Claiming What Is Good

            I don’t know what you think about people who jump out of bed in the morning with a smile on their face and a sunny disposition, but that’s not me.  My body doesn’t want to get out from under the covers, and it seems to be slow to wake.  I have rumblings and stirrings as if my whole system groans at the idea of a new day.  Like my old jeep on a cold winter’s morning, my body just doesn’t want to turn over. It can affect the outlook of my day.   But slowly, as the cobwebs disappear, I reflect on the truth that God has given me.  “The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lam 3:22,23.

            Living in victory is about claiming the promises that God has given us and living in the reality of that truth.  Though my flesh dreads each new day, God shows his lovingkindness, and says that I have victory over my day and not the other way around.  This comes in handy, not in just getting out of bed, but when I face each day’s trials.  Sometimes getting out of bed means facing a contentious spouse, a feisty youth, a frustrating boss, poor health, loneliness, fear, etc.  Yet, as difficult as these obstacles are, they do not have to define my actions or my thinking.   

            Joshua stood at the cusp of his past (Egypt) and the future (the promised land).  His trials were countless, and God gave him this command, “arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” Joshua 1:2.  The land was his to claim, it was promised to his forefathers, it was preserved for the children of Israel, and it belonged to him and to the generations that would follow.  He had to do one thing – claim it.  God’s admonition was, “Be strong and courageous. Don’t let the obstacles and your fears keep you from all that I have given you.  I know it will be hard, but it is yours, and I will never leave you.  Trust me and obey me.”

            Often times we can’t see how God is going to execute his good pleasure and will.  There are so many obstacles; the economy is bad, we are fighting wars around the world and at home, our politicians can’t decide on anything, skeptics decry my faith, and I want to share the gospel but my friends won’t listen.  We feel weak against the onslaught of the enemy’s arsenal, and it can cause us to shrink away and hide in the crevices of what is familiar and safe.  This is when we need to stand tall and claim God’s victory over the world and say in a loud voice, “If God is with me, who can stand against me!”  I will not let temptations, addictions, mediocrity, laziness, self-perseveration define me.  I am Christ’s and in my weakness he is strong!

            Today is a victorious day, not because of my circumstances, but because of God’s lovingkindness that work all things for good, to those who are called according to His purpose.  I’m just saying….

Oh Christmas Tree – Ho Hum!

     Last night, as we were setting up and decorating our Christmas tree, the question as to its origins was raised.  Where did the use of the Christmas tree begin, how and why was it incorporated into a Christian tradition?  Now that’s a hotbed question.  I quickly Googled The history of Christmas Trees and was presented a variety of websites. A short history: 

1.     Evergreen trees where used in many different cultures (Egyptian, Chinese, Hebrew, German, Celtic, Vikings, etc.) to represent life, hope, and resurrection.  Some used them as decoration, and others as objects in worship.

2.     Christmas (for the church) was established by the Emperor Justinian around December 25^th as Christian alternative to pagan festivals.  That’s right Jesus was probably born on another date, but no one knows exactly, so the church has continued this practice.

3.     St. Boniface, in the 17^th century, is said to have used the triangular shape of the Fir tree to describe the Trinity.  By the 12^th century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmastime as a symbol of Christianity.

4.     In 1510, Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas tree with candles, to show his children how the starts twinkled through the dark night.

5.     England didn’t like the Germans and did not copy their fashions, including the use of Christmas Trees.

6.     1846 Queen Victoria and her German Prince, albert made the use of the Christmas tree popular.

7.     The Puritans, in the America, believed Christmas to be sacred and saw decorations, Christmas carols, and trees as a mockery.

8.     Those pesky Germans brought the Christmas tree tradition to America in the 18^th century in small German communities, which settled in Pennsylvania.

9.     The use of the Christmas tree was on the rise in 1890 and ornaments were arriving from Germany to enhance the trees beauty.

10.  By the 1900’s the Christmas tree had become an icon representing everlasting life and hope in the coming of Christ.

           

            Should Christians adopt and adapt symbols for their own use?  Hardline critics will say, NO!  The use of pagan symbols is attuned to idolatry, and we know what the Scriptures say about idolatry.  Proponents don’t see God’s creation as the exclusive right of pagans.  New Age followers use the rainbow as their symbol, but Christians know that it is a symbol of the promise of God.  Granted there are no scriptures identifying an evergreen tree with eternal life, but that doesn’t mean that Christians can’t use it as such.  God chose many objects from creation to represent or initiate conversations about his plans.  He had the Israelites pile up rocks so that when they passed by, and their children asked what they were for, the parents would explain God’s grace in delivering them from Egypt.   The Christmas tree can be used, like St. Boniface, as a tool to talk about the grace and hope we have in Christ. 

            I like a good party, and like any good party the decorations enhance the celebration, but aren’t its central focus.  As long as the decorations and symbols don’t overwhelm the worship and adoration of God in Christ, then I say, “the more the merrier.”  I’m just saying…

WAIT!

      I have said recently that the most difficult answer to prayer is WAIT.  I hate waiting.  I see what I want and my first inclination is to devise plans and schemes to achieve the end result; that’s my nature.  There are strengths to my personality type, projects move ahead, plans get accomplished, and goals get checked off.  The down side is that is it is easy to move faster than God wants you to move, or move ahead without him. 

      On the other side I don’t believe that God wants us to sit idle when His word is clear as to what he wants us to do. We know that he wants us to live righteously, take care of the poor, and reach the lost.  There isn’t a need to stand around thinking, “I wonder what God wants me to do?”  Rather the question is, “How should we do these things?”  “How do we spend our resources accomplishing God’s will?”  There are so many ministries and people vying for the same resources that we have to be clear as to how God wants us to accomplish his call on the church. 

 

Our church is asking God to give us clear direction on a ministry opportunity to reach the lost in Mercer County.  It cost money and manpower, and being a small church our resources are limited.  And though I don’t buy into “fleece” theology, we are asking God to give us the resources before we start the project.  This has raised a number of questions.  Do we have faith and start, believing that God will bring in the resources as we move ahead, or have faith that God will supply the resources so that we can move ahead.  Both require faith, neither is more spiritual than the other.  We have chosen the latter. 

      This is where the difficult waiting begins.  Whenever you cast a vision for something exciting the initial enthusiasm is strong, people come on board, and resources are gathered.  There comes a point, however, where your hit a wall, where the resources you have garnered isn’t quiet what you need, and the waiting begins.  The temptation is to take the resources and move ahead with the project and justify why that would be advantageous.   I mean, there is enthusiasm when you start moving ahead, and maybe others would see and contribute more.  But doing so, when you have already laid conditions on your request to God, smacks of not having faith in what you have asked God for in the first place.

      The reason the temptation is strong is the fear that those who have come on board, in the initial push, will lose their excitement and pull out, give up, look somewhere else where something is happening.  The following verses are helping me to stay the course, 

Psa. 27:14 Wait for the LORD;

            Be strong and let your heart take courage;

            Yes, wait for the LORD.

Psa. 37:7   Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

            Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.

      I am committed to our initial proposition, because I believe that God will provide ahead of time what he desires us to achieve.  My prayer is that He ignites the hearts of those who might have reservations, that we gain a greater vision then ourselves, and grant us grace as we reach people in Mercer County with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I’m just saying…

What The? There Goes The Nation!

     “The decision (to revoke citizenship), they said, ‘is intended to punish them for expressing peaceful dissent and thereby intimidate others from exercising their right to freedom of expression.’” 

The above quote is from Aljazeera in regard to a small country in the Middle East.  I read it this morning as I was reflecting on the results of yesterday’s elections.  As disappointing as the results are for conservatives like me, I am reminded again of the honor it is to belong to a free democratic country.  We are free to express our discontent, and it has been expressed widely this morning.  We are free to vote in or out our representatives if we don’t like how they govern.  We are free to petition and protest without fear of having our citizenship revoked.  Some believe that these rights are in danger as a result of a liberal president and an agenda that tastes like socialism.  We will find out in the next four years.

     As citizens of the United States, we have the privilege, honor, and obligation to participate in our government.  We can run for government, like my friend Paul Tittl (he won), in order to make a difference. We can speak up on issues we believe are important.  We can attempt to persuade, through a civil discourse of ideas, others to our point of view.  

     As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are to honor those in authority, pray for our leaders, and give respect to those who govern over us (1 Pet. 2:13-14, 1 Tim. 2:1-2, Romans 13).  Peter and Paul wrote under one of the most corrupt, immoral, and violent governments in history.  Yet, unlike Paul and Peter we belong to a participatory government and can work to change what we don’t like.

     As citizens of the Kingdom of God the way in which we approach civil discourse will be different than our opponents.  Where we will show grace, they will show hate (reading responses to Govern Huckabee’s blog I found it interesting that those who disagreed with him were often angry and vile).  Where we will offer truth, they will deny its existence.  Where we will offer forgiveness, they will harbor resentment.  Where we will stand for righteousness, they will fight for personal pleasure and sin. 

     As citizens of the Kingdom of God we are participants with the Holy Spirit as a restraining factor in a nation who is moving away from God.  Listening to a sermon by John MacArthur this morning, I am reminded again that God’s patience with a sinning nation is limited, and He will give it over to its lusts until their abandonment is complete.  

     As citizens of the Kingdom of God we have a choice.  We can do nothing and guarantee that darkness will prevail, or we can pursue righteousness through the declaration of the gospel until all who will believe become a part of God’s Kingdom.  I’m just saying…

Halloween!!!!

            Tonight is All Hallows’ Eve, a day that has its roots in European harvest festivals and festivals of the dead, particularly the Celtic Samhin.  It proceeds November 1^st, the day that Catholics have traditionally celebrated All Saints Day.  Lutherans, and some Reformed church communities celebrate Reformation Day on October 31^st.  Martin Luther wrote the Archbishop of Mainz protesting the sale of indulgences on this day.  As good Americans, who like to be eclectic, we have adopted a smattering of it all. 

            Those who like to be edgy and horrific dress up as scary goblins and witches; the more refined dress their children in fairy costumes and fire fighters; and Christians, the more conservative kind, dress up as bible characters, and for what purpose? For the majority of the people in the United States it is just to have fun.  It is an excuse to go begging from your friends and neighbors, for candy you would never dream of buying your children all year long.

            Parents are a little more cautious these days, taking their children to neighborhoods they believe to be safe.  Some parents only take their children to people they actually know.  Gone are the days you could send your children down the street by themselves.  Even in my day hospitals were offering free x-rays to deter unsavory criminals who would lace apples with razor blades.

            It’s all good fun, right?  When my wife and I had our first son, I dressed as a lion tamer with my lioness and lion cub in tow, RRRRR.  As the years passed we became wearier of the emphasis on evil and decided to forego the festivities of “darkness” J for tamer fun at Chucky Cheese.  The kids still had fun and we didn’t have to wrestle with our conscience.  Our children haven’t been diminished, to say the least. 

            Should Christians participate in Halloween?  It is a matter of conscience.  This year we have told some friends we will be handing out candy to the neighborhood ghouls, so they should stop by.  We even have carved pumpkins on the front porch.  I’m still leery of the whole Halloween fun with evil, horror, fear, and demonic thing.  I also wrestle with the guilt by association argument. 

            So, this year, instead of sitting in the darkness, worrying if anyone will knock at my door, we have decided to lighten up and hand out candy.  I know that the demonic exists, whether I hand out candy or not.  I know that I have been delivered from the realm of darkness and have been brought into the kingdom of light, whether I hand out candy or not.  I know that if I quietly pray for each child that comes to the door, Satan trembles, for Christ is victorious. 

            Tonight I am not celebrating Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, Reformation Day, All Saints Day, Fall Festivals, or Festivals for the dead.  I’m just going to hand out some candy.  I’m just saying…

Stains!

     I hate it, I utterly hate it when I go to put on a pair of jeans and find stains on them.  One pair, one of my favorites has, what looks like, rust stains.  I was probably wearing them while working in the garage.  The ones I put on this morning have grass stains on the knees from working in the yard on Saturday.  Rebecca always tells me, “Don’t wear your good jeans while your working in the yard and in the garage.”  And do I listen…. well of course not, and now I have stains.

     It’s ok to have stains on your pants if you’re putting around the house, or doing something grimy.  But if you are going to be with other people, in public, they are unsightly.  Some people don’t care about their stains; they flaunt them like badges of honor.  Others try to hide their stains, because they worry about their image.  Whichever one, stains make your clothes look old and worn.

I don’t like stains, so I try and wash them out.  The rust stains are here to stay.  I didn’t put the magic wash stuff on them before putting them in the washer.  Hopefully the grass stains will come out.  Some stains are impossible to get out. I googled “removing stains.”  You can imagine the results.  Stain removal is a big problem.  One person lists mustard, hair dye, pie filling (berries) grass (oh, no!), and chocolate milk as the most difficult, if not impossible, to get out. 

     There is one stain that is totally impossible for man to remove, the stain of sin.  Jer. 2:22 says, “Although you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before Me,” declares the Lord GOD.” Using lye is like trying to get rust stains out with battery acid, its harsh stuff.  Sin is an awful stain.  Some people wear their stain like a badge, and others try to cover it up, but the stain is an affront to God, and if it can’t be removed then the whole garment is thrown away.

The stain of sin can linger; misunderstandings become resentments; hurt feelings become bitterness; my rights become pride and self-righteousness; and cravings become addictions.  Stains can linger, and in the case of sin, destroys lives. 

     What is countered intuitive is that the stain of sin can only be washed out with blood.  Heb. 9:22 “And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” The greatest stain remover ever is the shed of blood of Jesus.  It not only removes the stain, but also washes the sin totally away.  We are now free to live a new life. Oh, occasionally we need to go back and take care of a few spots that crop up, but the root of the stain is removed. 

 Eph. 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, t

he forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”

     Now, if I can just find something that will take care of this grass stain.  I’m just saying….