all the details for the dinner.

Our staff and volunteers work hard every day to bring a better tomorrow to the South Whidbey community. We try to say thank you every time someone volunteers but we are not always successful. What is great about an evening like you put on for us is twofold. One, we get to say thank you in a very joyful way. Two, our volunteers get to see others who they had no idea were working towards the same goal. Many of our volunteers only know their small part of the whole. Saturday helped to bring our organization together in a way that is challenging on a regular basis.

In light of the tragedy that occurred Friday, Saturday became even more meaningful in that we were reminded to look for the helpers as Mr. Roger’s mother advised him to do. We found these helpers within our own ranks and within the beauty of your congregation. Evenings like Saturday remind us of how compassionate we are as a community.

May this Christmas season reveal more miracles that come from our kind-hearted community. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!

With Gratitude,

Kathy McCabe
Executive Director
Board of Directors

Jay Ryan
President
Board of Directors

Friday, December 14, 2012

Live for Him who died for you!

It is always perplexing how selfishness and self-centeredness creeps into people’s lives. It is like the saber tooth tiger that Fred Flintstone put out the door every night only to have it jump back in the window or the cat at your house that every time the door opens it tries to get in the house and has to be hssss-ed away. No matter how many times selfishness is put to rest, it comes back to life. Self-centeredness seems to have more lives than the nine lives that a cat supposedly has.

Paul challenged the followers of Jesus in Corinth concerning who we live for. He wrote:

Christ did die for all of us. He died so we would no longer live for ourselves, but for the one who died and was raised to life for us. (2 Corinthians 5:15 CEV)

Jesus died so that we would not live self-centered, selfish lives any longer. Jesus died and rose from the dead so that we would live for Him.

Followers of Jesus are sometimes referred to as ‘believers’. That is what a follower of Jesus is but … a follower of Jesus is much more than that. Without faith it is impossible to please God, yet faith without action is dead. (Hebrews 11 and James 2) The action that true faith requires and produces is ‘live for Him’ action.

True faith is seen in the action that Jesus would have taken. True faith is not seen in the ‘What Would Jesus Do’ or ‘WWJD’ movement from a few years ago. The problem with the WWJD movement was it was a bracelet worn on the arm but not action lived towards Jesus, neighbors, enemies or strangers.

‘I believe!’ … is not enough. The Scriptures call for ‘I believe’ and ‘I no longer live for me but I live for Him.’

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NLT)

Live for Him – There is no one else to live for!

Friday, December 7, 2012

Jesus - Don't you want to know more about Him?

As Christmas approaches, newspapers, magazines and blogs will spend considerable time discussing the facts of the Christmas Story. In November, US News and World Report published a book on The Real Jesus. Fox News says: Jesus was part of a blended family. CNN reports: Pope's book on Jesus debunks Christmas myths.

The people, places, exact dates and details will be dissected and discussed. Every Christmas and Easter Jesus gets time and attention in very public ways in the media and discussions. Some see this as an attack on Jesus and Christianity – maybe it is. I think there is another interesting side to all the talk about Jesus.

I find it interesting that after more than 2000 years Jesus is the only figure in history that gets regular press. Who else gets the press that Jesus gets? Who even comes in a close second?

In the Encyclopedia Britannica, Jesus gets over 21,000 words dedicated to him. There are over 17,000 books about Jesus in the Library of Congress. No subject has even half that number of books dedicated to it in the Library of Congress.

In 1978 Michael H. Hart wrote a book entitled: The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. The book sold 500,000 copies and has been translated into 15 languages. The book was very controversial because it listed Muhammad as the most influential person in history. Jesus was actually listed as number three by him. In the introduction of the book he defended his choice of Muhammad saying: “… my ranking of Muhammad higher than Jesus, is in large part because of my belief that Muhammad had a much greater influence on the foundation of the Moslem religion than Jesus had on the formulation of the Christian religion. This does not imply, of course, that I think that Muhammad was greater than Jesus.” (Emphasis mine.)

Notice the last line by Michael Hart: “This does not imply, of course, that I think that Muhammad was greater than Jesus.” Since, for most people, the obvious choice for the most influential person of all time would be Jesus, he has to take time to defend why he would list Muhammad as number one. He has to defend the reason for Jesus not being listed as number one. It is interesting that his book is translated into 15 languages and the Bible has been translated into over 2,200 languages.

Who is there in all of history that compares with Jesus who was called Immanuel God with us! Don’t you want to know more about Jesus?

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Innocent Bystanders

When good things in life happen unexpectedly, people sometimes describe what occurred by saying “I was just in the right place at the right time.” When bad things happen unexpectedly, people sometimes describe what occurred by saying “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” In both cases, these people could be referred to as ‘innocent bystanders.’

Either person was just ‘standing-by’ when something happened. They were innocent. The one to whom something ‘good’ happened didn’t do anything to cause the ‘good’. The one to whom the ‘bad’ happened didn’t do anything to cause the ‘bad.’

History is filled with people who we could call ‘Innocent Bystanders.’ Noah was an innocent bystander. He is minding his own business, tending to his family and tending to life, when out of the blue God calls him to spend 100 years building an ark. People made fun of him and he surely took brunt of the ridicule of his neighbors. He was just standing by doing life when he was brought into world history.

Amos was a shepherd and a fig farmer when God spoke to him and called him to be a prophet. He was an ordinary man, living an ordinary life, minding his own business when God called him and for the next 10 years he was thrust into the center of history. 3500 years later people all around the world read an Old Testament book called Amos. The book of Amos is the record of an Innocent Bystander who was drug into history.

The story that has been told and retold at Christmas time for 100’s of years is filled with Innocent Bystanders. Over the next few weeks we are going to take a look at Innocent Bystanders from the Christmas story and then draw some lessons about how each of us, at one time or another, are ‘minding our own business’ when life jumps out from behind a bush, takes us by surprise, and we travel down a road that we were not expecting.

How will we respond to life’s curveballs? What are the fears we must overcome? What are the faith lessons that we will come face to face with? There are countless questions, lessons and applications found in the Christmas story.

This Christmas, bring your family and friends with you to uncover life from the stories of ‘Innocent Bystanders.’

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Anticipation

This time of year can be described by one word – Anticipation. Almost everyone experiences anticipation in some way.

To some people anticipation is a good thing. They start playing the Christmas music, decorating the tree, and hanging the lights. The days get counted down. Each day is crossed off on the calendar. Each card written, present purchased and wrapped helps build the anticipation of the festivities of Christmas. For many teachers and students anticipation describes the days leading up to ‘Christmas Break.’

For some, anticipation is not so good. Every part of the build up to Christmas serves to remind them of something. The anticipation of Christmas time might be a tainted by a memory, a broken relationship, some sort of rejection, another year going by without seeing a loved one. Every part of the buildup brings anxiety, dread, fear, regret, disappointment and depression.

Years ago, Carly Simon sang the words – ‘Anticipation is making me wait, is keeping me waiting.’ The coming of Jesus into the world can be described by that one word - Anticipation.

When Jesus came into the world God’s people had been anticipating a deliverer for hundreds of years. Moses had described a deliverer; the prophets had foretold the coming of a ‘Messiah.’ History tells us that during the span of Jesus’ life there were at least 18 different ‘messiah’ candidates who claimed they would lead a deliverance from Rome for the people of God.

The anticipation was so powerful that Luke describes a couple of elderly people who spent night and day in the temple waiting, praying and looking for the Messiah. Simeon, a devout elderly man, had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see the Messiah before he died. Ana, described as a prophetess, was waiting, praying and looking for the Messiah.

Anticipation was a state that the people of God lived in. It was so strong that many followed some of these ‘messiah’ candidates. 2000 followers of one of these men were executed on crosses that lined the roads around Galilee, the region that Jesus lived in. He would have walked the roads lined with corpses on crosses. Anticipation was in the air.

Anticipation is also a word that could describe followers of Jesus down through 2000 years as they await His return. The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy, the church leader in Ephesus, about a ‘crown of righteousness’ that will be given to those who anticipate, to those who have ‘longed for his appearing.’ (2 Timothy 4:8 NIV) The crown is available to everyone. The crown will only be given to those who ‘anticipate’ His return.

Anticipation, it is in the air. Are you anticipating His return? Are you living like it?

Friday, November 16, 2012

Soul Dis-integration is like a 'Dirty Bomb'

I have been thinking a lot this week about the damage that can be done by someone whose soul has disintegrated. The lead news all week has been about extramarital affairs, deception and entanglements. I don’t know all the intricate details of this unfortunate situation but it is not the first time in history and certainly won’t be the last time that these kinds of events take place.

The question has been asked more than once, in a number of different ways, ‘How could this happen?’ or ‘How could someone so smart and so experienced and with so much to lose do something like this?’ Those are great questions to ask, but they are tough questions to answer.

From the perspective of someone who works with people and their souls, it is clear from experience that people make these kinds of choices not from a soul that is ‘integrated’ but from a soul that is in some way ‘disintegrated.’ A soul where the mind has been disintegrated from the emotions, will, relationships and consequences will make poor choices and even catastrophic choices.

In a very real way we’ve witnessed the effects of a ‘dirty bomb’ going off and the destruction that it can bring. A ‘dirty bomb’ combines radioactive material with conventional explosives in order to contaminate the area around the explosion. A dirty bomb is not immediately life threatening. The effects of the contamination are real. They leave areas unable to be lived in, worked in and traveled in. They leave people who have been contaminated with long lasting health issues that can ultimately be fatal. The emotional and psychological effects can leave people socially paralyzed for a long time.

When an affair occurs it is like a dirty bomb going off. There isn’t immediate death, but almost everything experiences contamination. One man with a disintegrated soul gets involved with a woman who has a disintegrated soul and eventually the bomb goes off. The wife of the man, the husband of the woman, the children of both families, the co-workers, the subordinates, the authorities over and the world around watch as the contamination spreads.

The only prevention to this ‘dirty bomb’ going off and other ‘dirty bombs’ going off is the integration of the soul.

Lord, integrate my soul! Lord, integrate our souls!

(If you’ve been unable to catch our ‘Soul Care’ series you can get it at swag-online.org or in iTunes.)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

What direction are you moving in?

God has a direction for every person to travel. The direction is not arbitrary or capricious. God doesn’t do arbitrary or capricious.

The direction of travel He desires for each of us is in some ways general and the same for all of us. He has given us a very clear picture of the overall or basic direction that our travel in life is to take. That direction is the direction of love. Jesus said that the two greatest commandments are: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the general direction that God wants each of us to travel.

Everything God does in your life, big or small, is in some way about moving you in the direction of love. He was at work yesterday in your life in ways that will encourage movement in the direction of love for God and love for others. He is at work today in your life in ways that will prod movement in that same direction.

It is always in our best interest and in the best interest of others to travel in the direction of love for God and love for others. This direction might not lead us towards the easiest path. This direction does not include safe travel, smooth travel or quick travel. The direction of love for God and love for others can be a dangerous direction to travel in. The direction of love for God and love for others can lead us to traveling along very windy, bumpy road. The direction of love for God and love for others can be an extremely slow plod. The difficulty of the travel is no indication that the direction is wrong.

Anytime any of us move in a direction that is counter to love for God and love for others, we are moving in the wrong direction. When we are traveling in the wrong direction, there are warning messages that are communicated to us. Our conscience tells us to change direction, others tell us to change direction, and guilt tells us to change directions. The messages warning us to change direction are either built in warning systems or external messages that come for our good and the good of others.

The question to ask is: Is this direction moving me towards greater love for God and greater love for others or is this direction moving me away – moving me towards loving God less and loving others less?

Which direction are you moving in?

Friday, November 2, 2012

Soul Care is Hard Work

Over the recent weeks we’ve been digging into the idea of Soul Care. We’ve looked at how the soul is the merging of all the various parts of life. The soul is the integration of my mind, emotions, heart, will, conscience, desires, impulses, people, memories, intuition, strengths, weaknesses, successes, failures … The health of a soul can be measured by looking at how well the components of life are working together . Likewise, the lack of health of a soul can be measured by looking at the dis-integration of each of the components of life.

Jesus said: What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?
What does it mean to ‘lose my soul?’

If my soul is the integration of all the parts of my life then losing my soul is the dis-integration of all the parts.

Soul Care is hard work. Soul Care is looking at every aspect of life and how all the parts are merging . If I’m going to care for my soul, I can’t just look at one or two or three areas. Soul Care is looking at all the areas and the integration or dis-integration. Most people don’t want to look at their soul. Most people don’t want to ask the question that I’ve challenged you to ask. “What is this doing to my soul?”

It is said that Christopher Columbus stated: You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.

You and I can never ‘cross’ the soul unless we have the courage to lose sight of the ‘shore’ of how our soul has worked or not worked up to this time.

Are you willing to lose sight of the ‘shore’ of how your soul has functioned and ‘cross the ocean’ to a new life of a greater integration of your soul?

With this in mind we’ve been asking – What is this doing to my soul?
With this in mind we’ve been praying – Jesus, Integrate my soul!

This week the question changes a little – “What is this doing to THEIR soul?”
The idea: What is my life doing to the soul of people in my circle?

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Pray, Vote, Love

As we enter the last two weeks before the election, I want to remind you to pray every day for the country and the elections. I have talked a couple of different Sundays about some guidelines that would be good for each of us to live by and to pray from. They are taken from Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California.

As a reminder, here they are again:

1. Everyone pray. Pray for the elections, pray for the elected, pray for the country from your backyard to Washington DC.

2. Everyone vote. We are given a privilege that most of the world can only dream of, having a say, having a vote. Don’t take that privilege for granted. Exercise your privilege to vote.

3. Everyone be civil. There is a saying – To disagree with honest men is not to dishonor them. Even when we disagree, let’s be civil.

4. Everyone remember. The church is about His Kingdom and His mission. The church is a place where absolutely anybody, anywhere, at any spot on the political spectrum is welcome to come and learn about Jesus.

Last of all pray for a spiritual awakening across our land. Regardless of who is elected, political solutions never form the basis for a healthy country. Healthy people and healthy countries (economically, in family relationships, in community relationships, morally, educationally, etc) only happen because of God’s blessing and God’s hand at work. When God removes His hand, even partially, everyone in a nation feels it.

Solomon wrote: The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases. (Proverbs 21:1 NLT)

“It is impossible to rightly govern in this world without God and morality.” - George Washington, 1788

Benjamin Franklin said in the Continental Congress, when the Constitution was being written, "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: That God governs in the affairs of men."

We need a spiritual awakening in America!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Disintegration of the soul

We have been looking at ‘Soul Care’. We are talking about what the soul is, how it functions and eventually we are going to talk about how to care for it. One thought on the soul is that the word ‘soul’ describes the integration of various parts of a person. The soul is the merging of the mind, emotions, will, body, appetites, drives and needs. We can recognize each of these functions and parts of our lives. We know that our mind works or doesn’t work. We are well aware of our emotions, the strength and weakness of our will, body, appetites, drives and needs.

Each of these components can be looked at individually, but they are not in a segregated compartment. They are intertwined with each other. When my mind isn’t working correctly, neither are my emotions. If my body is in pain, my appetites aren’t firing correctly. The components are integrated.

When the Bible speaks of someone ‘losing their soul’, this is not a reference to where someone might spend eternity. Jesus is referring to something that happens to a person’s inner life.

If the soul is the integration of the various components of my being, then losing my soul is the disintegration of the various components of my soul. Losing my soul is the separation of my mind from my emotions, my will from my appetites, my body from my needs and mind. It is the process in which various components of the soul are being slowly and insidiously pulled apart.

What if I get something I want or I’m working for, but my soul starts to come apart?
What if I move forward in certain areas, but come apart at the seams?
What good is it in the end? What have I gained?

What is this doing to my soul?

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Soul Alarms

How many different alarms do you have in your life? I was thinking about all of the alarms that I have and I counted nine that could be programmed to go off when needed or that go off when they are tripped. That isn’t even counting the reminders that go off throughout the day. How about you?

I have an alarm on my watch, beside my bed, on my phone, on my computer, on my iPad, smoke alarms and our septic system. There are also those that require my attention like the burglar alarm and fire alarm at the church.

Some people have burglar alarms at their home and in their cars. Some people have C0 and C02 alarms, Radon alarms, propane and natural gas alarms on top of the ones I’ve listed.

When one of those alarms go off, most people scurry around trying to figure out how to turn the thing off and then what to do about the alarm. Recently, Nathan and I had just finished an 8K race in downtown Seattle when Barbara called to tell me that our septic alarm was going off. When I got home, I diagnosed what I thought was wrong and the next day called Eamonn, the septic repairman, from Celtic Risers. It was the pump in our pump chamber that had gone out. Though it was not cheap to fix the pump, the alarm saved us a bigger repair cost because we were quickly able to take immediate measures to prevent further damage.

What about ‘Soul Alarms’? Do you ever have alarms go off that tell you things are not as they should be with your soul? Does an alarm of say, anxiety ever go off? How about worry, fear, doubt, hate, jealousy, arrogance, pride, self-pity, depression, discouragement … the list is almost endless. Do you do something about the alarms or do you just ignore them? In your life is there an alarm that goes off more than other alarms? Are you aware when the alarm is going off?

I know that when I get overly angry, short in discipline or sensitive to disagreements, my soul is sending out signals that things are not well. Sometimes I give immediate attention to the alarm. Unfortunately, there are times that I ignore the alarm. Ignoring the alarm is never good for me or those around me.

This week – pay attention to your particular ‘Soul Alarms.’ It will be best for you and for those in your life.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Keep in step with the Spirit

You might remember different times in your childhood when you were paired together with a family member, schoolmate or friend for one of the quintessential competitions included in picnics, family reunions and end of the school year celebrations - the 'three-legged race.'

The three-legged race was not usually won by the fastest, best, biggest or the most evenly matched team, but instead by the team that could figure out how to run in rhythm with each other. It was won by the team that figured out when to move which legs: tied legs, free legs, tied, free, tied ... The team that got in sync almost always won. (The exception of course was when one of the team members just carried the other person.)

The race was won by working together. Teammates moving in unison. No longer just two people tied together, but instead they become one giant three legged person.

The Apostle Paul talked about moving in this kind of rhythm, teamwork and oneness with the Holy Spirit.

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 NIV

Keeping in step with the Spirit: Moving when He moves; Resting when He rests; Struggling when He struggles; Coasting when He coasts; Speaking when He speaks; Silence when He hasn't spoken; Keeping in step with the Spirit.

The three-legged race is not the fastest event at the family picnic. No Olympic records will be broken. But there is a beauty in watching two people as they grasp the rhythm of three legs working together.

We can move, rest, struggle, coast, speak and be silent on our own, but there is a splendor in sensing the movement of the Holy Spirit and in perfect cadence, 'keeping instep with the Spirit.' This kind of life activity is what often gets referred to as 'God moments.'

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 NIV

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Be Quick to Listen

Even though we’ve each been given two ears and one mouth it is much harder to listen than it should be. 2000 years ago James wrote to the Jewish followers of Jesus regarding listening. He wrote:

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. (James 1:19 NLT)

Quick to listen … slow to speak.??? That would be different.

Outside of the Scriptures there is a tremendous amount that has been written about listening. One of the great quotes is from Albert Einstein.

If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut. Albert Einstein

If you don’t get it here it is written out: A=Success
X+Y+Z=A

Work+Play+Keeping your mouth shut = Success

These words are powerful when it comes to everyday life but how much more when the practice of listening is applied to prayer and my spiritual life.

Here are the questions that I think of about my prayer times when I read about and think about listening. Am I quick to listen, slow to speak when it comes to prayer?
Do I listen twice as much as I talk?
Is my prayer a practice of asking and doing all of the talking or do I take time to quiet my soul and listen to what the Holy Spirit might be saying to me?

Tuning in to God, which we’ve been talking about, is in truth about listening … listening hard … listening intently.

Be quick to listen … slow to speak.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

'Myselfing' it or Holding God's Hand?

Our family recently hiked up Mount Pilchuck, outside of Granite Falls. It is about a 6 mile hike that climbs roughly 2500 feet to an old fire lookout tower. We had an awesome day!

Our granddaughter who is 5 and our grandson who is 1½ went on the hike with us. For a portion of the hike, I carried our granddaughter. Most of the hike she wanted to walk and did great.

There were some patches of the hike that were difficult. If I wasn’t carrying her, I held her hand so as to help her through the difficult patch. The majority of the time she was OK with me holding her hand. There were moments though where she pulled away because she wanted to do it ‘myself.’ A couple of those times the ‘myself’ ended up tripping or falling. A few times when she was ‘myselfing’ it, I reached out and grabbed her as she started to go down. After tripping or falling she was amenable to me helping her.

This interaction through a 6 mile hike painted a picture for me of how we often are with God. God is trying to get us to hold His hand so that we can make it through a rough patch. He wants to help us and assure us that we can make it through the difficult seasons in life.

But we tend to pull away and let God know through our actions and attitudes that “I want to do it myself!” He doesn’t force us to hold His hand. He doesn’t force Himself upon us when we don’t want it – mostly.

As I look back, there have been times where I was ‘myselfing’ it and sure enough, just as I was on my way down, God reached out and grabbed me. Sometimes I still stumbled or fell but the stumble, or even the fall, was not nearly what it could have been if God hadn’t been there watching over me.

Praying is partially about admitting to God, others and ourselves that we need Him to hold our hand. We are going through a challenge and we can’t make it alone.

Are you in a tough patch right now? Don’t get caught ‘myselfing’ it! God is waiting for an invitation to engage with you and change you.

Matt

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Tuning in to God

This would be a great series for you to invite someone to join you. There are a handful of times during the year that people, who are not in the habit of attending worship services, are open to invitations to gather with others. These are times when non-church goers are thinking about making church part of their routine. Invite someone to join you!

As Jesus talked about prayer, He referred to good prayers and bad prayers. (See Luke 18) The interesting part of Jesus’ discussion surrounding these prayers is who prayed the good prayer, and who prayed the bad prayer. People are of the opinion that ‘good’ people pray good prayers and that ‘bad’ people pray bad prayers. This isn’t what Jesus taught.

In Jesus’ parable in Luke 18, He painted a picture of the ‘good’ person praying a bad prayer and the ‘bad’ person praying a good prayer. Go figure!

If we saw these two people praying, we would quickly make the assumption that Jesus heard and approved of the prayer of the ‘good’ guy and that he would have ignored and rejected the prayer of the ‘bad’ guy.

The good prayer by the bad guy was made up of only a few words, but it included a very powerful idea. He prayed: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The word used for mercy in this prayer is not the normal word that is used for mercy. The word used here has the idea of atonement or paying for a debt. The bad man in Jesus’ parable was praying: “God, atone for me” or “God, pay my debt off for me.”

I can’t pay off my debt of the sin in my life. It is not possible. Not in this lifetime and not in a thousand lifetimes! I need a savior who will pay off my debt! That is the front end of the message of the Gospel.

The back end of the Gospel message is that Jesus is my debt payer. Through His life, death, burial and resurrection, He paid off my debt and your debt and their debt.

Which is better? A good person praying bad prayers or a bad person praying good prayers? Can a good person pray good prayers?

Something to chew on.

Friday, August 10, 2012

Faithfulness doesn't come easy

The Scriptures encourage the development of a character trait that doesn’t come natural and doesn’t come easy to us humans. The encouragement and directive regarding the development of this character trait comes through in imperative statements, encouragement and stories.

The trait I’ve been thinking about is faithfulness. Faithfulness is one of the ‘Fruit of the Spirit.’ The list goes like this: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Paul wrote to Timothy about faithfulness saying: “Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.” (2 Timothy 2:22 NLT)

Another characteristic that is written about throughout the Scriptures is God’s faithfulness. God describes Himself as being faithful. He is described and celebrated as being a faithful God. The people are described as telling their children of His faithfulness.

David wrote: “I have not kept the good news of Your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about Your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of Your unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Psalms 40:10 NLT)

Isaiah wrote about faithfulness this way: “Only the living can praise You as I do today. Each generation tells of Your faithfulness to the next.” (Isaiah 38:19 NLT)

Some people don’t even care about the idea of faithfulness, but for those of us who do, we know that faithfulness does not become part of the fabric of a person’s character in one fell swoop or through one event. Faithfulness is developed day by day, by doing the little things that we are commanded in the Scriptures to do. Faithfulness is developed by successfully doing the right thing. Faithfulness is also developed by failing to do the right thing and getting back up again. It is developed by hundreds of little successes and by hundreds of little failures.

People don’t develop faithfulness overnight. The development of faithfulness is part of the journey from birth to the grave.

Are you growing in faithfulness to God, to those around you and to yourself?

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Walk in the light

Plants require light to grow. Without light plants shrivel and die. Sin is exactly the opposite. Sin loves darkness. Darkness is the condition necessary for sin to grow. Anyone who wants sin to remain and take over only needs to keep away from the light. There is nothing else required.

For sin to shrivel up and die it must be brought into the light.

The Apostle John declared: If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 ESV

If we walk in the light, if...

Repentance turns on the light. Repentance is a change of mind that declares what I did was a sin, I'm responsible for what I've done and I accept the consequences.

When I change my mind about what I've done and declare it to be sin; when I take responsibility for what I've done; when I accept the consequences of my actions I have walked in the light. When I continue to admit sin, take responsibility and accept the consequences then I am walking in the light. Walking is a continuous action. Walking in the light is meant to be a continuous way of life for a Jesus follower.

Jesus, teach us how to walk in the light!

Repentance - An obsolete idea?

Repentance is a word that isn't heard much anymore. In the current mindset the word has become obsolete, it is no longer necessary. It is obsolete because there is another word that it works in conjunction with: sin. What was formerly referred to as sin has been rebranded.

The old fashion idea of sin has been replaced with "issues". A person doesn't do wrong instead they "have issues".

Sin has been replaced with “illness”. A person doesn't sin instead they are suffering from an illness.

What they did was not intentional it was a “mistake”.

The problem with replacing sin with: illness, issues and mistakes is that repentance is no longer a response to a person's choices and actions. Repentance is built on admitting wrong choices and taking responsibility for what has happened. Repentance is a change of mind that declares what I did was a sin, I'm responsible for what I've done and I accept the consequences.

Recently someone said to me “I've made peace with God.” The problem with their statement was that they were taking little or no responsibility for their actions. Repentance always takes responsibility.

The Apostle Paul wrote about the reaction of repentance in his second letter to the church in Corinth. “Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!” 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 ESV

This is what godly repentance looks like. Is there an area in your life where you need to declare something as sin, take responsibility and shoulder the consequences?

Friday, June 29, 2012

America Needs You!

During WWI there was a famous JM Flagg poster that portrayed Uncle Sam pointing at the reader declaring “I want you for the US Army.” This poster morphed over the years and has taken many different forms. There are hundreds of pictures of these posters on the Internet. Seeing one of the posters recently got me thinking about the idea: America Needs You!

America does Need You!

America needs you to pray
America needs you to pray for the President, Vice-President, House of Representatives, Senate, and the Supreme Court, the military leaders, business and finance leaders. Our country needs the wisdom of God.

America needs you to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength
When each of us loves God the way we are meant to then our priorities end up in the right order, we spend our money correctly, we put people before things and not things before people. I heard Pastor Lindus say one time “Never love something that can’t love you back.” It is easy to use people and love things when we have our priorities in the wrong order. The correct priority is to love people and use things.

America needs you to love your neighbor as yourself
When each of us loves our neighbors as we should the world becomes a place of peace, creativity, stability and prosperity. When we fail to love our neighbors, no matter who they are or how different they are than us, the world becomes a place of conflict, creativity is stifled, instability becomes a way of life and prosperity is out of reach. The Scriptures talk about how easy it is to love someone like you or who loves you. The challenge given by Jesus 2000 years ago to love our neighbor was not a challenge to love those like us or who love us. The challenge was to love those who are different than us and who maybe don’t like us.

America needs these attitudes and actions from every one of us. America needs you to pray. America needs you to love God. America needs you to love your neighbor.
Matt

Friday, June 22, 2012

Praying for our country and leaders



The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus, regarding praying for those in authority. He told Timothy: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, … (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NLT)

Paul wrote these directives at a time when Nero, the Emperor, had absolute power. Ultimate authority for life and death was literally in the hands of Nero. Nero was not a benevolent leader. History records many of the atrocious activities of this leader. Yet Paul wrote these things: Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf; give thanks for them. If this was the instruction for Timothy and the believers in the Roman Empire how much more applicable are the instructions for believers today? We are clearly instructed to: Ask God to help our leaders; intercede for our leaders; give thanks for our leaders.

As we approach the anniversary of our country’s birth and as we draw near to another election of the leaders, we need to obey the directives of Paul to Timothy. We need to: Ask God to help our leaders. We need to: Intercede for our leaders. We need to give thanks for our leaders.

The goal of praying for those in authority is, ‘so that we can live peaceful and quite lives marked by godliness and dignity.’ Living peaceful and quite lives marked by godliness and dignity happens in two ways. One way is that God answers prayer and the circumstances and conditions of society make it possible for people ‘to live peaceful and quite lives marked by godliness and dignity.’

The other way that this happens, is that God answers prayer by forming the attitude in people so that they ‘live peaceful and quite lives marked by godliness and dignity’, regardless of the circumstances and conditions of society. God answers prayer and works in hearts, so that His followers have an attitude of peaceful and quite lives marked by godliness and dignity, in a world that is opposed to them and in a society that is out of control.

The follower doesn’t get to choose which way God answers the prayer. The bottom line is that, God wants to create in us ‘peaceful quite lives marked by godliness and dignity’ regardless of what is happening in the land. If you didn’t know it ‘peaceful quite lives marked by godliness and dignity’ is what God is trying to do in you and me when we pray for those in authority.

Friday, June 15, 2012

Spiritual Growth takes Diligence

As most of you know I’m concerned for and passionate about spiritual growth. I find myself burdened by a desire to see each individual person at SWAG grow spiritually and that the nature of Jesus would be formed in their life.

Spiritual growth is best compared to ‘health’ then it is to just growth. Good physical health doesn’t just happen. It takes diligence and intentional action for good health to happen. Good health takes work when it is easy and exciting and we’re inspired. Good health also takes work when we find ourselves in the middle of the drudgery of life. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen naturally. Spiritual growth takes work and lots of it.

The Apostle Peter wrote to the first century believers encouraging them to be diligent in the drudgery. It is pretty easy to work hard when we are inspired, when there is a looming deadline or when we have a goal to achieve. Working hard and being disciplined is not so easy in the drudgery.

Peter wrote: For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8 HCSB)

Notice his words: MAKE EVERY EFFORT. Those are diligence, hard work and discipline words.

Don’t let yourself be weighed down though. Even in the area of discipline God wants to work. One of the Fruits of the Spirit is Self-control. Self-control is something produced by the Holy Spirit when we yield and cooperate with Him.

Jesus, teach us how to be diligent, hardworking and disciplined in the times of drudgery. Holy Spirit, create the fruit of self-control that we might grow spiritually. Amen

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Passing It On

One of the lessons that will be repeated over and over as we study through the book of Judges the consequences of what happens when one generation fails to pass on to the next generation the truths of God. This is not just about failing to teach the truths but also a failure to create situations and environments for each succeeding generation to experience the love, forgiveness, intervention, guidance and provision of God.

Judges records it this way: “After that generation died (the generation that had been in the desert and had crossed the Jordon River), another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things He had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10 NLT)

The instruction to the children of Israel was clear. They were to pass on to each generation the truths of Scripture. The book of Deuteronomy starts with these instructions: “Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NLT)

When grandparents and parents fail to pass on the truths of God and create situations and environments for their posterity to experience the work of God, there are disastrous consequences to future generations. Passing on the truths and creating situations and environments for the next generation to experience the work of God will not guarantee that loving, fearing and serving God will take, BUT failure to pass on the truths and failure to create situations and environments for the next generation will almost certainly destine the succeeding generations to forget God.

Judges continued to record history: “The Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD. They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth.” (Judges 2:11-13 NLT)

The number one priority of grandparents and parents is to pass on the truths of God and to create opportunities for the next generation to experience God.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Celebrate America - Prayer Needed

I need to ask you to pray for wisdom and for finances for Celebrate America, the annual fireworks event that South Whidbey Assembly has organized and hosted for the last 17 years, in Freeland.

This has been a very difficult year organizing the event. We have had multiple obstacles to overcome all the way from changing the firework pyrotechnicians to the fundraising. The fundraising has not gone as well as it has in previous years. The cost of most components of the event has increased again this year. We have ironed out almost all of the difficult areas except the funding.

All of the businesses that have been large supporters are either unable to help this year or they have had to cut back their support significantly. This has left us with more than a $10,000 shortage.

The determination was made, we needed to have $20,000 of the money pledged or in hand by the end of May or we would have to cancel the event. As of May 31st we are a few thousand dollars short of the $20,000. The total budget is $29,000, so even if the $20,000 was realized we still have about a third of the money to collect.

The South Whidbey Record is running another plea on Saturday and we are shaking every bush we can think of that may not have been shaken so far.

The decision has not been made yet, to pull the plug. I am waiting until the last possible minute in hopes that the funding comes in.

A decision will be made by June 10th whether or not the event will happen. It would be too bad not be able to offer this event to the community. It is in Jesus’ hands.

Please pray that we will have clarity, as the week goes by, and that, if Celebrate America should happen this year, that the money needed will come in quickly.

Thanks.

Friday, May 25, 2012

‘Wannabe’ does not make it so

Learning and doing can be disconnected. Learning is often disconnected from life and living life.

For instance, I can read all kinds of books, attend lectures, and watch video clips about building, but until I actually start building I’m not a builder. And I’m not really a builder until I’ve built a few things.

I can read and attend lectures and watch videos about running, golf, fishing, sewing, pottery, etc, etc and never be a runner, golfer, fisherman, seamstress or potter. I am simply a wannabe. A wannabe becomes the real deal when they start putting miles on their shoes, spending hours fishing, and sewing all sorts of items. It is not the ‘wannabe’ that makes it so. It is the doing. It is in putting ‘rubber to the road.’

This is true in the Christian life. Reading about Jesus and the Christian life, attending church services, watching videos, and listening to teachings may give information and knowledge, but if that person never puts ‘rubber to the road,’ they are a wannabe Jesus follower and not a Jesus follower.

Jesus told the Apostles to make disciples and to “…teach them to obey [DO] everything I’ve commanded you.”

Jesus half-brother, James, said it this way: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22 NIV)

People can learn about something and never put it into practice and never become what they ‘wannabe.’ On the other hand, a person who does it - who puts ‘rubber to the road’ - learns it. They can’t help it. Learning happens in the doing. A person can read all about running and never become a runner, but a person who runs learns all about running and is a runner.

A person who obeys Jesus is a Jesus follower and learns more about being a Jesus follower than the person who reads, watches, and listens to teachings about being a Jesus follower but doesn’t obey.

This is also true in marriage and parenting. I can read all kinds of books, attend weekend seminars and sign-up for coaching, but unless I put into practice what I learn, I am a ‘wannabe’ and not the real deal. It is when I obey Jesus and love my wife as Jesus loves the church that I become a godly husband. When I put ‘rubber to the road’ and serve my wife and kids, I become what a husband and father is supposed to become.

‘Wannabe’ does not make it so – doing makes it so.

Friday, May 18, 2012

People are reading your book

In the first century the Gospel was not something read in a Bible, or listened to on the radio or TV. The Gospel was read in the lives of those who were followers of Jesus. Every follower of Jesus revealed to those they came in contact with something about God and something about the values, priorities and life of Jesus. The Gospel came to people in the flesh and blood, the words, attitudes and actions of those who were following the risen Savior.

One of the earliest writings about the Gospel was the letters to the church in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians Paul was defending his apostleship against the accusation that he was not really an apostle. He told the Corinthian believers that they were his letter of recommendation, that every time someone looked at them they could ‘read’ what Paul had taught and how Paul had lived.

The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.
(2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NLT)

Today, every follower of Jesus reveals something about God and theology. Every follower also reveals something about the values, priorities and ways of Jesus. Is your ‘book’ telling the truth? When someone reads your life do they read truth about who God is and what God is like? When someone reads the ‘book’ of your life, are they getting the truth about Jesus’ priorities, values and ways or are they reading a lie?

Paul continually encouraged people to follow him. He wrote:
You should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT)

Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9 NLT)

Paul wrote these words with confidence because his ‘book’ was telling the truth.

Is your ‘book’ telling the truth?

Friday, May 11, 2012

Are you drinking Living Water?

Water …

Upwards of 70% of the planet is covered by water. Some of the water is salt-water and some of it is fresh water. People can live for weeks without taking in food but can last only days without water. In 1981 an Irish hunger striker went 73 days without food. According to the Guinness Book of Records the longest time a human has survived without water is 18 days. Dehydration begins to impact the human body with thirst, dry mouth, dizziness, no longer making tears, no longer sweating, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, heart palpitations. Going more than four days without water leads to kidney failure, and eventually death.

1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Roughly one-sixth of the world's population and half of the world's hospital beds are filled with people suffering from water related illnesses.

The human race is dependent upon water. Without it we are doomed.

Is it any wonder that Jesus used water as a running illustration of people needing to depend upon Him as the source of ‘Living Water?’ The illustration would have been so much more potent to the people that he spoke to directly than it is to you or me.

Today, getting a drink of water takes almost no effort whatsoever. For most Americans it only requires the turn of a faucet handle. Much of the world today doesn’t have the access to running water in their homes that we have. They have to go out to a river, lake or well and work for the water. In Jesus’ day people did not get water without effort and often substantial effort.

Jesus said to the woman at the well: “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water.” (John 4:10 NLT)

Jesus taught that the only way to live a healthy spiritual life is to receive from Him ‘living water.’ Anything short of a few days without ‘living water’ and the human spirit begins to undergo changes that, if not hydrated with the ‘living water,’ will lead to ‘spiritual organ failure. People begin to sense a thirst, then a dryness and then spiritual dizziness and so on.

People never have to be without ‘living water.’ The supply in Jesus is never ending. The well is never closed. Jesus just said, “Ask Me, and I will give you living water.”

Are you spiritually dehydrated? Ask for living water.
Has it been a few days since you drank from the well of living water? Ask for living water.

Jesus is the ‘living water’, which is available at all times to every person.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Out of the Blue Temptation

I have been thinking this week about how moment-by-moment temptation can be. It seems like a person can be going through their day minding their own business, and then what seems like out of the blue something happens that can, if not responded to correctly, set an unintended trajectory for the next period of time.

For example, the evening at home is progressing peacefully. Something happens, and right in front of you is an unavoidable fork in the road. You must make a split second choice. React in anger, and the next period of time is filled with tension, frustration and conflict. React in kindness or even in silence, and the momentary tension melts away back into peace.

At that fork in the road, the temptation, which was not present a split second before, is talking. This split second, on-the-fly temptation could be, anger, lying, bitterness, gossip, jealousy, selfishness, lust, self-medicating with chemicals or alcohol - you name it. More often than not, it seems like our mind would describe the situation unfolding as “didn’t see that coming.”

There are, of course, situations of premeditated temptation that brew for a while, giving a person the chance to go forward or to back out of the situation. Often, though, it is not the no-one-is-going-to-be-home-or-know-so-I-think-I’ll-surf-the-net thoughts that start tempting someone. Instead, it is the picture, advertisement or spam that jumps out and puts a little ‘niggly’ in someone’s thoughts. It is the ad for something that I didn’t even know existed, but now that I know what it is, I have to have it … no matter what the cost!

This was not premeditated covetousness, materialism or greed. This was ‘where did that come from’ covetousness, materialism and greed. The advertisement plants a little ‘niggly’ in our ‘want’ organ and that itch has to be scratched!

The Apostle Peter said, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT)

It is at those forks in the road that the enemy waits ready to pounce. Stay alert!

Friday, April 27, 2012

Thinking about Self Less

Transformation and renewal create a different way of living. Paul wrote to the church in Rome about transformation and renewal.

. . . I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3 ESV

He goes on to write about how that attitude changes the way life is lived.

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:9-10 ESV

Thinking more highly of oneself, wanting others to think more highly of us, thinking lower of others and trying to get other people to think lower of someone else causes immeasurable human suffering, pain and division. The results of this kind of thinking might include jealousy, gossip, slander, bullying, lying, rejection, deception, manipulation, and control. All of these actions are contrary to Paul's admonition to love genuinely, hold fast to what is good, love with affection and to outdo each other in showing honor.

Pastor Rick Warren has described humility as “Not thinking less of self, but instead thinking of self less.” The cause of almost all human ills is selfishness - thinking too often about self. The Bible calls thinking too often about self and the actions that follow selfishness.

Clear back to Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel until this morning, the root of human suffering is thinking too much about self. Each of us need our thinking transformed and renewed so we think less about self, and when we do think about self our judgment is 'sober' or honest.

Jesus, change our thinking!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Transformation - How does it happen?

Change is never easy. In some way everyone has an aversion to change. Everyone has changed something about their life, and yet there are countless other areas that attempt after attempt to change have proven futile. What is it that produces lasting change? What is that produces real transformation in a person’s life?

Transformation begins in the mind. Transformation doesn’t happen by changing a behavior, feeling, habit or life pattern. Behavior, feeling, habits and life patterns change when through mind change. Often people define repentance as ‘turning from sin.’ Repentance in the Bible is not primarily ‘turning from sin’ but it is changing how I think.

You’ve probably had moments where you thought to yourself or even said out loud, “What was I thinking?” People think that, say that and grill themselves that way because they understand that thinking or is it were not thinking, dictates everything else a person does.

Winnie the Pooh one time asked, “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” That is a common mode of life for most people: stopping to think and forgetting to start again. Controlled thinking is an intentional way of living. Controlled thinking doesn’t just happen.

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi and said, “Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8 NIV) Why the directive about what to think? Why write so forcefully about thinking? Because Paul understood that a person is directed by their thoughts.

In essence Paul was saying, “Think true and you’ll live true. Think right and you’ll live right. Think pure and you’ll live pure. Think what is admirable and you’ll live in an admirable way.”

Will Durant said that - the trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds. Thinking with hopes, fears or wishes is not intentional thinking. Thinking with hopes, fears or wishes is “whatever-comes-into-the-mind thinking.”

Change your thinking, and you’ll experience the transformation that God has in store for you.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Change your mind, Change your heart. Change your heart, Change your habits.

The idea of transformation, becoming the person God intends for you to become, has many facets to it. There are ways in which God desires and has designed every person to be similar. There are also ways in which God desires and has designed every person to be significantly different.

Transforming into who we are meant to be has to do with our mind, our heart and our habits. The Apostle Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Rome and instructed them in the process of transformation. He wrote:

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NLT)

His instructions talk about habits: Don’t copy the behaviors and customs of those around you.
His instructions talk about the mind: “…let God transform you … by changing the way you think.”
His instructions talk about the heart: “…then you will learn to know God’s will … good and pleasing and perfect.

These three components working together bring about the transformation that God has designed. Transformation is almost impossible when it fails to include all three parts of process. Transformation requires a change of habits, but changing habits without changing thinking fails to enable transformation. Transformation requires changed thinking, but just thinking alone is inadequate. Changed thinking has to be accompanied with a desire to know what is good, pleasing and perfect to God.

Most often what we want to change is habits, but habits are often the last thing to change. Change your thinking and your mind gets changed. Change your mind and your heart gets changed. Change your heart and your habits change.

Changing your mind is why the affect on your life of spending time in the Scriptures is incalculable. King David said, “I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11

Change your mind, Change your heart. Change your heart, Change your habits.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Spiritual Transformation and Sailing

I am not a boat owner, I never have been. I have very little experience on the water, and I am not in any way whatsoever a sailor. I get motion sickness just spinning the kids, now grandkids, around in a circle. I start to feel sea-sick swimming in Deer Lake. I am not an expert in what I’m writing about. The idea has been stolen from one of my favorite Bible teachers, John Ortberg.

Spiritual Transformation is not an overnight event. It is instead a long trip. Transformation can be likened to a trip across the ocean in a boat. The trip is long, the obstacles are unknown, the days vary and sometimes there is ‘no land in sight.’

People approach the journey of transformation in different ways. Some of the ways seem to work and others are obvious failures. Here are some thoughts about three ways of approaching the journey of transformation.

The Row Boat
Some people try day after day to be good. They try hard to be spiritually mature and do what they are supposed to do. This could be likened to someone rowing a boat across the ocean. It is exhausting and usually ends in failure.

Adrift at Sea
Some people give up trying and throw up their hands in disgust. They decide that the only hope for experiencing transformation lies in ‘relying on the grace of God.’ This approach could be likened to someone being adrift in the boat letting the waves take them wherever the wave goes.

Neither rowing harder nor drifting is very effective in the journey of transformation.

Sailing
A better image is one of sailing. God’s Holy Spirit is the wind that can move us across the ocean to the land of transformation. None of us can control the wind. Each of us is at the mercy of the wind. We can, though, experience transformation as we lift the sail and adjust it to the blowing of the wind.

In John 3, Jesus speaks of the actions of the Holy Spirit using the simile of the wind. He talks about not knowing where the wind is coming from or where it is going. The Apostle Paul, when writing to the church in Ephesus about being ‘filled with the Holy Spirit,’ uses the language of a sail being filled with wind.

Transformation will not happen in the lives of Jesus’ followers just because they try harder or because they throw up their arms and expect God’s grace to get them there. Transformation happens because His followers lift their sail to the wind of the Holy Spirit and then cooperate with the wind of the Holy Spirit who will take them to the land of transformation.

We will be transformed and become who and what God wants us to be when we lift the sail and go with the wind of the Holy Spirit.

Friday, March 30, 2012

There were only two options - disciple or not!

I have been wondering lately if, in the desire to bring people to faith in Jesus, the church has formed a condition where people fall short of becoming actual disciples of Jesus. Has a dichotomy been created that was never intended by Jesus or by the practices of the church?

It is not uncommon for followers of Jesus, when trying to determine whether someone else is also a follower or not, to ask questions to ask people questions such as:
“Are you a Christian?”
“Have you prayed to invite Jesus into your life?”
“Have you given your life to Jesus?”

The way someone responds to these questions is then an indicator of where they are at ‘spiritually.’ Does the response really indicate anything or not?

It is not uncommon to hear people say: “He’s a Christian but …” “I’m a Christian but …” The “but …” is followed by qualifiers as to some aspect of the life of the person being described.

Is it possible that people have been led to believe that they can be a ‘Christian’ and not be a disciple of Jesus? Is it possible that people in our society believe that the two ideas can be separated? Do people in our society and in the church believe that a person can be a ‘Christian’ and choose not to be a disciple? Is there now the view that being a disciple is an option that a ‘Christian’ can choose if they want to, but it is not necessary?

Jesus told the Apostles and first followers: “Go and make disciples…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:19-20) It was never the case that people could be a ‘Christian’ and not a disciple. People were either disciples or they weren’t. There were only two options - disciple or not! Multiple choices did not exist among the early church.

The only question to be asked is: Are you a disciple of Jesus? How about it?

Friday, March 23, 2012

Facebook Depression

The Apostle Paul said: For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: (2 Corinthians 10:12 BBE)

Google the term 'Facebook Depression' and 80 million results will appear. The links show sites regarding depression in teens and adults that can result from excessive use of Facebook and other social media sites. Some of the postings are the result of academic and medical studies. Other postings are anecdotal articles from those in the medical and mental health professions.

As with any academic study, research, polling and observations, there are differing opinions as to causes, factors and contributors to depression that at times accompany Facebook and social media usage. The discussion often centers on the question of cause and effect. Does excessive social media interaction cause depression or is the depression the outcome of people who are already prone to depression?

One of the common themes that comes through clearly is the downside of comparing lives to others. The comparing that happens in social media is not just one person comparing their life to their friend's life. The comparison is between image and reality. It is between avatar and reality.

The comparison is between one person's Facebook life to another person’s real life. There is constant "'in-your-face friends' tallies, status updates and photos of happy-looking people having great times'"

All too often the reader compares their life to the other person’s Facebook life and their actual life may not even come close to comparing. They look at another friend’s posting and the comparison is again not pretty. Over and over the comparison goes. Their actual life compared to a 'friend's' Facebook life seems shallow, uninteresting, even ‘depressing’. The comparison is not good.

Comparing life with the lives of another person usually has little benefit. Each person's journey is unique. No two lives are the same. There are people that will have a ‘better life’ and there will be people who have a ‘worse life.’ What good does that comparing do?

Comparing actual life to media-portrayed or social-media-image-portrayed life is never good. Most people in media and entertainment undergo silicone, Botox and plastic surgery in order to get the spit shined look that they have. Hollywood is not actual life. Hollywood is image- managed.

The same can be true of social media. Hardly anyone puts a bad picture of themselves on Facebook. There is very little honest confession about the trials of life. Even when the trials are shared, they are shined, polished and displayed in the way that the person posting the status wants people to see. Avatar to avatar is often what social media is.

We can’t get caught in the trap of comparing our life to the image that anyone else portrays in any setting. We are accountable to Jesus. He is the one who loves us and from whom we find our identity. Social media can connect us, but beware of avatar to avatar temptation that is inherent in connecting through social media.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

No One Even in the Same Stratosphere

Throughout the current teaching series, The Wonder of Jesus, we’ve been looking at the amazing impact that Jesus has had on world history. There is no one single individual who has had anywhere near the impact on the world that Jesus has. There could be a lot of debate on who the next most influential person would be, but there is no one even in the same stratosphere when it comes to leaving a lasting fingerprint on the human race.

One illustration of this is the number of languages that the New Testament, which is about Jesus, has been translated into. There are between 6,800 and 6,900 individual unique languages in the world. The Gospels and most of the New Testament have been translated and printed in 2,500 of those languages. Amazing!

Someone could argue, though, that the Gospels and New Testament have only been translated into less than one half of all the languages. That’s not so impressive.

Of all of the other books that have been written down through history, there is none that compare in the incredible number of languages that a book has been translated into. Not Shakespeare, Plato, Socrates, Mark Twain, the Harry Potter series, none of them come close.

The next closest book, when considering languages it has been translated into, is Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote published in 1600. Don Quixote has been translated into sixty languages. That’s it. Sixty. A measly sixty languages!

There is no person, and there is no story that is even a close second in impact on world history when compared to the amazing person and story of Jesus. Jesus’ life and story has lapped multiple times anyone who follows!

Jesus is amazing! The story of Jesus is amazing!

Friday, March 9, 2012

Following Jesus ... Like every other commitment?

Throughout life, we each make a variety of commitments. Starting fairly young we commit to Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, Little League, dance lessons, ballet and music lessons. As we get older we commit to a team, club or AP classes. Eventually most of us commit to a person in a marriage ceremony. Commitment in one way or another is a common aspect of life.

Some commitments have a time component of six months or a year. Some commitments are open-ended.

Not only do we make a variety of commitments we also break a variety of commitments. We decide that we don't really want to be in Scouts, or Little League or the AP class anymore. So we drop out and move on to our new found interest and make a new commitment.

The two extremes regarding commitments are: making commitments and never straying from the commitment and never making commitments of any sort.

You've probably heard people say: 'Why make a commitment that I can't keep or that I'm going to break? Isn't it better to not make a commitment than to make one and then change my mind and break the commitment?’

Learned attitudes and practices regarding commitment can migrate from one area of life to others. Depending on the area of life that the attitudes and practices migrate from and to; the migration can be positive or negative. Learned attitudes and practices can carry over into a person's faith journey.

Jesus' story of the soil is partially about commitment. Three of the four soil types are about commitment. Two of those three soil types are about making and breaking commitments. The other soil is the one that made a commitment and kept it.

How has your learned attitudes and practices towards commitment impacted your commitment to follow Jesus? Is following Jesus just like all of the other commitments?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

USE CURRENT LOCATION

Moved with compassion … He had compassion on them … His heart overflowed with compassion … (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13 – as a few examples)

Compassion was one of the primary descriptions of Jesus by those who walked with Him. Jesus was unlike other Rabbi’s who seemed to be primarily concerned with propriety, order and everything being appropriate. Whether it was a crippled person in need of healing, the woman at the well in need of acceptance, or the woman caught in adultery that needed forgiveness, Jesus was motivated by compassion.

I was thinking about compassion and expressing compassion the other day when I was looking up directions for a building in downtown Seattle on my phone. When I pulled up the map app, the option for the starting point for directions was “USE CURRENT LOCATION.” What a great description of how Jesus expects us to live out compassion. He wants us to start right at our CURRENT LOCATION.

He doesn’t expect us to change location spiritually or physically to show compassion. He expects us to show compassion from our CURRENT LOCATION. He wants us to show compassion right where we live, work and play. He doesn’t want us to get ‘more spiritual’ and then show compassion. He wants us to show compassion now. He doesn’t want us to move to another location and then start showing compassion. He doesn’t want us to take off on a ‘mission trip’ somewhere and start showing compassion. He doesn’t want us to give our money to someone else who can show compassion. He doesn’t want us to support the compassion of an organization. He wants compassion from us in our CURRENT LOCATION.

He wants us to look around and see the people in our CURRENT LOCATION who need compassion!

Who in your CURRENT LOCATION needs to be accepted just as they are? Who in your CURRENT LOCATION needs a friend? Who in your CURRENT LOCATION needs you to be praying for them? Who needs a helping hand? Who needs someone to lean on?

Don’t wait to start at some other place. Let the compassion of Jesus flow from you right now in your CURRENT LOCATION. There are people at your CURRENT LOCATION who need you to be the compassion of Jesus.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Seek Week - March 4 - 9

Sunday March 4th will start Seek Week here at SWAG. Over the last few years we have encouraged people to set aside some time during Seek Week to spend with Jesus. Usually Seek Week has been towards the very beginning of a new year. Scheduling this year pushed it further out. Interestingly enough Seek Week falls right in the midst of the traditional forty days of Lent.

Personally I am concentrating on some verses written by the Apostle Paul to the church in the city of Ephesus. These verses describe Paul’s prayer for the church in Ephesus and his heart for the followers of Jesus in that city.

I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Ephesians 3:16-20 NLT)

His prayer is that God will empower people; that God will cause their roots to grow down into His love and keep them strong. That they would understand God’s love. That they would understand how absolutely amazing that love towards us is.

These verses describe my desire for each of you. I take seriously the responsibility of caring for those that Jesus has entrusted to me. Often I feel so incredibly inadequate in my ability and in my performance as a pastor. Though I am inadequate, God is adequate. God’s adequacy comes to each of us in Jesus Christ! Paul wrote that God is able to ‘accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.’

Jesus, empower your people, cause their roots to grow deep in your love. Keep us strong. Help us understand God’s love. Amen

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

If You Always Do What You've Always Done ...

I have been chewing on a statement that you might have heard before: "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." Some say that it was Mark Twain who penned the words.

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.

There are areas of life where this is true. When people keep making the same choices over and over, they are destined to get the same results.

There are areas of life where this is not true, though. There are aspects of life when people make the same choices over and over, and instead of getting the same results, they get less.

Think about it in the area of finances. If I always do what I've always done, I won't always get what I always got because gas prices go up. I have to pay more to get the same amount of gas which I got before. The only way to get a lot more gas is to pay a lot more.

If I always spend the way I've always spent, I will not get what I always got because everything costs more. If I always make what I've always made, I won't get what I always got because every week my buying power is less.

In many areas of life the statement should be: "If I always do what I've always done, I'll get less or worse than I always got." Or maybe the statement should be: "If I do a little more than I've always done, I'll merely get what I've always got.”

The truth in many areas of life is actually: If I do substantially more or different than I've always done, I'll get more or different than I've always got.

I haven’t been chewing on this in relation to finances or about getting things or about bettering life. I’ve been thinking about how there is a natural deterioration in the spiritual arena. When a person’s spiritual life is left to itself, it rusts, molds, grows moss and deteriorates. It takes a certain level of attention to spiritual health just to keep from rusting and molding spiritually. It takes a greater level of attention to spiritual health to keep growing and changing. The level of attention which, at one point in life, brought growth and change eventually is the level that is needed just to keep rust, moss and mold away.

Spiritually - praying, reading, resting - are you doing what you’ve always done or are you doing different/more?

Friday, February 10, 2012

Simply Jesus

Simply Jesus is the title of a book by the world’s leading New Testament scholar, NT Wright. Simply Jesus? Can people in 2012 know Jesus? Is there anything ‘simply’ about Jesus? More than 2000 years have passed since Jesus walked the earth, performed miracles, died and rose again. Throughout the last 2000 years innumerable volumes have been written about him. There are scores of views of who Jesus is and what he was like.

Can we completely know who Jesus is and what he was like? We almost certainly can’t know ‘completely’, but we can become more accurately acquainted with who Jesus was, and what Jesus was like, than is often believed. Jesus is not just a person imagined by broken hearted people whose stories have been elaborated on through the centuries.

Jesus is a real historical figure who walked this earth. There are records of him, and maybe as important, there are historical records of the time that he lived in. These documents have greater reliability than any writings from antiquity.

People in our part of the world are familiar with the name of Jesus. They are often not familiar with the real person of Jesus. People use the name of Jesus but most of the time they are not referring to the actual Jesus. They are referring to a view of Jesus that is an amalgamation of the varying views that they’ve come into contact with.

People sometimes say ‘the legend has grown’ when they refer to a historical figure. It is true that often the ‘legend’ does grow. This is not true of Jesus! The legend that is conveyed and referred to has shrunk instead of grown. The real Jesus is so much grander than what is believed by those who are Jesus followers, and the real Jesus’ grandness is so far above what is believed by those who are not yet Jesus followers.

Do you want to understand simply Jesus? It is possible; it just takes some digging. Dig, Dig, Dig.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Aborigines and Character Building

The Bible says some important things about people having or growing in ‘character.’ Ruth is called a woman of noble character. The book of Proverbs talks about a wife of noble character. Paul writes to the Corinthian believers about ‘bad company corrupting good character.’

Character is not something people possess. Character is something that is either forged or not forged in a person’s life. Paul wrote to the believers in Rome about the development or forging of character in a person’s life. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (Romans 5:3-4 NLT)

For 5000 years the aborigines of Australia practiced a form of ‘initiation’ or ‘right of passage’ from childhood to manhood with their young men. When a boy entered into the early years of manhood, he was taught about weapons, hunting and power. As part of the initiation process the young man was required to make his own axe. For a man the axe was a multifaceted tool. It was used for protection, hunting, gathering and building. While making the axe he was taught about the uses and the dangers of the axe. He was also instructed in the uses and the dangers of power. When the time was right, the young man would finish his axe, go on a ‘walkabout,’ and when he returned it was expected that he would be responsible with his axe and with his ‘power.’

In the late 1800’s, as the colony of Australia was being developed, the government observed that some aborigines had the necessary axe and others did not. The lack of having an axe limited their capacity for work and for providing for themselves. The government decided that they should provide each man with an axe.

Anthropologist and sociologist look back at that moment as a significant point in the collapse of the aboriginal culture. Soon violence, rebellion and crime erupted among the aboriginal people in ways never seen before.

The problem? The axe was given without the time, attention and expectations built into the young men. They were given the tool without the necessary character being ‘forged’ in their lives. They now had a weapon but didn’t know how to control and correctly utilize the power behind the weapon.

Character is part of what God is doing in each of our lives. He is at work through the tough times and through the good times, building character in our lives. Privileges, independence and power without character lead to destruction. Are you letting Jesus forge character in your life?

Friday, January 27, 2012

Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How about this history? Part 10

During the last part of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century the face of the church has been going through earth shattering changes. The last 500 years the church has mostly consisted of people who were white, European and lived north of the equator. This has changed and continues to change in unprecedented ways. The mold of the church is now darker skinned, African, Asian and Latin American from south of the Equator.

Most of what the Western church would refer to as “real worship music” is not indigenous to the vast majority of today’s ethnically diverse church. Music started before the world was ever created. Before the great flood of Noah’s time Jubal was said to be the first of all who play the harp and flute. (Genesis 4:21 NLT)

Let me give you a personal observation. Various cultures, generations, individuals and movements within the church and church history each have music that appeals to them and that enables them to worship. A common practice for people is to claim that the music that appeals to them is ‘real worship music.’ “That’s not real worship or they aren’t really worshipping’ is a statement that I have heard people declare regarding forms of music that didn’t appeal to them.

The dilemma for each of us is that the music that God used to speak to us and to our generation becomes sacred. People who came before us really didn’t know ‘true worship’ and people after us ‘aren’t really worshipping.’ The music that God used to touch our lives and change people in our time period must be the most important and the ‘real worship music.’

When I think in those terms and talk in those terms aren’t I really saying: “When God chooses a CD or downloads a song to listen to (HE IS THE AUDIENCE AFTER ALL!!!!), the music God chooses is the music that appeals to me. God and I like the same kind of music.” “It moves us!” “In spite of the diverse music of the various periods in history, various cultures, various generations, various church movements and the incredible diversity in music appeal I’m sure that God chooses my music.”

When stated that way, the whole discussion seems a little foolish.

The reality is that God made us unique people and told us to worship him and adore him in unique ways and that He loves the diversity!

Now you know my opinion! --- The controversy around music continues! Matt

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How About This History? Part 9

Here is some food for thought:
“If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship?” Paul Basden

During the 19th and 20th centuries ‘freedom of style and independence’ in the area of worship was promoted from many corners of the church. This ‘freedom’ is what history now ironically called the "Liturgical Movement."

Religious music experienced a makeover to fit changing and evolving congregations. Liturgies were simplified and often translated into the language and culture of different people groups. The ‘Liturgical Movement’ sought to safeguard the history of the traditional music in the church all the while designing a style of music that would meet the needs of a more modern church attendee.

Music was not only simplified but was integrated into the worship service. Pastors, writers and composers once again wrote religious words that were sang to common folk melodies. The use of common melodies encouraged congregations to join in the singing. Examples of famous hymns set to popular tunes are "Amazing Grace" and "There is a Fountain."

Throughout the 20th century the debate about Christian music has gone through a range of seasons and storms in various movements. Some movements, who were once ridiculed and criticized for the adoption of ‘worldly’ music, songs or ways, have now become the movement that ‘is holding firm’ and ‘is not compromising.’ Each generation experiences in some ways the chastisement of the previous generation for ‘not really worshiping’ and for being shallow and entertaining. Ironically within a few short decades the chastised become the chastisers.

The latter part of the 20th century has been a repeat in many ways of the last 2000 years. A new musical idea once again transformed the music of the church with the introduction of what is often referred to as ‘Contemporary Christian Music.’ From the folk rock of the 70's, with its guitars and drums, Christian music morphed again with the rap groups of the 21st century. Christian music continues to evolve with artists who aspire to preserve the message of the church while meeting the needs of an ever-changing world.

The controversy around music continues! Stay Tuned for the final episode – Part 10

Friday, January 6, 2012

Music, Instruments, Worship and Singing – How about this history? Part 8

Here is some food for thought:
“If worship transforms us into kinder, more loving people, then why do we fight over worship?” Paul Basden

In the 18th century as population, travel, printing, mass manufacturing and standardized education increased, church music style and preferences stretched further than it ever had before. Christian song writers and composers "borrowed" familiar melodies from the secular world and popular songs were rewritten using religious words.

During this time hymns, anthems, and choruses were composed for congregational participation in both Catholic and Protestant churches. Throughout this era the same melody was often used as a hymn and a cantata or mass. For example, Bach's Cantata #80 is based on the hymn "A Mighty Fortress is our God." Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" share a melody line.

‘Spirituals’ is the label that was given the songs, anthems and chorus sung by the slaves, in the southern states, during this period. The spirituals brought comfort, community, hope and a connection to God. Much of what has happened in the music industry over the last 200 years, including in the church world, has been a mixing of popular, familiar and cultural music. These music styles and preferences have been adopted by different groups of believers and used as their expression worship of God.

The use of ‘borrowed’ material from the world and visa-versa is not new. Musicians have been ‘borrowing’ melodies, rhythms and styles in every setting for generations. The instruments, melodies, styles and environments may have changed but the controversy of what constitutes true worship music has always been there.

Stay tuned for Part 9.
Matt