Fabulous Quote!

"In any museum we will find quite ordinary things - clothes, a walking stick, a pen, pieces of furniture - which are only of value because they were possessed and used by some great person.  It is the ownership which gives them worth. It is so with the Christian. The Christian may be a very ordinary person, but he acquires a new value and dignity and greatness because he belongs to God. The greatness of the Christian lies in the fact that he is God's."

                                                                                                                            -- William Barclay

Take a Peek

This morning, as I spent some time reviewing Luke's account of the Resurrection, I noticed a couple of verses that I had not noticed before...
"...but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened." (24:11-12) 

This morning all over the world, millions of people gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, and to hear once again the story of the empty tomb.

As I reflected on these two small verses, I was reminded that the same thing that happened this morning, also hapened that morning 2000 years ago.  Some women told the story of what they had seen and heard, and there was two responses to their story.  Some who heard the story thought it was just an "idle tale" and did not believe.  Peter, however, had a different response.  He believed and went to take a peek.  Oh to have been there on that day to be the one of the first to see the grave clothes, the stone rolled away,  the angels. 

If you have heard the story, how have your responded.  If you haven't, here is a powerful unique musical video version of this story... take a few minutes and enjoy... take a peek...come close, listen to the story...

Now that you seen the story, how will you repond?  Disbelief?  Celebration?  Life change?

A Day of Weeds

I hate weeds. They mar the look of the yard because they grow faster than the grasses I desire. They often bring stickers and burrs. They invite more pollen to incite the onslaught of my allergies. I HATE WEEDS! I think this sentiment is common amongst most people.

I have learned over the years that weeds do not infest only our yards, but also the hearts of those in our churches. Consequently, we are losing ground in the culture that we live in with regards to effectiveness of our witness. Allow me to explain. In Luke 8, Jesus is addressing a crowd of followers. Why were they there? A variety of reasons: some were curious; some needing healing; some wanted a show; some were drawn by the Lord. He turns them and begins a parable: the sower.

If you are familiar with this story, Jesus describes a farmer who is sowing seeds which fall in four different locations. These locations represent the four different heart conditions that are given the Word of God. The first fall on the side of the road and get snatched away by birds. The second, rocky soil, which withers for lack of moisture. Number three is the weeds and thorns. The seed sprouts, but grows up in the midst of weeds that choke it out. Finally, some seed also falls on good soil which grows and yields a crop.

The third soil is the one that jumped out at me today. Jesus explains the parable in verses 9-15, and it was the three things in verse 14 that act as weeds in our hearts that captured me: worries, riches and pleasures of this world. It was what Jesus said these things do the heart of the person (soil) that stood out to me. He says it causes them to "bring no fruit to maturity," The NIV renders it, "they do not mature." That hits the nail on the head of too many in our churches. So many us are just anemic in our faith, and the tendency is that we have gotten ourselves so fixated on what the world has to offer, we become fruitless or immature. Our faith isn't growing, we become self-centered-- some call us "consumers" and we lose heart quickly.

Now, are these things bad in themselves. No, however, when they become the center of our lives, and we allow them to dictate to us how we are to live, those things become godlike and thereby become idolatry. James actually describes this by saying, "whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (4:4)

What is it that drives us. Do we spend most of our time worrying about things that are going to blow away in the wind or can be lsot with the next stock market plunge? Or are we storing up treasures in heaven that are eternal. Today we are living in a day of weeds. I guess it is time to do some gardening!

Names of God

If you have been in a Christian Bookstore, you, no doubt, at some time have seen some variation of a poster that has the various names of God.  Here is one of them.  I love this poster!  I can stare at this poster and just onder who God is. 

Our church is walking through the Experiencing God Bible study.  One thing we recently learned is that when God reveals His nature, reflected in His names, His purpose is not to create some pithy saying or plaque to hang on the wall.  Instead, what we know about God should build our faith in Him.  Faith does not come out of nothing.  Faith is birthed out of what we know about who God is-- both in His word, as well as, our experiences with Him.

Therefore, if I say that I believe that God is Almighty, and yet I have trouble trusting Him with my problems, do I really believe who He is?  If I say that is He is my Wonderful Counselor, but get depressed when the world comes crashing down on me, do I really believe who He is?  If I say He is Lord of Lords, and yet fight to maintain control of my own life, is He really my Lord?  As I look at the names of God, I am challenged to evaluate what I really believe.

And yet, He is merciful, and He is gracious.  He continues to reveal Himself to me and allow me the grace to grow in my love for Him.  In just a few days we celebrate one more demonstration of who He is... He is our Savior and our Redeemer.  Now, who do you believe He is?

Then and Now...

I recently read an article written by a pastor in Oklahoma. I found it especially insightful...


What God did back then, He still longs to do today
by Keith Wiginton II, First Baptist Church, Hobart, OK

I heard Rick Warren say once, "People keep asking me if I am taking the church forward. Actually, I am about taking it back¬wards ... back to the first 300 years of Christianity." He went on to say that the church's desire should be to replicate one of the most growth and influential periods it has ever seen.

What is it about the first 300 years of the church that made it so powerful? Here is a list of some of the things I came up with:

Passion for Jesus—the early church was not centered around certain types of ministries, but rather a Man; they were freakishly obsessed with Jesus. He was real to them.

They were non-religions—Paul fought hard to keep the reli¬gious idiots away from people who were falling in love with Christ ... and the focus was on what Jesus had done to pay for sin and not people's effort to do so.

Strong community—No one in the early church thought "their faith" was a private matter ... they encouraged one another, sup¬ported one another, loved one another and provided for one an-other. They knew the calling to walk with Christ was also a calling to walk with others. (When Jesus was on Earth, He didn't walk alone).

Urgency- They were serious about seeing people come to Christ . . . there was an urgency about them. They didn't care about Roberts Rules of Order or boycotting pagan activities . . . their focus was on reaching the lost.

Anticipation—There was always a sense that God was about to do something big.

A recognition and respect of leadership—Leaders in the early church were respected and honored . . . but not worshipped. Hebrews 13:7 and 13:17 point to both the responsibility that leaders bear and the instructions on how to treat them.

Involvement- Everyone was involved in ministry . . . there were no "paid professionals."

Willingness to be persecuted-They were willing to lose their lives for the Gospel. They were willing to be killed . . . and were willing to be criticized.

They saw things happen—They begged God for things ... they believed His vision was larger than repaying a parking lot and sending off second hand clothes to a third world country. They took action, and God honored their vision.

They taught truth—At the end of the day, all that matters is what we do with the truth of God's Word. They knew this, and that was their focus.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying we should forget about all of the technology that God has given us to advance His message and just go back to meeting in caves. Paul said in Ephesians 2:19-21 that Jesus is the cornerstone . . . can you imagine what would happen if a church truly captured the passions and desires of the early church and combined them with the abilities and opportu¬nities that God has given us in our modern world? Wow . . . the world could be radically impacted.

Squishy

It has been rainy and cold here. God has blessed us with an abundance of rain in recent months, and coming out of a drought, that is a very good thing. The ground is now so saturated with water, our yard squishes when you walk on it. Now, while it lends it self to messy shoes, I know that it is really good for the land which has been so thirsty.

I don't think it is any coincidence that I found myself in Psalm 42 this morning. The first couple verses really speak to where I am these days, "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?" I am okay, but just the busyness of life and being pulled in so many different directions and much on my mind, I am feeling very dry and barren. My "deep" calls to the Lord's depth again.

David records in Psalm 23 that when we walk with the Lord, He fills our cup to overflowing. If you have ever tried to walk with a full cup to the brim, it splashes out, on the floor. Just the motions of walking slowly causes the fluid to swirl and spill out. That is God's desire for us. To be so filled with Him, that we are squishy and spill on to everything and everyone around us with the simple slow motions of life.

That was my prayer today, that he make me squishy again.

Faith Transformed!

"The Christian life isn't difficult--it is impossible. If we don't know that, we will try to do things ourselves. Faith is not necessary when we think we can do it ourselves. Faith comes along when we realize that we cannot do it on our own." -- Joseph Garlingen

I think this is one of the most transformational truths I have ever encountered. Boy, if we could only figure this one out! Look out Satan!

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year! Finally, I have found resolutions that I am commited to keeping. These may sound a bit familiar to some of you...

Adapted from "I Am Resolved" by Palmer Hartsough

"I resolve to no longer to linger, to be charmed by the world's delight.
Things that are higher, things that are nobler... these allure my sight

I will hasten to Him, where I am glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest, He is the One to whom I will run.

I resolve to go to the Savior to leave my sin and strife.
Because He is the true one, the just one, and He has the words of life

I resolve to follow this Savior who is faithful and true each day.
I will endeavor to heed what He says, to do what He wills because He is the living way.

I resolve to enter the kingdom and leave the paths of sin. My friends and family, they may oppose me, and my foes may beset me, but still will I enter in.

I am so resolved! So, who will go with me? Come friends don't delay.

Those who follow Him are taught by the Bible, led by the Spirit, and will walk the heavenly way."

What'd you resolve for this year?