There is alot of bad news in the world today, but there is also good news. In fact there is a website that has nothing but good news stories on it daily. It is called "Happy News". They report on uplifting and positive stories from around the world. We all need a good dose of good news every day - but that's not good enough...
As followers of Christ, we believe that the church has the best news in all the world, the real GOOD NEWS and that good news is: 1 Corinthians 15:1 Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message. 2 And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me—that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.
We believe that the mission
of the church is to proclaim the Good News and to be a sign of the
kingdom of God. Christ has commissioned the church to make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to observe all things he
has commanded. This is Article 10 in our Confession of Faith.
Here's THE good news in a nutshell: "God loves you. He isn’t mad at you. Jesus died for you because sin is destroying your life. God loves you so much he has saved you from everything that is destroying you. So why should you keep on living as though this unpredictable and unforgiving world is all you’ve got? Why don’t you come and start experiencing God’s love and enjoying the blessings of his kingdom? You already belong to him. He made you. He’s already paid for your sins. What are you waiting for? He’ll turn your sorrow into joy, your pain into purpose. He’ll give you peace like you've never known. He’ll bring meaning to your life. He’ll help you reconcile your relationships. He’ll give you rest. Trust him. He’s waiting for you."
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
A Life Where Christ is King
In this post I would like to share an article written by Fred Liggin concerning the shootings in Aurora, CO.
We are shaken by mourning as we hurt for those suffering due to the horrific events in Aurora Colorado on July 20. And I am reminded of a most sobering reality.
No government, regardless of how strong or well-meaning can thoroughly legislate morality. To be sure, it can create laws that limit behaviors destructive to society (“You shall not steal”). But as a Christ-follower I am led to believe that what will bring lasting and systemic change is Jesus (“You shall have no other gods before Me”); by how He lived–bringing peace through a life of sacrificial love that paves the way toward a humanity invited to live for a cause greater than self. His life gives breadth and depth to both how and why He died and was risen. It is His life, death, resurrection and ascension as Lord that makes possible eternal realities in our present world; God’s love, righteousness and peace, indeed God Himself, accessible to all of humanity in tangible ways. It makes these eternal realities present because it is a life that follows Jesus as Lord out of hatred into sacrificial love; out of violence into peace; out of judgment into mercy; out of darkness into light. Jesus as Lord and Creator shows us what kind of life really works when God is King.
The events of July 20 remind us that there is too much godless, dehumanizing, hatred and injustice in the world filled with lost hearts for Christ-followers to lose this focus. Too much is at stake to be tangled up in various debates. If Jesus truly is King of kings and the only hope for the world, we must live like it as everyday people in every day places in every day ways. As Christ-followers our lives must be the proof of our theology. Not just our words or persuasive arguments. For what cannot be up for debate is that “faith without works is dead” and the world will know us by our love. (James 2:14-26; John 13:35).
So we must go. Go into the public square, the city streets, the cubicle next to yours, your neighbor’s house, your child’s bedroom, and tell the story of the One who brought peace through sacrificial love, and not through violence. Offer them Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man, not just a plan. If Christ-followers want lasting change in this present world, then we must tell His story because only it can shine a light on where true hope, restoration, redemption and salvation is found.
May His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And may God’s comfort be known in the hearts of those suffering due to the brokenness and depravity of this rebellious world.
We are shaken by mourning as we hurt for those suffering due to the horrific events in Aurora Colorado on July 20. And I am reminded of a most sobering reality.
No government, regardless of how strong or well-meaning can thoroughly legislate morality. To be sure, it can create laws that limit behaviors destructive to society (“You shall not steal”). But as a Christ-follower I am led to believe that what will bring lasting and systemic change is Jesus (“You shall have no other gods before Me”); by how He lived–bringing peace through a life of sacrificial love that paves the way toward a humanity invited to live for a cause greater than self. His life gives breadth and depth to both how and why He died and was risen. It is His life, death, resurrection and ascension as Lord that makes possible eternal realities in our present world; God’s love, righteousness and peace, indeed God Himself, accessible to all of humanity in tangible ways. It makes these eternal realities present because it is a life that follows Jesus as Lord out of hatred into sacrificial love; out of violence into peace; out of judgment into mercy; out of darkness into light. Jesus as Lord and Creator shows us what kind of life really works when God is King.
The events of July 20 remind us that there is too much godless, dehumanizing, hatred and injustice in the world filled with lost hearts for Christ-followers to lose this focus. Too much is at stake to be tangled up in various debates. If Jesus truly is King of kings and the only hope for the world, we must live like it as everyday people in every day places in every day ways. As Christ-followers our lives must be the proof of our theology. Not just our words or persuasive arguments. For what cannot be up for debate is that “faith without works is dead” and the world will know us by our love. (James 2:14-26; John 13:35).
So we must go. Go into the public square, the city streets, the cubicle next to yours, your neighbor’s house, your child’s bedroom, and tell the story of the One who brought peace through sacrificial love, and not through violence. Offer them Jesus the Son of God and Son of Man, not just a plan. If Christ-followers want lasting change in this present world, then we must tell His story because only it can shine a light on where true hope, restoration, redemption and salvation is found.
May His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. And may God’s comfort be known in the hearts of those suffering due to the brokenness and depravity of this rebellious world.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The Difference
There is a lot of talk about the difference between "religion" and relationship". I grew up in a church that focused much more on religion than relationship. It was all about following the rules. Many of you have been there. If you talked about having a relationship with God, it was seen as weak. That wasn't enough. It couldn't be that easy. You had to do something in order to gauge how "Christian" you really were in comparison to others. It was "salvation through moral effort". That seems to be what Isaiah is saying about the people of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 29:13 says, “And so the Lord says, “These people say
they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote".
Religion doesn't engage the heart, but relationship does. Just going through the motions of "going to church, praying, giving money, teaching Sunday school, etc" can't earn a special place in God's heart. We already have it because of what Christ first did for us.
In Timothy Keller's book, The Reason for God, he says, "Self-salvation through good works may produce a great deal of moral behavior in your life, but inside you are filled with self-righteousness...you are miserable. You need a complete transformation of the very motives of your heart". Keller is saying that as long as we focus on the outside rules, we will never experience the internal change from the free grace that God offers. "Religion operates on the principle "I obey - therefore I am accepted by God." But the operating principle of a grace-filled relationship with God is "I am accepted by through what Christ has done - therefore I obey", says Keller.
Following the rules might make a difference for awhile, but following Christ and having that relationship based on what He has done will make a difference for eternity!
In Timothy Keller's book, The Reason for God, he says, "Self-salvation through good works may produce a great deal of moral behavior in your life, but inside you are filled with self-righteousness...you are miserable. You need a complete transformation of the very motives of your heart". Keller is saying that as long as we focus on the outside rules, we will never experience the internal change from the free grace that God offers. "Religion operates on the principle "I obey - therefore I am accepted by God." But the operating principle of a grace-filled relationship with God is "I am accepted by through what Christ has done - therefore I obey", says Keller.
Following the rules might make a difference for awhile, but following Christ and having that relationship based on what He has done will make a difference for eternity!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A Bold Prayer of Contentment
Our reading for today is from Proverbs 30 written by a guy named Agur. Not much is said about him, but he obviously has the gift of wisdom. I was especially struck by verses 8 and 9 this morning:
"First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.
I'm not sure I've ever prayed this kind of prayer (give me neither poverty nor riches). I take that back; I have prayed that God would not give me poverty, but I've never prayed that God would NOT give me riches. In fact, I can't help but think of Tevye from "Fiddler on the Roof":
Tevye: Again with the rich. What is wrong with being rich?
Perchik: It's no reason to marry. Money is the world's curse.
Tevye: May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover.
Agur states the reason for praying such a bold prayer. It is so he would not forget who the LORD is. If he were to be rich, he would rely on his riches instead of God. If he were poor, he would rely on himself to provide by stealing. He simply asks God to provide what he NEEDS. That's it.
Sounds like another prayer we all know well:
Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
I guess if it was good enough for Agur and Jesus, then I should be doing it too. How about you?
"First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God's holy name.
I'm not sure I've ever prayed this kind of prayer (give me neither poverty nor riches). I take that back; I have prayed that God would not give me poverty, but I've never prayed that God would NOT give me riches. In fact, I can't help but think of Tevye from "Fiddler on the Roof":
Tevye: Again with the rich. What is wrong with being rich?
Perchik: It's no reason to marry. Money is the world's curse.
Tevye: May the Lord smite me with it. And may I never recover.
Agur states the reason for praying such a bold prayer. It is so he would not forget who the LORD is. If he were to be rich, he would rely on his riches instead of God. If he were poor, he would rely on himself to provide by stealing. He simply asks God to provide what he NEEDS. That's it.
Sounds like another prayer we all know well:
Matthew 6:9-13
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
I guess if it was good enough for Agur and Jesus, then I should be doing it too. How about you?
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Anybody got a rag?
Ever get frustrated with imperfect people? I do all the time! Mainly, because I am one. We all are. Here is how to deal with that, according to Jesus.
"Don't pick on people, jump
on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same
treatment. That critical spirit has a way of
boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your
neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say,
'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling
road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of
just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be
fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor."
This is from Matthew 7:1-5 in The Message translation.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Making fun of a bald guy?
As a bald guy, one of my "favorite" stories in the Old Testament is 2Kings 2:23-25. A group of youth calls Elisha the prophet, "Baldy" and he curses them. Just then two bears come out of the woods and mauls 42 of them. But as strange as this story is, there is a point.
What follows is an explanation I read in one of my many commentaries. Unfortunately, I can't remember which one.
There
are a few key issues we must understand in regards to this account of the
youths cursing Elisha. The text reads, “From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As
he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at
him. ‘Go on up, you baldhead!’ they said. ‘Go on up, you baldhead!’ He turned
around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD.
Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.” It
seems unbelievable that God would cause two bears to maul a group of children
for making fun of a man for being bald.
First, the King James Version has done us a disservice by translated the term as “children.” The Hebrew word can refer to “children,” but rather more specifically means "young men." The NIV, quoted here, uses the word “youths.” Second, the fact that the bears mauled 42 of the youths indicates that there were more than 42 youths involved. This was not a small group of children making fun of a bald man. Rather, it was a large demonstration of young men who assembled for the purpose of mocking a prophet of God. Third, the mocking of “go on up you baldhead,” is more than making fun of baldness. The baldness of Elisha referred to here may be: 1) natural loss of hair; 2) a shaved head denoting his separation to the prophetic office; or more likely, 3) an epithet of scorn and contempt, Elijah not being literally bald. The phrase “go up” likely was a reference to Elijah, Elisha’s mentor, being taken up to Heaven earlier in 2 Kings chapter 2:11-12. These youths were sarcastically taunting and insulting the Lord’s prophet by telling him to repeat Elijah’s translation.
In summary, 2 Kings 2:23-24 is not an account of God mauling young children for making fun of a bald man. Rather, it is a record of an insulting demonstration against God’s prophet by a large group of young men. Because these young people of about 20 years of age or older (the same term is used of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7) so despised the prophet of the Lord, Elisha called upon the Lord to deal with the rebels as He saw fit. The Lord’s punishment was the mauling of 42 of them by two female bears. The penalty was clearly justified, for to ridicule Elisha was to ridicule the Lord Himself. The seriousness of the crime was indicated by the seriousness of the punishment. The appalling judgment was God’s warning to all who would scorn the prophets of the Lord.
First, the King James Version has done us a disservice by translated the term as “children.” The Hebrew word can refer to “children,” but rather more specifically means "young men." The NIV, quoted here, uses the word “youths.” Second, the fact that the bears mauled 42 of the youths indicates that there were more than 42 youths involved. This was not a small group of children making fun of a bald man. Rather, it was a large demonstration of young men who assembled for the purpose of mocking a prophet of God. Third, the mocking of “go on up you baldhead,” is more than making fun of baldness. The baldness of Elisha referred to here may be: 1) natural loss of hair; 2) a shaved head denoting his separation to the prophetic office; or more likely, 3) an epithet of scorn and contempt, Elijah not being literally bald. The phrase “go up” likely was a reference to Elijah, Elisha’s mentor, being taken up to Heaven earlier in 2 Kings chapter 2:11-12. These youths were sarcastically taunting and insulting the Lord’s prophet by telling him to repeat Elijah’s translation.
In summary, 2 Kings 2:23-24 is not an account of God mauling young children for making fun of a bald man. Rather, it is a record of an insulting demonstration against God’s prophet by a large group of young men. Because these young people of about 20 years of age or older (the same term is used of Solomon in 1 Kings 3:7) so despised the prophet of the Lord, Elisha called upon the Lord to deal with the rebels as He saw fit. The Lord’s punishment was the mauling of 42 of them by two female bears. The penalty was clearly justified, for to ridicule Elisha was to ridicule the Lord Himself. The seriousness of the crime was indicated by the seriousness of the punishment. The appalling judgment was God’s warning to all who would scorn the prophets of the Lord.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Get Away
In 1Kings 19 there is an interesting story about the prophet Elijah. He has just come off a series of "successes" in ministry. (He revived the widow's son, made a laughing stock out of the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, caused it to downpour, and supernaturally outran Ahab's chariot back to Jezreel). You would think that he would ride this high for quite awhile, right? WRONG!
King Ahab's wife, Jezebel is out to get him. There is a death note on his head so he flees for his life by going into the wilderness alone. He finds a tree to sit under and tells God that he is finished - done. He's had enough. "Take my life for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died", he says. But God doesn't buy it. God sends an angel to feed him, (twice) because he will need this nourishment to travel the next 40 days and nights to the mountain of God. Here, Elijah continues to lay out his complaint: "I have zealously served you, but the people have broken your covenant. I am the only one left," he says. God's response seems odd.
God tells Elijah to stand before him on the mountain as God sends a mighty windstorm, earthquake, and fire. God is not there, until...there is the sound of a gentle whisper. Hmmm....
Elijah was probably like many pastors who have experienced great success at various times in ministry. We like the successes. We like to preach a great sermon that will "revive" people. We like to be successful when it comes to making a "laughing stock" out of false gods. We may think we can "outrun" others who are in this Christian journey. We might even have to remind God that we have been zealously seeking Him while others have not. When we think like this it tells us that we have allowed ministry to be about us and not God.
Like Elijah, we need to step back, get away, and journey to the mountain of God for some spiritual nourishment and refreshment. We need God to remind us that He is not always in the windstorm, earthquake or fire but often in the still, small voice. It's too easy to get caught up in the fireworks of doing ministry and begin to feel that "you" are something great. As you taste success, it is also easy to begin looking down on others for not being as zealous as you are.
Here's what happens next for Elijah: God tells him to go find Elisha and "anoint him to replace Elijah as God's prophet." Was it because of Elijah's complaining that God decided to replace him? I don't think so. After Elijah had been with God on the mountain and was refreshed, God intended for him to equip and empower a co-worker to continue the work. He was to be a kind of mentor to Elisha. Remember how, just before Elijah is taken away, Elisha asks for a double-measure of his spirit? I think Elijah had been so spiritually revived by spending time with God and had gotten himself realigned with God's purpose for his life that he had much more to now give.
So the lesson is: Remember that ministry is always about God, not me. Yes, God does many wonderful, miraculous things, but more often than not, these happen in a gentle whisper. In order to hear God, we have to take time to be alone with Him, to be renewed in strength and purpose. We may feel alone oftentimes, but the truth is, we aren't. God is always there; we just may not recognize His quiet presence.
King Ahab's wife, Jezebel is out to get him. There is a death note on his head so he flees for his life by going into the wilderness alone. He finds a tree to sit under and tells God that he is finished - done. He's had enough. "Take my life for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died", he says. But God doesn't buy it. God sends an angel to feed him, (twice) because he will need this nourishment to travel the next 40 days and nights to the mountain of God. Here, Elijah continues to lay out his complaint: "I have zealously served you, but the people have broken your covenant. I am the only one left," he says. God's response seems odd.
Elijah was probably like many pastors who have experienced great success at various times in ministry. We like the successes. We like to preach a great sermon that will "revive" people. We like to be successful when it comes to making a "laughing stock" out of false gods. We may think we can "outrun" others who are in this Christian journey. We might even have to remind God that we have been zealously seeking Him while others have not. When we think like this it tells us that we have allowed ministry to be about us and not God.
Like Elijah, we need to step back, get away, and journey to the mountain of God for some spiritual nourishment and refreshment. We need God to remind us that He is not always in the windstorm, earthquake or fire but often in the still, small voice. It's too easy to get caught up in the fireworks of doing ministry and begin to feel that "you" are something great. As you taste success, it is also easy to begin looking down on others for not being as zealous as you are.
Here's what happens next for Elijah: God tells him to go find Elisha and "anoint him to replace Elijah as God's prophet." Was it because of Elijah's complaining that God decided to replace him? I don't think so. After Elijah had been with God on the mountain and was refreshed, God intended for him to equip and empower a co-worker to continue the work. He was to be a kind of mentor to Elisha. Remember how, just before Elijah is taken away, Elisha asks for a double-measure of his spirit? I think Elijah had been so spiritually revived by spending time with God and had gotten himself realigned with God's purpose for his life that he had much more to now give.
So the lesson is: Remember that ministry is always about God, not me. Yes, God does many wonderful, miraculous things, but more often than not, these happen in a gentle whisper. In order to hear God, we have to take time to be alone with Him, to be renewed in strength and purpose. We may feel alone oftentimes, but the truth is, we aren't. God is always there; we just may not recognize His quiet presence.
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