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?

Walking with the Good Shepherd, pt 4

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." (vs. 4)

Right off the bat, this verse affirms the same thing Christ stated that in this life, trouble is guaranteed. The verse begins with "...even though..." not "in the unlikely event." My own life has been wrought with trials, testings, and downright irritations-- be that from people or circumstances. I meet person after person that longs for a life this side of heaven that was never promised by our Lord. The first person I meet is the guy in the mirror each morning. I have the audacity to think that I should live a privileged life free from harm and free from trouble. That is a lie. Truth be known, as much as I moan and complain in the throes of discomfort, I have grown more during those times than any cushy period of my life.

The other things I notice when I look at this verse is first, that I "walk through." That gives me hope; this valley is not my destination, but rather a thoroughfare. Why? Because it is but a shadow, not the real thing. If we are in Christ, we have life. He is the resurrection and the life! The second thing I notice is that "I fear no evil." Why is that? The Psalmist tells the Lord that it is because "You are with me." Remember who that "You" is? The Lord, our Shepherd, our Provider, our Comforter. This same Lord is our Protector. David records in others Psalms that He is our fortress, and our shield. He is the One with me. Why is it, in spite of God's track record, that never seems to be enough for me? Maybe I am the only one with that problem.

Next, with what does our Good Shepherd protect and comfort us? The rod and the staff. Is David being redundant? Rod AND staff? What's the deal? Well, here's the deal. The shepherd's rod is a twofold instrument. It is a short handled stick often described with a knobby end on it. It can be used as a close range weapon and a long range weapon. But here's the catch, this weapon can be used against enemies of the flock, or on wayward flock as well. God's discipline can be very comforting. God lays out His boundaries, and when we get into dangerous territory, he sometimes whacks (note: "whack" is not in the original text) us back on the path. (cf. Heb. 5:8)

Not only does he whack us when we need it, he also, uses the staff. The shepherd's staff is the traditional instrument most of us are familiar with-- the long pole with a hook on the end. That hook, is what I would call the "grace hook." That is when we have disobeyed and gotten off the path disregarding the chastisement (whacking) and in need of rescue and in need of grace. The Good Shepherd, doesn't leave us to the elements nor predators, but rather, leaves the 99 for the 1. That's His heart. He left the privilege of heaven for the peril of earth, all to go after those of us sheep that have gone astray. Have you gone astray? Perhaps you are in the midst of some whacking. Maybe you should stop and re-evaluate the path you are on. The Good Shepherd is there to comfort and protect.

Jesus Wore a Size 10

I was reminded this morning that the Savior and I share the same shoe size. Hebrews 4:15 says, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." You see that, he's been in my shoes! Okay, well maybe in a figurative sense.

This morning I walked through another familiar passage in Matthew 4-- the temptation of Christ. The Scriptures record that there were at least three specific temptations that the Devil tested the Savior with:

1. Need for Provision (vs. 2-3)

2. Need for Security (vs. 5-6)

3. Greed for Power at all costs (vs. 8-9)

When we consider the things we ALL struggle with, don't we all want to know our needs are going be taken care of? Right now is especially a trying time for many folks in this area. Also, we all want to know that we are safe from harm and discomfort. And finally, we all want to be masters of our own destinies. These are the same things that Christ faced in this case.

And yet, Christ, using the Word of God correctly (important here because the Enemy also used the Word) in defense against these wiles of the Devil. First, in verse 4, He declares that God and God alone will sustain and provide for us with His Word. Secondly, in verse 7, He reminds the Accuser that God is always there, and we should trust Him and not test Him. Finally, Christ tells the enemy in verse 10, that God and God alone sits on the throne, and He is sovereign.

The world is constantly at odds with God, and these same temptations continue today, each day in our lives. But, we can rest and have victory in these tests, because Christ has been in our shoes and knows what we go through. He has shown us the way. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Crazy Kind of Love

Love has been described over the centuries in many different ways. One of the most recent I have heard and I think it really fits is "Love is crazy." Steven Curtis Chapman recorded a song called "Something Crazy" on his This Moment project. You can click here to hear this song (and CD). Below are the lyrics of the chorus:

"And it's crazy when love gets a hold of you

And it's crazy things that love will make you do

And it's crazy but it's true

You really don't know love at all'

Til it's making you do

Something crazy"

This morning as I finished my reading through the book of Ezra, I was reminded of this crazy kind of love. Ezra was one of the key people who led the Jews back to Israel having spent 70 years in exile under Babylonian and Persian rule. His primary task was to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed in the siege of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Through nothing less than the providence and the promise of God, the people begin the process of returning to Israel.

In chapter 10, I read something that to the average reader may seem extreme, or rather, crazy. Ezra makes this statement to the general populace in verses 10-11: "Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, 'You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel. 'Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.'" How did the people respond? The answer is found in verse 19: "They pledged to put away their wives, and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their offense." I stopped and at that verse and chewed on it a moment. Ezra told them they needed send their wives (and children) away, and they complied willingly. That seems crazy!

Keep in mind, God had specifically told them on numerous occasions to not intermarry with the locals. They disobeyed God, and the result was being led down a path of idolatry that eventually got them stuck in exile to begin with. (Please note this had NOTHING to do with God hating interracial marriages, it was all about getting involved in the pagan religious practices of those indigenous people i.e child sacrifice etc.) So, here Ezra reminds them of what God had told them, and they took the measures to align themselves with God's instruction.

hunderds of years later Jesus says multiple times that demonstration of our love is epitomized in obedience to God's word... even when it seems crazy. Our love for God makes us do crazy things. If you want a concise list of what I am talking about visit Hebrews 11. Okay, those are cool Sunday School stories, but really that is what God calls me to live. The same crazy love-filled life.

Riding in Circles

Some people have made it a habit of reading through the Bible in a year. While I see the merit of this discipline, my personality dictates that I use a different approach. I tend to be task-oriented, and if I were to follow a reading plan, I would follow it, place the check in the box and benefit little from it. I also realized in recent years that I cannot just read and re-read the stuff that is easy to read and familiar to me. So, instead I am systematically reading through the Bible, although it will take me longer that a year, but I am reading sections instead. It has provided me variety, as well as, continuity for understanding. And more importantly, it has made it easier to apply God's word to my life. In addition, I am reading things that I either had not read before or not finished reading.

Yesterday, I began reading a book that I am not as familiar, the writings of the prophet Jeremiah. As I read the first couple of chapters, I found myself thinking through how dense we can be as a people. Here, God has sent Jeremiah to rebuke the Jewish people, that God has blessed time and time again, and within a relatively short period of time, they forget who they are, and more importantly, Whose they are and return to what God describes through Jeremiah as spiritual prostitution.

I was reminded of one of those circus acts where the guy rides inside of a steel cage on a motorcycle in a circle, over and over again doing a really cool trick, but never really going anywhere. He eventually comes right back to where he started at-- the bottom. So, I immediately liken the nation of Israel to this cyclical behavior... and then I began to think about how much America is like this... and then the American church. But finally, God showed me this is not really about those groups of people, although it definitely applies. Rather, this is about me. How often I lose sight of how God has blessed me, and I prostitute myself by running after the world and its way of thinking. I return to my "lover" rather than remaining faithful to my First Love. I settle for imitations and trinkets when all the while I miss out of the preciousness of the intimacy that Christ has bought for me with His own blood. I keep getting back on the cycle and riding inside the cage, when God has an amazing journey of trusting Him and taking me to new places. I would get really discouraged with this, and then the Lord is abounding in love and mercy reminds me that I am not alone in my struggle. When I genuinely repent and return to my Lord, He welcomes me with open arms.

Lord, show me how to not get back on the cycle.

All I Want for Christmas Is... A Sack Full of Coal?

Children all over the world breathed sighs of relief as they opened and found sweets and toys in their stockings in stead of lumps of coal. Grace was showered, instead of wrath. For years, Christmas lore has told of the infamous lumps of coal bestowed upon those lads and lasses who were naughty and not nice. I, however, am longing for a whole sackful of coal this year.

There are a number of passages in Scripture that, regardless of who you are, if we all practiced the principles found therein, the world would be a different place. I think if the church alone wholeheartedly pursued excellence in this area, we would see issues of depression, poor "self-esteem" and mental health virtually disappear.

Although I read this passage days ago, I have been drawn back to it several times this week by the Spirit. A familiar passage in Isaiah 6 would rank in the number of aforementioned vital truths. The prophet is given a rare glance into the Holy presence of the Lord Almighty and he is shaken to the core. His response to God's Holiness is recorded in verse 5, "'Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.'"

His confession has to do with, of all things, his mouth. He is cut to the chase as to his speech is found lacking. I have heard him referred to as the potty mouth prophet or the cussing prophet. I am no Hebrew scholar, but based on this passage I do not see evidence that he had issues with expletives. Nevertheless, there is issue to be dealt with here. Along with other sins, we will all give an account for the inappropriate words that have slipped past our lips, and it should cause us to shutter.

Our verbal uncleanness comes in a variety of shapes and sizes that definitely bears a trip to the returns counter. Unfortunately, once it shoots past our teeth, it is gone, and often the damage done is lifelong. One of the of the stupidest tidbits of information passed off as truth to our kids is, "sticks and stones may break your, but name swill never hurt you!" What a lie! If that were true, why is it that hurtful things said to us decades ago still resonate in our minds? But still, we speak things that simply should not proceed out of the mouths of saints of God.

Far too many folks utter profanity. But verbal transgressions are not limited to those individuals who cannot articulate themselves without a random pattern of wingdings (@#$%@#!) The Word has much to say about the issue of the tongue. Click on these few passages and see which ones hit home with you: Psalm 34:13, Proverbs 25:18, Proverbs 29:20, James 1:26, and probably the most all inclusive Ephesians 4:29. These are just a few, and they have all tripped me up at one time or another. But I think the one that is the most scathing comes from the Savior Himself, "For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart." (Luke 6:43-45)

Do you want a test of how deep your faith really is? Listen to that which comes out of your mouth. It bears witness against us. Is it cutting remarks? profanity? gossip? dirty jokes? The list can go on and I assure you there is a scriptural rebuke for each. But it basically comes down to this, if what we say does not build someone up, then we shouldn't say it. (or think it for that matter!) Now I am not talking about speaking the truth in love that corrects a sinful behavior. But even with that exhortation, the motivation must be in love, not condemnation.

I wonder if a whole sackful of burning coals would cleanse my lips of the terrible, cutting shameful things that I have uttered. Only by filling ourselves with the truth of God's Word can we begin to reverse the heart disease (cf. Romans 12:2).

So, what do I want for Christmas this year? A good start would be a sack full of burning coals.

Longing For Sinai

I sinned this week. Multiple times. Some of those were even deliberate. Don't you judge me though, you have sinned too. But the sixty four dollar question is, "why?" Why, when we know what not to do, or we know what we should do, do we fail miserably? The Apostle Paul struggled with the same issue and his explanation is recorded in the famous Romans 7 passage. But why do we continue in our sin? I think Max Lucado hit the nail on the head, "Sin is not an unfortunate slip or a regrettable act; it is a posture of defiance against a holy God." While we will not be rid of our sin nature until we are finally in the Lord's presence, we are still called to live holy lives.

So, where do we start? In Exodus 20, just after Moses had descended from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments, the people were literally trembling from the physical expressions of God's might in the mountain. They thought they were about to die. I can only imagine the what it was like. Then, Moses tells the people what I think we too need to hearken to, "''Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.'" (Ex. 20:20)

Several years ago, there was a slogan that became popular on T-shirts and bumper stickers, "No Fear." This appeared everywhere, and eventually took on many different variations. But I think that if we adopt a variation of this, our world would be a different place... our churches would definitely be different places. We should "KNOW FEAR." Very simply put, we sin, because we do not take God seriously. Sometimes, I wish we could revisit Sinai and remember how big God really is. And yet, God continues to give us demonstrations of His might-- reminders that He alone is in charge. Some people call this global warming. I think it is just God flexing His muscles. I have yet to hear the media make the connection of the gross increase in immorality to the increase in natural disasters. Maybe this would be a good study. Any takers?

Run Away! Run Away! - When Finding Favor Turns Sour

I am a sick person. One of my favorite cult movies is a British based movie called Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I am sick because this movie is not the kind normal people enjoy. You either enjoy this movie because you have a strange sense of humor (like myself) or you have acquired a taste for it through multiple exposures. There is a secret club that sick people like myself belong to. I say secret because you don't know who is a member until you hear them say one of the secret passwords, which are simply some of the famous quotes from the movie. All one must do is hear certain phrases and it conjures up scenes from the movie. For example, quotes like these usually bring smiles to club members' faces: "Bring out your dead," and "go away or I shall taunt you a second time," or "it's just a flesh wound," and countless others.

One of my personal favorites comes from scenes throughout the movie when King Arthur and his knights are engaged in "battle" and the conflict turns ugly, and King Arthur's brave demeanor changes and he proclaims to his comrades, "Run away! Run Away!" as they flee in fear of the impending doom. In most battle-grounds fleeing is a sign true cowardice; however, there are times when it is a mark true heroism and wisdom.

Joseph ran away. Genesis 39 gives the account of the scene. He has found favor in the eyes of Potiphar, his owner... and his wife. Joseph was apparently a stud muffin. Scripture describes him as "handsome in form and appearance" the NIV uses the words, "well-built and handsome." In the scripture, Joseph was doing his job, but his master's wife orchestrated events that allowed her unbridled access to the Hebrew young man. The proposition was made and the man of God did the bravest thing he could, he ran away.

This attitude toward sin is carried throughout the Word. For example, Paul tells Timothy to flee youthful lusts, and the same instruction to the Corinthian church. I hate confrontation, and there are times, however, that call for a frontal attack, but when it comes to dealing with personal sin, we are told to run away. The enemy knows our weaknesses and when we are tempted, we should not stick around to see if we have the intestinal fortitude to overcome it.

So, how do we run away? Sometimes, it is a physical action where we remove ourselves completely from the situation. But I think it also involves avoiding situations that will lead to a fall. The specifics of this will depend on your particular struggles, but the instructions remain the same. For example, if you struggle with drunkenness, the last place you need to be ministering is a bar. You would think this is common sense, but many folks have fallen in battle simply because they failed to adopt the motto, "the best offense is a good defense."

So, don't be a hero. Make like Arthur and, "Run away! Run away!"

We Made Our Beds

I have spent a lot of extra time reviewing Old Testament passages lately. I don't know if you have you ever noticed how many parallels there are of America and the nation of Israel therein? I see America written all over the book of Judges. My current study through the exilic period holds true as well. Perhaps part of it is because people are sinners wherever or whenever you are. But also, it is curious when you consider the likeness in self perception. America has long held itself up as the chosen nation, what with Democracy and all. Yet, like many nations and cultures in the past, we fail to learn from the past generations. We then wonder why things are as bad as they are. Here is a snippet of what I read today in Zechariah, chapter 1,

"1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo:
2 "The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers? "Then they repented and said, 'The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.'"

White Rocks

Pharisees are alive and well on planet earth. This week is VBS week at our church. Our program is a Ranch-Themed evening program, and so by the time I have been at the office all day and running around with kids all night, I am pretty grimy. Last night, I was at home preparing to avail myself of the daily sludge in the shower when I received a call from my pastor. He needed help.

A family in our church recently lost a mother, their original plan was to hold services at the church-home of the deceased. Apparently, there had been a last minute change. The host church's young pastor (a 25 year old independent fundamentalist) had told the family and their guests that they would have to adhere to his rules for music and attire or they could not use their facility.

Needless to say, my phone call at 9:30PM tells you what their choice was. In a flurry of an hour with many hands we transformed a Ranch-themed VBS auditorium to funeral ready. This turn of events wounded the family deeply. But fortunately in addition to legalism, they also were able to taste the sweetness of grace. The Lord was grieved and glorified in the same night. It angers me and breaks my heart at some people's zeal for the wrong things. Christ speaks directly to these types of situations in two places in Matthew's Gospel.

"For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of
heaven."
- Matthew 5:20

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."
- Matthew 23:27-28

Incidentally, the whole of chapter 23 is worthy reading on this matter.

On Your Face!

I was reading the following verse as I finished in my morning study through the book of Ezra,

"10:1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly."

These people had come face to face with a repeat of a heinous offense against God, and this verse shows that when confronted with it, how they responded. In just the previous verse here are their words,

"'Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.'"

I was deeeply convicted in what I read. I know how many times I have stood before the Lord after I had sinned against Him, and seldom has my response been so laden with the intense grief before a holy God as is demonstrated in these two verses. Max Lucado, most commonly known for his writing about the grace of our Lord, makes the following cutting statement about this same topic, "Sin is not an unfortunate slip or a regrettable act; it is aposture of defiance against a holy God."

Oh Lord, would that I should mourn bitterly over my own sinfulness.

Lessons, Part 2

The lines had been clearly drawn. The decision had been made. This had been a repeated offense. The consequences were pre-established. We had walked this same path earlier this same day. Consistency had to be maintained. She would now have to face the music, once again, for the same crime.

After the verdict was declared and sentenced rendered. Melody looked up at me with her pleading eyes and cried, "But Daddy I'm sorry, I love you!" I was not expecting, however, that we would both be disciplined that day. Before I realized it, the words were out. "If you love me, don't just tell you're sorry, do what I told you." Ouch! Discipline had been administered. It still stings even though it has been over a year since. Christ told us His Spirit would remind us of things He has taught us. The only thing that didn't flash in my head was chapter and verse. John 14:21a "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me."

In my last post, I spoke of how one of the main reasons we continue to sin is our lack of true fear of God. Another is found here. How many times have I looked into my Father's eyes with tears streaming down my face from my guilt and said the same thing to Him, and He has reciprocated my response. Just like the familiar scenario described above, my Father longs not to just hear the words, "I am sorry," but to see my actions to prove it. To repent means to turn and go the other way. But often, rather, for me it means, stop, cry a little in regret that I got caught, and do it again later. A study in 1 John reveals some awesome truths on this matter. We learn that as we grow in our faith, it doesn't mean that we are sinless, but rather that we sin less.

Father, oh that we would demonstrate our love to You, by doing what you tell us and sin less.

Lessons From My Kids, Part 1

I have studied theology and doctrine for well over a decade now, and while I could quote you chapter and verse of the scriptural basis for most of what I believe, it wasn't until the last three of four years that God has taken my understanding to a whole new and more personal level.

My oldest daughter, Melody is four and a half. For a couple of years now we have been on the journey of shaping her will and teaching her right from wrong by teaching her first time obedience. Over the years, I have developed within my daughter a respect for her daddy. She has learned that the boundaries that I set for her must be adhered to, or there will be serious consequences. This is great. Because of the investment I made earlier on, I now spend far less time having to correct her behavior and more time playing and loving on her-- which she definitely prefers. Therefore, because of that obedience, she is not as inclined to disobey her daddy because of her fear and respect.

And yet, I still miss the lesson God has in this for me. Like all folks, I have my list of sins with which I struggle, and I think the main reason we struggle with these sins is that we do not truly fear and respect God. We go on sinning regardless of what consequences our sin had. In Hebrews we really catch a glimpse of how serious our sin is to God, "...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." (9:22b) If God takes it this violently serious, why then can we not learn the same lesson I work diligently to teach by daughter? I wonder will I ever learn to truly fear God in such a way that I dare not cross the boundaries that He has set before me. To quote the Apostle Paul, in Romans 7, "24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! "