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Monday, October 26, 2020

The Hard Work of Humility

Since I pastor a local church and have been in church leadership for 40 years, I follow the church world fairly closely. During times of crisis or transition and around elections, Christians often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14. The setting for the oft quoted verse is the completion of Solomon’s Temple. Solomon prayed a dedication prayer over the Temple and prayed for God’s favor and blessing. He then petitioned God to show mercy and forgiveness, when the people of God sinned against God and other people. One night following the dedication of the Temple, God appeared to Solomon in the night and spoke to him. “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:12-15 NLT) God spoke the promise to Solomon regarding times when God might bring and allow hardship on His people. “At times I might shut up the heavens and no rain will fall; I might send grasshoppers and plagues.” It is under those conditions that God gave Solomon, his descendants and the people of God the if/then promise “IF my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, [THEN] I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” My experience is that Christians emphasize the middle part of the verses, “pray and seek my face,” but not so much on the beginning, “humble themselves,” and the end “turn from their wicked ways.” Prayer and seeking God’s face are the convenient and simpler portion of the verses. Humbling ourselves and turning from wicked ways is inconvenient and hard to do. The humbling process is hard and painful. Who of us enjoys admitting that they are ignorant, selfish, self-centered, and wrong? God requires humility AND turning from wickedness for him to hear our prayers. “Know-it-all” attitudes, pettiness and judgmentalism expose the sins of pride and arrogance. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 I’m on a crusade to humble myself! I depend on God’s grace, so I must humble myself.

Monday, October 19, 2020

Quick to Listen - Slow to Speak

A couple of months ago, I wrote about trying to “listen” more. I have been trying to listen to the various sides of the issues that are plaguing society. One reason I’ve been trying to listen is because I know so little. The professor in the first class I took at NWU started his lecture saying: “When you are done with this class, you’ll know how much you don’t know. You might not know much else.” My immediate thought was, “What am I paying all this money for? I’m not here to learn ‘how much I don’t know.’ I’m here to learn, so I know more!” The professor was correct, then and correct now. Every month that passes, I realize how much I don’t know. I realize how much I don’t know about what has occurred in history. I realize how little I know about science, relationships, and communication. I realize how little I know about God and His ways. I must admit I am constantly humbled by my ignorance. I have often said, “there are too many books and too little time!” I recently heard someone describe taking the position of a juror instead of an attorney. The idea struck a cord, and the light went on. Too often I slip into attorney mode and argue my point with vigor. What if instead of slipping into attorney mode, I sat in the jury box and listened to all the facts and both sides before coming to a conclusion? A few years ago, I served on a jury for an assault case. When the prosecution was done with questioning, it was apparent that the assailant was guilty. That is, until the defense was done with their case. The assailant had clearly acted in self-defense and the jury found him innocent. King Solomon put it this way “The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.” Proverbs 18:17 (NLT) Jesus’ brother James instructed disciples to listen first and speak second. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” James 1:19-20 (NLT) I’m striving to sit on the jury more and wear the suit of an accusing and defending attorney less. I confess, I know so little about what is actually going on in the world BUT I do know the one who knows everything about everything!

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Resilience and Perseverance

I have been thinking about the resilience, perseverance and endurance that you and I need in our life. Every day something happens that threatens to deflate us emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. In my almost 40 years of leadership and ministry (33 years at SWAG,) I have never experienced a prolonged season like we are in right now. Resilience is the quality of “bouncing back.” Resilience is taking a punch and getting back up. Resilience crashing your bike and getting back on. Resilience is “getting back on the horse.” Resilience and perseverance are more than “simply holding on to the end.” (Oswald Chambers) Resilience is one reason Job has been an example over the centuries for those in a season of trials. After losing his children, property and health, he declared: “Even if God kills me, I'll still put my hope in him. ... No matter how things turn out, I'm sure I'll still be saved.” (Job 13:15-16 NIrV) Job was convinced that his life was in God’s hands and that ultimately, he would see God face to face. He understood that God is sovereign, and that life’s future is in God’s hands. It was his trust in God that he could bounce back from one blow after another. Resilience and perseverance is developed over time and through trials. Jesus’ brother James encouraged early believers who were in the midst of a long season of trials. “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NLT) This is a once in a century opportunity to allow resilience, perseverance and endurance to grow in our lives and even be “fully developed.” Rejoice in this season of hardship. Don’t give in. Like Job, declare “even if God kills me, I’ll still put my hope in him.

Monday, October 5, 2020

A Surrendered Life

Countless men and women throughout history have impacted and transformed their generation and culture. A list of those men and women might include politicians, business leaders, professional athletes, entertainers and social activists. Every few years “Time” looks back at those who were at one time important influencers. Where are they now? What are they up to? Has their influence continued? The review of influencers has included people like Madonna, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Bart Simpson, Ric Flair and Einstein. Some of these people are familiar to you, some may not be. Most influencers influence dies with them. Jesus' influence over humanity has never stopped. Jesus’ influences steadily grows exponentially. Every day people around the world speak Jesus' name. His name is spoken more than the name of any other person, dead or alive. People speak Jesus’ name in the hills of Indonesia, the jungles of Myanmar, the streets of Copenhagen, the remote regions of the Amazon and the islands of the South Pacific. “I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history. Jesus is easily the most dominant figure in all history.” H. G. Wells. “When the drama of history is over, Jesus Christ will stand alone on the stage. All the great figures of history … will realize that they have been but actors in a drama produced by another.” Helmut Thielicke There has never been anyone like Jesus. A life surrendered to politics, sports, fame, money, pleasure, entertainment and education can end up a waste. A life surrendered in repentance to Jesus, no matter how long or short, is never a waste. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.