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….

The Consequence Of Death

"Ask not for whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee." John Donne, 1623

As Donne rightly reminds us, he echoes the scripture that says, "it is appointed unto men once to die." Just recently I watched a program where the heroine reflected, "for those who believe in the resurrection, death is of no consequence." Of course, that is not to say that death has no consequences. For there are plenty of consequences, as experience will tell.

Death brings sorrow, grief, heartache, and loneliness to name a few. Death can cause wars and revolutions, sacrifice and heroism. Death creates vacuums and silence, stillness and contemplation. For anyone who has lost a loved one, the empty chair is a constant reminder of the loss, so deeply felt, where at any given moment the heart skips a beat, as if to say, "I am not complete"

Yet, it is true, that for those who believe in the resurrection, death is of no consequence. Death is an enemy whose teeth have been pulled. The sting of death has been swallowed in the resurrection of Jesus, and his resurrection provides hope for all who believe. Death brings grief, but grief does not swallow hope! As Christians we grieve, but we do not despair.

This past week I attended a funeral of a friend, he was a cardiologist. Over a thousand people came to pay tribute to this man's life. Many who came were patients whose lives have been extended because of his expertise. Those who stood and gave testimony emphasized his love of family and his faith in Jesus.

In the weeks before his death he had expressed his concern, not for himself, but for his family. He knew that his death would have consequences for those he left behind. For himself he did not fear, because be believed in the resurrection, and death was of no consequence. And when he slipped from this life to the next, he left his family with a smile, an expression of peace and hope, an assurance that he was now resting in the presence of his savior.

We must, at some point, face the inevitability of death. And unless The Lord returns soon, we will all lie down and breathe one last time. We hope it will be in our old age, but that is not guaranteed. What is our guarantee is the Spirit of God, who is our deposit, until the coming of Christ. Standing on the assurance of Jesus' death and resurrection, all fear is driven away, and all hope is restored. For those who believe in the resurrection, death is of no consequence! I'm just saying...

His Hand At This Time

Psa. 33:14 From His dwelling place He looks out

On all the inhabitants of the earth,

15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,

He who understands all their works.

            Life is about the circumstances in which we live.  They range on a scale from easy to difficult, joyful to sorrow, and pleasant to painful.  Each circumstance shapes our lives and molds our personality.  James tells us that we should consider it all joy when we face difficult circumstances because it builds character and hope.  Paul says that God works every circumstance for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.  He also tells us that we should give thanks in all things for this is the will of God.

            Growing up in a country whose worldview revolves around a right to pursue life, liberty and happiness, has caused us to believe that struggle and hardships are outside the purview of God’s will.  I was in a discussion one day where are a young lady believed that God would never cause or allow hardship in a believers life; that situations like this are the consequence of faithlessness.  It is true that God’s desire is to bring redemption to his creation, wipe away tears, and take away all pain and suffering.  However, that is not the reality now.  Peter describes our suffering as lite and temporary, and that we are to be patient through them until the Lord returns.  It is at the consummation of the ages that God’s reclamation of his handiwork will take place, and the reality of redemption will be finalized.  Our patience allows others the time to be brought into the kingdom and enjoy salvation through faith in Jesus.

            This doesn’t mean that we should not pursue peaceful and joyful lives; Paul admonishes us to seek peaceful lives, so that the gospel can be shared without hindrance.  Yet, Paul also says that we should be content in whatever situation comes our way, in wealth or poverty.   Jesus said that our focus should be on kingdom living not on the pursuit of physical gain.  Kingdom living is the outworking of the love of God, through us, to a hurting world.  Kingdom living seeks justice for the oppressed, food for the hungry, healing for the sick, and acceptance for the disenfranchised.  Kingdom living is reconciliation between God and man, and between brother and sister, father and mother, and children and parents.  Kingdom living is about forgiveness.

            We seldom ask the “why” question when things are going well, but when they aren’t, “Why did you allow me to lose my job,”  “Why did you allow my baby to die,”  “Why did you allow me to get cancer,”  “Why haven’t you allowed me to _______.”  What does God say?  “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you face various trials…” Because I am in control; I will bring your circumstances full circle; I am your joy!

            When we come to understand that God’s sovereignty is coupled with His goodness, then we can come to terms with our circumstances.  When we come to terms with God’s sovereignty we are patient in our circumstances allowing God to have his perfect work in us.  When we believe in God’s sovereignty our circumstance is of no consequence…I’m just saying.