Hope for Columbia

Evangelism 101

2010-01-04T12:44:00.002-05:00

Next week, I will begin to teach an 8-week course on Evangelism for a local seminary. Now the term evangelism is often a controversial term in our society. Followers of Jesus Christ are called to evangelize and so they try to share their faith with others, and yet many who do not follow Jesus Christ, believe we should keep our faith to ourselves and not try to share it with them or others. Thus the tension!

The form of the Greek word for evangelism (transliterated as “euangelion”) is in the Bible and basically means “good news”. Throughout the Old and New Testament, we see God calling His people to share the good news (His Word) to others (see below for a sample). A simple but I believe good definition of what the Bible communicates about evangelism is this: “to share the message of Jesus in both word and deed.” Throughout the ages, Christians have tempted to fulfill this call. However, we haven’t been balanced in sharing the good news for we often go to two extremes. On one hand, we think that all we need to do is preach the Bible every Sunday or on the other hand, we think that all we need to do is to do good to others. But both practices are defective, for if we practice one without the other than we fail to obey God’s call to share the good news. In fact, Jesus himself came to this world to share the good news in both word and deed. Luke 4:16-21 shows us that:

16 And he [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus is saying that he fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy (Isaiah 61) about the messianic servant. Jesus’ mission was proclaiming good news to the poor and liberty to the captives (meaning forgiveness of sins). He came to give sight to the physical and spiritual blind. He came to heal the sick, help the oppressed, and promote social justice.

So for Christians, if this is the way of our Savior and Lord Jesus, then this must be the way of each person who confesses Jesus Christ. We share the good news in word and deed not out of guilt or to earn His favor but out of gratitude. Our gratitude is found in this: that Jesus has shown us the good news by dying for us, taking our place and penalty for our sins on the cross. At the cross, our sins are forgiven; we are made clean, we are set free from the control of sin, we are no longer spiritually blind but brought into a personal and forever relationship with the Holy God. We receive this grace of God by faith.

Lastly, we share the good news in word and deed not because we are better than others. No, we share it in humility for we understand that we are in need of God’s mercy every day, and that we too daily struggle with problems and failures in our own lives. The good news, the message of Jesus, shows us that all are created in the image of God and yet all have failed to measure up to that image. We have received so much love from God through Jesus that we want to share Jesus’ message to others in word and deed.

So with the help of our Lord Jesus Himself, let us grow in sharing the message of Jesus in word and deed. I end with this encouragement from Jerram Barrs in his book The Heart of Evangelism:

We follow One who rules the nations, but He also rules over our own personal lives and over the events that take place from day to day. Even the hairs of our heads are numbered by Him; every detail, no matter how insignificant, is within His fatherly care. So we can ask that He will provide opportunities for us to share what we have come to believe. As He goes before us and prepares our way, He calls us to follow His lead and make the most of the opportunities and the open doors that He gives us.

Passages regarding evangelism:
Genesis 12:1-3
12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Mark 16:14-15
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Luke 24:44-49
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:6-8
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Warmly,

Jeff

2010 Reading Resolution

2009-12-28T12:44:00.003-05:00

A couple of weeks ago I made a New Year’s resolution to do my book shopping in 2010 from my own library. I’m not saying that I won’t buy any books in 2010, for that would be unreasonable! However, my planned reading list are books already in my possession (or at least on order☺). So, here’s my list by category:

Biblical Theology: We Become What We Worship, by G. K. Beale

Systematic Theology: The Doctrine of the Christian Life, by John Frame

Bible: Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, by Richard Bauckham

Culture: Liberating Black Theology, by Anthony Bradley

Biography: W. E. B. DuBois, American Prophet, by Edward J. Blum

Leadership: Courageous Leadership, by Bill Hybels

Church: Simple Church, by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger

History: ???

Fiction: ???

I should point out a few of things. First, my goal is not to read every page in all of these books. I like the way Marilyn Chandler McEntyre put it recently, “The goal of reading is not to get to the end.” My goal is to engage well and have good conversation as a read. Secondly, you’ll notice that my list is incomplete. That’s part of the reason for this post. I would appreciate some suggestions from you on books to fill the history and fiction categories. Of course, you don’t know what’s in my library, but that’s OK. Suggest something anyway (comments on the listed books are welcomed too). Lastly, the Bible is a given, so it’s not on the list.

Thanks for your help!

Pastor Irwyn

The Quest for Maturity?

2009-12-23T14:36:00.002-05:00

On the recommendation of my friend Pastor Eric Redmond, I picked up the book 83 Things I Wish the Black Church Would Stop Doing, by Milan Ford. A lot of Ford’s ‘things’ make me laugh, some I don’t agree with, and most are worth blogging about. Here’s one for you (I think it’s number 50-something), The Quest for Maturity. Ford was having a conversation with a friend of his who serves as a worship leader. His friend was expressing his frustration and struggles over a group of people in the congregation who just “refuse to sing and participate along with him.” The friend expressed his frustration with these five words, “We must become more mature.”

I love Ford’s response (I’ve only included a portion of it),

“I realize that this may sound strange, but if everyone in your church is in the choir, on the usher board, a faithful tither, has never missed a service, and is just in love with the pastor...your church may just be on the brink of death...If everyone in the church GETS IT, then you might as well close the doors, because it is apparent that no one is now committed to going out and bringing in those who don’t.”

Ford has put his finger on the temptation to a spiritual pride and arrogance. In other words, acting like spiritual maturity is by works and not by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. One of the first practical lessons the Lord taught me in pastoral ministry is to assume that everyone in the church I serve (including myself) is wrestling with some issue that challenges their faith in the Lord. That’s because the church is full of real people living real lives. It should always be the case that we see the mix of new believer, mature believer, and, yes, unbeliever in the church. This will help us continue to see the outworking of the Gospel as good news for the lost, good news for the found, and good news for the community.

Pastor Irwyn

Dissatisfied: The Lures of Life

2009-10-26T19:34:00.002-04:00

(Since my sermon was not fully recorded, here is a rough draft of it)

Most of us have experienced a major transition in life—where our life takes another direction (Middle school to High school, a career change, a move change, death, sickness, a divorce, kids leaving home and going to college, puberty etc.). These kinds of transitions are major turning points in our lives and at times affects how we live. This week’s passage will show us that there is a significant transition/turning point coming for God’s people. Last week, we saw an Extreme Makeover—God brought an idol worshiping people to desperation and as a result they cried out to God in genuine repentance, received His rich mercy, and remembered His continuous help. Now we come to this chapter seeing God’s people responding in a much different way. God’s people are dissatisfied and they want something else. Turn with me to 1 Samuel 8 and discover how this turning point in their history will change everything.

1 Samuel 8:1-22
"When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. 3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you. 9 Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” 10 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. 11 He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants. 15 He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants. 16 He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men and your donkeys, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” 19 But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us, 20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Samuel then said to the men of Israel, “Go every man to his city.”

The Religious Right and the Religious Left have it all wrong! All humanity has it wrong when we are looking for political or military powers to save or rescue us from our troubles. This past Presidential election as does many Presidential elections highlighted that for me. We, Christians, have an unhealthy allegiance to political parties or people to make us better. We often put our trust in political people and power to satisfy us. We put our trust in these things rather than the God who directs all history.

This unhealthy allegiance to political people and parties is a bigger picture of all our hearts struggle of looking to other things to rescue and satisfy us. God’s Word, the Bible, doesn’t hide God’s people struggle with idolatry or self-worship. Out of His love for us, God is committed to expose the seductive lures/enticements to other things. He does this in this chapter. God reveals to us how often we are dissatisfied in Him.

How does He do this in this chapter? He shows us that
• We have a dangerous passion for God substitutes.
• We have a fatal attraction to our current culture.
• We have a stubborn reaction to wise warnings.

We have a dangerous passion for God substitutes (vv. 1-8).
As I already said, last week we seen an extreme makeover of God’s people, and yet it doesn’t seem to last. They experienced forgiveness and restoration by God, they experienced a victory they would not have won apart from God’s thunderous work, and yet the elders request a king.

What is going on here? Why are they now dissatisfied with God? Or maybe you asking after hearing what is going in these verses, “Don’t they have good reasons to ask for a king?”

Good Reasons for King?
• Bad judges – Samuel’s sons were crooked, took bribes and perverted justice
• Old Leader – Samuel is very old, much longer will he act as judge especially when the other judges are corrupt.
• God allows it (Deut. 17:14-20) – The passage we read earlier seems to permit such a request for a king, to set up a new form of government, a monarchy. In this passage, Moses indicated that time might come when Israel would want a king and that it would be appropriate provided they obeyed certain parameters. In fact, it finds no fault in Israel’s desire for a king “like all the nations that are around me.”

The Problem: So what in their request shows they are dangerously passionate for a God substitute?
• Their Motive!
o To further understand Deut. 17, we see in the rest of the passage, though, how God’s word makes certain that Israel will not have a king “like all the nations, for the king must be a man of God’s own choosing (a brother Israelite, not a foreigner, without the customary royal perks-military power, many wives, and much wealth).
o So the elder’s request was tainted by something else. The reason they asked for a king was wrong for they were not satisfied in God—their request for a king was just another idolatrous obsession.
o Vv. 7-8 confirms this dissatisfaction/obsession. God says to Samuel, “for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.”
o The king is not merely a substitute for Samuel but for God. Davis, “What we have here is simply the old idolatry with a new twist.”
o Should we be surprise…for God’s people have consistently reverted to idolatry—replacing God with another substitute! God reminds Samuel of what happen after Israel’s rescue from slavery in Egypt…they committed idolatry…they became dissatisfied with God and began to take things in their old hands. (A Life Pattern, 1 Jn 5:21, “Dear Children, keep yourselves from idols.”)
o We have a hard time waiting on God and often our hearts show our dissatisfaction by asking for other things for the wrong reasons.
o They went from last week crying out to God in genuine repentance and restoration to this week demanding a king to satisfy their sinful desires.
o This request in light of God fighting their battles and giving them victory and freedom.
o They now want to trust a new form of government that will fail them instead of God who has, is and will continue to be faithful to them.
o It is not the monarchy that is the real issue; it is their dangerous passion for the monarch to satisfy them—for another to satisfy them.
o Where last week we saw that their only safe recourse and the only true thing that brought help was desperate prayer to their God; this week we see their dangerous passion for trusting some mechanical provision for their security.
o Bottom Line: They wanted a king because they imagined that the Lord their God-King was unable to secure their constant prosperity.

What do we take away from Israel’s dangerous passion for a substitute?
• We too struggle with God Substitutes (jobs, families, sports, education, material things, reputation, alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. are some areas where we go to find our satisfaction instead of God).
• What we believe about God will affect how then we live our life? Are we looking to God for help or are we more interested in prescribing what form of God’s help must take. Are we more concerned about what methods or ways we think God should deliver us from our troubles or are we finding God in the midst of our troubles? Are we satisfied with the God who saves or are we satisfied on how and when he will save or deliver us.
• Be careful for what you ask for! God may at times grant our requests but it may not be a sign of His agreement but of our wrong-headedness.
• Davis, “Because some of our idolatry (god substitutes) is so sophisticated and appears so reasonable, it can be extremely hard to detect. But Yahweh’s eye penetrates the fog (vv. 7-8). “Samuel experiences what Moses, the prophets, and even Jesus experience: ‘We do not want this man to reign over us’ (Luke 19:14).”
• “For the people of God, there is no other way because there is no other God. There is one God, there is no god but God, and there is no rest for any who rely on any god but God.” (p. 28, Os Guinness, John Seel, No God, But God)

Clothes has been a God substitute for me. When I am stressed out with life or things not going like I want, I have the tendency to run to the clothing store, Banana Republic, and get my clothes fix. Buying a piece of clothing satisfies me more than God when my life seems hard. How about you? What “king” do you want to satisfy you?

God shows us that we are dissatisfied in how we dangerously pursue god substitutes. He also shows us our dissatisfaction in our fatal attraction to the influences of present day culture.

We have a fatal attraction to our current culture (vv. 5, 19-20).
The elders and the people had an unhealthy and I say fatal attraction to the culture that surrounded them.

They looked around to all the other nations ruled by kings, they liked what they saw, and they wanted to be like them. They were tired of being different. They wanted to fit in and be like everybody else around them.

They concluded if they had a king: (1) they will belong; (2) they will have influence; (3) they will have all the military and political powers of other nations; and (4) they will be taken seriously by other nations.

The Problem: They were not called out as a people of God to be the same as other nations. They were set apart to be different, to be holy, and to make a righteous, just and compassionate difference in the world.
• Gen. 12, blessed to be a blessing. It’s covenantal status! Throughout the Bible, God pledges to be our God and we are His people.
• In Lev. 19:2, The Lord says because of this covenantal relationship, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
• If we have put our trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ then we must ask God to help us apply this New Testament passage in 1 Peter 2: 1-12: “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”

Bottom line: Because of the grace of God ultimately seen in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we belong to Him and we are called to be different than the culture around us. Even though we are called to be holy as God is holy, we struggle to be different, to be holy for God’s sake.

We must admit that at times we as a church and as individual Christians would rather just fit in/belong, to not stand out, to just be like everybody else, or to have the same kind of influence and power like our culture. So often in this struggle we are asking these questions:

• Why should we have a different definition of success?
• Why should I not cheat or lie to get ahead and get into the best schools or get the best grades?
• Why should I not do whatever it takes to get ahead in my corporate career? Or in my athletic pursuits?
• For the woman and girls, why should I not do all it takes to look like the glamour magazine covers?
• Why should we pursue faithfulness in marriage? Or stay married to death due us part?
• Or chastity before it?
• Why should I obey and respect my parents?
• Why should I as a father instruct my children in the ways of the Lord or to disciple them in love?
• Why should we boldly and confidently defend or share our faith in love?
• Why should we pursue justice and mercy for those who are poor, those who are widowed, for the defenseless?
• Why should we have a life attraction for worship over entertainment? Relationships over techniques and methods?
• Why should we prefer the enjoyment of God to self-fulfillment and gratification?
• Why should the will of God mean more to me than fulfilling my wish list?
• Why we should we stand up for truth?

Alexander MacLaren has put it well: “One of the first lessons we have to learn…is a wholesome disregard of other people’s ways.”

The story of Eric Little, a missionary and Olympic running champion in the 1920’s demonstrates a wholesome disregard of other’s people’s ways. In the Oscar Award winning movie, Chariots of Fire, the director shows the stark contrast of one man (Eric) who ran for the glory of God and one (Eric’s main competitor) who ran for his own self-gratification and fulfillment. When Eric’s race was scheduled for Sunday, he graciously refused to run that day because of his Christian belief of keeping the Sabbath holy. Most thought that he was crazy. But he was able to run in another race on another day and he won. God honored his desire to reflect the love for His Savior. Eric’s opponent was dogged the rest of his life that he never had a chance to beat Eric in a race. He was often stressed out because he couldn’t run the “perfect” race. When Eric ran he said that he felt the pleasure of God.

Because God’s people were dissatisfied with God, it led them to a dangerous passion for another king and fatal attraction to be like other nations. It also led them to something I am certain that deep down that they never wanted to experience again but will: slavery. We see this in our next section when God’s people stubbornly react to Samuel’s wise warnings.

We have a stubborn reaction to wise warnings (vv. 9-18, 21-22).
Samuel graphically describes what will happen if he grants their request. He gives them full knowledge of the wrong ways (mishpat: judgment of this new king). He issues a clear and dangerous warning!

What does Samuel wisely warn the Israelites?
• The way of the earthly king is very simple: “He will take, he will take, he will take, he will take, he will take and he will take.” (v. 11, 13, 14, 15 16, 17). He will be an oppressor!
• Listen to what he will take:
o He will take your sons (v. 11) – they will serve the military.
o He will take your daughters (v. 13) – they will be government workers.
o He will take your land (v. 14)- he give it to others he likes better.
o He will take your servants & property (v. 16)

Friends, he will take it all! Samuel wisely warns God’s people if they continue to go down this path of desiring a king to satisfy them, they will experience hardship. In fact, v. 17 is very clear, if you want this new king, then ultimately he will take from you this: your very freedom, “…you shall be his slaves.” High Cost to their Demand!

Samuel gives them a chance to reconsider. He offers them another way out. He pleads for their very souls before our Lord. Listen to what I have to say, don’t ignore it, don’t resist it…God is your true King.

They say a resounding NO! God’s people stubbornly refused Samuel’s last ditched effort to persuade them against their foolish request. They stubbornly refused God and now they stubbornly refuse His way. Samuel could not lure them away from the folly that they are about to commit.

What do we learn?
1. The High Cost of God Substitutes- they take by enslaving and controlling us, and impacting our relationship with God and others. You may think this “king” will protect you, keep you safe, provide relief but it will only lead you to major consequences.

2. Knowledge Can’t Save us

Truth, knowledge and information cannot transform us. It may clarify; it may provide instruction, insight, and warning but it cannot truly empower and change us. We need God to soften our hearts, to give us a teachable spirit and to lead us away from our stupidity so that we can follow Him and Him alone.

We may have the truth but do we love the truth! Do we see God’s Word as more than history, or mere facts about Jesus, or instructions to live as a moral person? Do you love God’s Word to the point where the Spirit of God is helping you to live it out no matter how exposing it is to your soul? No matter how painful it is to give up those god substitutes and fatal attractions?

God loves you enough in Jesus Christ to make this a reality and expose all the darkness of our soul so that we can make Him and Him alone our King. In Christ as we look to his life, his death on the cross for our sins, and his resurrection and ascension, he doesn’t take but He gives, and gives, and gives, and gives!

God loves as well in this story for God’s plan will not be thwarted. Though it was a sinful request, God will set up His plan for a monarchy. God is moving ahead even though His people will experience His judgment but it is an ultimately a redeeming judgment.

I conclude with these words: Because idolatry is the central problem of faith, it must be central concern of all lovers of God and disciples of Jesus. There can be no believing communities without an unswerving eye to the detection and destruction of idols…The challenge of our time is the recovery of the living reality of the gospel, including the all-sufficiency of the one, true God over against the self-sufficiency of our modern (or postmodern) age. Either we put our full trust in God, or we do not. If we do not, we are left to the folly of trusting in false gods and the grief of becoming what we worship. If we do, there is no room for any other god (p. 28, No God But God).

Each for the Other

2009-09-01T11:22:00.003-04:00

Prompted by my mom to write out my Wedding message from my nephew’s ceremony, here are some thoughts that I shared with my nephew and his bride on their Wedding day. I read these Scripture passages, Philippians 2:1-13 and Ephesians 5:21-33, and they are the foundation of my thoughts.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:1-13)

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Eph. 5:21-33)

Bryan Chapell, in his book Each for the Other, tells a story of a Christian couple that has tried to live out what the Bible says about marriage but have felt their love draining from their relationship. They were both raised in the church and went to a Christian college and yet their marriage was in trouble. Unfortunately, this story is not unusual. In the last year, I know of at least three young couples raised in the church and married for about one or two years who have divorced or seeking a divorce. Furthermore, those of us who are married must be honest and admit that at times we too have struggled to love our spouse well or are currently struggling in loving one another well in our marriages.

Is there any hope for us? What do these passages have to say to my nephew and new niece as they start their new life together? What do they say to us?

As I reflect on the passages, three foundational realities are important for us to remember in our married relationships. We have the same love, the same mind and the same Savior.

Same Love - Sacrifice
v. 2, “having the same love”; v. 4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

If our marriages are going to work, then sacrificial love must be evident in them. What do I mean? If you are a Christian, then you have the love of Jesus Christ dwelling within you. Now that is amazing reality for us to understand but also rest in. It is His love for us ultimately expressed in His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins that enables us to love sacrificially. It is His love that resides in us that enables us to put our spouse’s interest before ourselves. It is His love in us that will help the husband forsake a golf outing or Ravens/Redskins game with the boys so that he can spend some catch up quality time with his wife. It is His love in us that will empower the wife to let him enjoy those times with the men. It is His love in us that the husband can sacrifice his own TV personal time to share his day with his bride. It is His love in us that the wife can trust her husband to make a major decision for their family. I think you get my drift.

Not only do we have the same love that resides in us but also we have the same mind. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you have the mind of Christ. WOW!

Same Mind - Humility
v. 2 “being of the same mind”; v. 5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

The second foundational reality is that humility must be evident in our marriages. There is a story in the Gospel of Luke, chapter seven about a woman with a bad reputation that anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. What is so radical about this story is that she did this at a religious leader’s dinner party for Jesus. She was not invited but barged in to show her need for Jesus’ forgiveness. Simon the religious leader was very indignant and wrongly judged both Jesus and this woman for allowing this to happen. However, Jesus tells Simon a short story about forgiveness. He shows Simon that the one who understands their great need of forgiveness will show humility and thankfulness. You see the sinful woman was closer to Jesus than the “righteous” religious leader or should I say self-righteous religious leader. Why? Because she understood that she was a sinner who needed grace. She understood that she was a big sinner but Jesus was a bigger Savior.

As we approach our marriage, we too need to have the same mind of the woman in this passage. Jeff is the bigger sinner and because I am, I know that I need Jesus’ forgiveness and then I can show grace, humility and forgiveness to my wife. Jesus himself showed ultimate humility when he left his father’s perfect throne to live in a broken world so that he could die the death of a sinner even though he never sinned. He willingly and voluntarily died for us sinners so that we can be made right with God. But also because his humble mind resides in us that we might show this same kind of humility to others. So when your spouse offends you, you can forgive her/him because you are grasping the forgiveness God has given you in Jesus Christ.

We have the same love and we have the same mind in our marriage. More impressively, we have the same Savior.

Same Savior – Presence and Power!

The third foundational reality we see expressed in these two passages is that because Jesus has died on the cross for us and has forgiven our sins and has cleansed us by his blood, we have his presence and power. If you belong to Jesus by faith, then you have His very presence and power—the same power that raised Himself from the dead. Triple WOW!!

Every Christian couple has Jesus’ presence and power in order to love one another as God intended. We will fail but the reality for us is that He is more than able to provide all we need to grow in our relationship as husband and wife. God has given us the power to forgive; the power not to hold grudges and be resentful and bitter; the power to put her interest before yourself; the power to trust one another; the power to have hard and honest conversations with one another; to power to have God glorifying sex; the power to live at peace with one another; the power to serve others together; and the power to grow more deeply in love with one another. The list can go on, you fill in the other ways.

These are our foundational realities for every Christian couple. Because we belong to Jesus Christ, we share the same love, the same mind, and the same Savior.

I think of my parents who just this year celebrated 56 years of marriage. Man, this is an amazing accomplish for this world to take notice! They will confess though that it wasn’t always “bliss” and at times their relationship faced much difficulties, and at one point their marriage was on the brink of divorce. But God intervened and their Lord and Savior Jesus began to do a gracious work within them. Christ’s Spirit enabled them to grow in sacrifice and humility. He enabled them to value one another and appreciate their respective talents and personality. They are not perfect but they each depend upon their Savior to make their marriage work. They are growing in depending on the Jesus to express the three foundational realities in their lives.

May God give us the grace as well in our relationships! We need that grace!!

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

Free For All

2009-08-30T22:24:00.002-04:00

Tonight I was encouraged by the below gospel song. A faith relationship with Jesus does gives us true freedom to live as God intends for us to live. I needed this reminder!

Free for All
By Israel Houghton

Rivers rich in mercy beckon
Everyone who thirsts is welcome
All who hunger freely come
Bread of Life for everyone

It's free for all, free for all
Over every limitation, Free for all

Chorus:
Where the Spirit of the Lord is; There is freedom free for all
Where the Spirit of the Lord is; There is freedom free for all
Free for all

We're proclaiming freedom to the nations
Stand and see your full salvation
Rivers in the desert clouds are forming
Celebrate this free outpouring

Free for all free for all
Over every limitation

Holy Spirit rise within us
Bring Your freedom free for all
Holy Spirit rise within
Bring Your freedom free for all
Free for all

Whom the Son sets free is free indeed

I hope you are encouraged too!

Warmly,
Jeff
City of Hope Church

I Love Hip Hop

2009-08-12T08:54:00.003-04:00

When did you fall in love with hip hop? That’s the sappy signature line from the movie Brown Sugar. Well, I not writing a love story, but I can say that I love hip hop. It’s been a part of my life since I was in middle school. I was in 6^th or 7^th grade at St. Angela Hall Academy in Brooklyn when one of my classmates stopped me in the stairwell on the way to our next class and said, “you gotta hear this.” Then he took out his tape recorder and played King Tim III. A few weeks later the Sugar Hill Gang came out with Rappers Delight. I was hooked. There was an explosion of this thing called hip hop, Run DMC, Kool Moe Dee, KRS-One, PE, LL, and on and on.

By the time I became a Christian, the lyrics in most popular hip hop music had degenerated from what I would call “chest-beating” and dissing (disrespecting other rappers), to denigrating women, exalting sexual exploits, and what my friend Carl Ellis calls “Ghetto Nihilism.” What do you do when you love hip hop, but not what it’s become? I don’t think that the answer is to discard the genre. It is now no longer simply a part of urban youth culture, it is a part of American culture. There are still some good songs out there among contemporary rap artists.

One thing that has become a major blessing and encouragement to me is the emergence and development of Christian hip-hop. A few years ago I was exposed to the music of Christcentric (www.christcentric.net). Their combination of gospel proclamation through the medium of hip-hop astounded me. Not watered down hip-hop, but Christ exaltation over strong beats and smooth lyrics. Last Friday (August 7, 2009), I went to a concert at Shady Grove Presbyterian Church featuring Christcentric, B. Morr (www.bmorr.com), and Curtis (Voice) Allen. Wow!! Listen. If you love hip-hop, and you love Jesus Christ, check these brothers out. If you love hip-hop, but you don’t love Jesus Christ, check these brothers out. If you don’t love hip-hop, but you love Jesus Christ, check these brothers out. If you don’t love hip-hop, and you don’t love Jesus Christ, check these brothers out. I think that just about covers everybody. Check these brothers out!

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Irwyn

Bearing Evil without Resentment

2009-06-04T15:54:00.002-04:00

Recently I have been wrestling with the following verses and how to apply them in my life, the life of the church and within our community.

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

The context of these verses is this: Paul instructs his spiritual son, Timothy, on how to relate to troublemakers within the church. I want to focus on the instruction of “patiently enduring evil” or another way to translate this verse “bearing evil without resentment.”

What kind of evil is Paul talking about?
Paul describes these troublemakers or false teachers as the following in 2 Timothy 3:2ff:

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

This is a description of folks within the church and obviously an extremely dangerous, harmful and somber problem. So Paul encourages Timothy to bear with this kind of evil without resentment. We are not to hold grudges against them. We are not to be quick to take offense but quick to forgive. We are to forebear with them in hopes that they may turn from their evil and find a true and real relationship with Jesus Christ. I don’t know about you but that is the last thing I want to do when people personally sin against me. I confess this even at times with my own family. I am tempted to get even by responding with unkind words or holding it against them for a while. I don’t naturally want to bear with those who hurt me with their words or actions.

So how do we really bear evil without resentment? What will empower us to relate in this way when faced with similar evil?

I believe that it is impossible apart from an active and dependent faith on Jesus Christ. The ultimate beauty of this verse is that it points us to the Cross: Jesus bore all kinds of evil from humanity when he suffered and died on the cross. His own family and friends rejected and denied him; his peers laughed at and made fun of him; Roman guards severely beat him by a spiked whip; and ultimately His Father removed his presence from him on the cross and received His wrath and punishment we deserved for our sins and evil against God. He did this willingly and in radical love. Instead of being resentful in bearing this evil, he delighted to do this so that He could display God's glory but also to bring us in a right and acceptable relationship with God.

We see in Jesus’ life and death how he identifies with us for he experienced and understands the pain we face when evil is done against us but we also we see in Jesus that He bore all the evil stuff that we done to him (we all stand guilty of committing evil, we all rejected and betrayed him). Through Jesus’ work on the cross, He forgives those who confess this evil. He does not hold grudges against us. He forbears with us. Through faith in Him, He actively works in us and enables us by His Spirit to forgive, forbear and patiently endure without resentment with others in our lives. No, this is not easy nor does it come naturally to us. I know that for many there are many barriers we need to work through to even come to the point of wanting to forgive and forbear. But the hope for all Christian is this: God has given us all the resources we need in Jesus Christ to believe this grace for us and to apply this grace to others.

Let me be clear, this does not mean that we excuse or ignore the evil done to us or that we may become best friends with those who caused the evil (but in God’s powerful grace that could happen). But it does mean that as we depend upon the sufficient grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we will not let the evil destroy us or have power over us. We can experience healing and strength to move on in our relationships and not let the pass evil ruin our current or future relationships. Christ’s death is that powerful for us!

I think of George Washington Carver, a well-known African-American scientist who developed scores of products from the peanut. Dr. Carver was also a humble servant of God who took every opportunity to speak to others about the Savior he loved and served.

During the 1920s, members of the YMCA and the Commission on Interracial Cooperation asked Carver to address white student audiences at colleges and universities in the South. Carver, realizing that there may be many in the audiences who were racist and thought ill of him, gently and kindly spoke to them about the beauty of the gospel and how Jesus invites all kinds of people into a relationship with Him. You may ask: How could he stand and speak to these white audiences in such a way? I contend as he actively depended upon His Savior who loved him, the Spirit of Jesus Christ enabled him to bear evil without resentment.

May God give us His grace!

Warmly,

Jeff

The Lord Will Provide

2009-05-12T16:33:00.002-04:00

May you be encouraged by this old hymn by John Newton. Check out Matthew Smith's version in his new album "All I Owe", www.matthewsmith.us or www.igracemusic.com.

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The Scripture assures us, the Lord will provide

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread;
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,
So as it's written, the Lord will provide

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages, the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide

His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we havea good Guide
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, The Lord will provide

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide

No strength of our own, our goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide

The Lord Will Provide,

Jeff

Love that is Better than Unconditional

2009-05-04T15:40:00.002-04:00

I am in the long process of reading Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison. The process is long because he has so much good stuff to say as well as what he says is both convicting and hopeful. For awhile I have been thinking about sharing some of his insights. Well, the chapter I read yesterday really wowed me for I sometimes struggle with believing the radical love of God and how his love can change me. The chapter is entitled: God’s love: Better than Unconditional (pp. 164-166, P&R Publishing). Psalm 36 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 support his below thoughts. I reference only the Corinthians passage.

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Based on these passages and others, Powlison says: “I’d like to propose that God’s love is much different and better than unconditional love. Unconditional love, as most of us understand it, begins and ends with sympathy and empathy, with blanket acceptance. It accepts you as you are with no exceptions. You in turn can take it or leave it.”

He goes on:

But think about what God’s love for you is like. God does not calmly gaze on you in benign affirmation. God cares too much to be unconditional in his love…Imagine yourself as a parent, watching your child playing in a group with other children. Perhaps you are observing your child in a nursery or a classroom, or on the playground, or in a soccer game. You might accurately say that you have unconditional love for all the children in the group. That is to say, you have no ill will toward any of them; you generally wish them well.

But when it comes to your own child, something more goes on. You take much more notice of your own child. Injury, danger, bullying, or injustice arouses strong feelings of protection—because you love your child. If your child throws a tantrum or mistreats another child, you are again aroused to intervene—because you love. If your child thrives, you are filled with joy—again because you love.

Of course, any of these reactions may be tainted by a parent’s sin. Pride, fear of other’s opinions, lust for success, superiority, ambition, or calloused self-absorption can warp parental love.

But imagine such reactions untainted by sin…The Lord watches you. The Lord cares. What his children do and what happens to them matters to him. His watching, caring and concern are intense. Complex. Specific. Personal. Unconditional love isn’t nearly so good or compelling. In comparison it is detached, general, impersonal. God’s love is much better than unconditional.

Then he blows me away in expanding the love of God we have in Christ:

God’s love is active. He decided to love you when he could have justly condemned you. He’s involved. He’s merciful, not simply tolerate. He hates sin, yet pursues the sinners by name. God is so committed to forgiving and changing you that he sent Jesus to die for you. He welcomes the poor in spirit with a shout and a feast. God is vastly patient and relentlessly persevering as he intrudes into your life.

God’s love actively does you good. His love is full of blood, sweat, tears, and cries. He suffered for you. He fights for you, defending the afflicted. He fights with you, pursuing you in powerful tenderness so that he can change you. He’s jealous, not detached. His sort of empathy and sympathy speaks out, with words of truth to set you free from sin and misery. He will discipline you as proof that he loves you. God comes to live in you, pouring out his Holy Spirit in your heart, so that you will know him. He puts out power and energy.

God’s love has hate in it too: hatred for evil, whether done to you or by you. God’s love demands that you respond to it; by believing, trusting, obeying, giving thanks with a joyful heart, working out you salvation with fear, delighting in the Lord.

Remember what Lucy, Edward, Susan and Peter learned in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. They were at first frightened to learn that Aslan, the Christ figure, was not a tame lion. Through their journey with him, they did experience that he was not tame but they also experienced that he was good. Powlison encourages, “In the same way, God’s love for his children is no tame love, no relational strategy. It’s not characterized by calm detachment or a determination not to impose his values on you. His love is good in a way’s that’s vigorous and complex.”

God’s love as shown in the person and work of Jesus Christ as written in the above Scripture passage is much better than unconditional. This love accepts you as you are but also make you over. This love is not superficial or detached but active and purposeful. It is intrusive and yet reassuring. God’s love never stops reminding us of our daily need of him and the power he gives to change us to live and love like Jesus.

So what do you think? Do believe that God’s love is that radical? Personal? Intrusive? Purposeful? Active? Compelling? I would love to hear from you!

Warmly,
Jeff

Finding Jesus in Parenting

2009-04-22T09:31:00.005-04:00

This past Sunday I shared from the Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy. This letter is intensely personal for Paul deeply cares for Timothy and desires to see him flourish in his faith relationship and leading the church. One point I shared that because Jesus Christ has given us spiritual life we can exercise a sincere faith--a faith that can have great impact within our families. Paul says this to Timothy in v. 5 of 2 Timothy.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

This is not a religious feeling but a genuine and without hypocrisy faith that is confidently rooted in the message of the gospel-simply put: Jesus came to save sinners! Lois, Eunice, Timothy and others came to a point in their lives where they saw that they were sinners (sin is when we substitute ourselves for God, putting ourselves where only God deserves to be — in charge of our lives.) and that Jesus alone saved them from their sin when He died on the cross and arose on the third day. Confidently trusting in the person and work of Jesus brought them into a forever relationship with God where there sins are forgiven and now declared righteousness and acceptable in God’s sight.

I mentioned some things we learn from the faith of Lois and Eunice:
1. Lois and Eunice grew in their faith as they lived in a non-Christian environment.
2. They took responsibility and faithfully taught the Christian faith to their son/grandson amidst a culture that was radically non-Christian.
3. By God's grace, Timothy came to that same faith and grew in his relationship with Jesus.

You can imagine how hard it was for them to be faithful, genuine and without hypocrisy in an environment that was hostile to the Christian faith. Many during that time thought Christianity was foolish and a joke. Yet in that difficult time they found Jesus and the life and strength that he provides in raising children.

My friend, Carol, comes to mind. She became a Christian as adult but her husband did not. She raised her four children as a single mother. She diligently and faithfully encouraged her children in the Christian faith in an environment at times not friendly to it. By God's grace each of her children came to confidently trust Jesus for their salvation. But it wasn't easy. Two of her children struggle for a time in believing the message of Jesus and decided to reject the faith. But as she actively and genuinely lived out her faith before all her children and diligently prayed, these two also came to a confident faith during their young adult years.

What kept her going in midst of the discouragement and rejection was Jesus. The faith God has given us in Jesus Christ is not dormant. God through His Holy Spirit is actively working in us so that we persevere in our parenting no matter what challenges we face. I often want to throw in the towel and say, "God, I am done." But the Holy Spirit will not let me for he shows me the grace, love, and power of Jesus. Jesus keeps me going in lovingly engaging my children in the Christian faith even when most in this world may think I am foolish or wasting my time. It is the Spirit of Christ that shows me when I blow it, my need to confess my sin and failure to my children, and seek their forgiveness.

Friends, I know that some you are discouraged in either your parenting skills or in your relationships with your children. I encourage you: Run to Jesus to find the love, wisdom and grace to continue on! I know that some are new parents and the demands of a new baby and toddler are stretching you to the limits (sleepless nights, nipping the "no" word, keeping up with all the running and the constant crying, etc.). I encourage you: Run to Jesus to find the strength, wisdom, and grace to continue on! This is not easy and often difficult and confusing but God through faith in Jesus Christ has given you all the resources you need to continue on in parenting.

Warmly,

Jeff

The Investment That Lasts: How we use our Money Matters

2009-03-23T10:49:00.003-04:00

As I shared last night, here again is Paul's challenge to us in how we should value and use our time and money:

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Clement of Alexandria encourages, “In the end it is not the one who keeps, but the one gives away, who is rich, and it is the giving away, not possessions, which renders a man happy.”

Additionally, here are the lyrics of Cash or Christ by Trip Lee, a Christian rap artist that I mentioned last night.

CHORUS:
Forget about the cash, Forget about the clothes
Forget about the stash, Forget about the dough
Forget about the cars, Forget about the rims
Forget about the stars, Forget about the benz
Forget about the big crib, tryna get rich, the big 64 plenty dough and tryna sip chrys
Forget the cash and chains, that stuff will pass away
And you cant take it with you to your after days

VERSE 1:
Most are concerned with the cheddar flow, but dawg I gotta let them know
A lot of reasons we should be seeking Jesus instead of dough
Instead of mo material things, the jewelry and fame
I speak of the King, but most ain't feeling me main
They would rather let they money stack, tryna get a hundred stack
They pockets fat, but they not ready when Christ is coming back
If they only knew the real truth about the coming wrath
They would probably race to Him faster than a running back
I know the things the cheddar buys, will attract and catch the eyes
Instead of ice, it'd be nice, if we would invest in life
Instead of all that flashy stuff, tryna get our status up
His wrath is just, so if we don't seek Him dawg then we outa luck
What good is it to gain the world and in the end lose ya soul?
Its foolish bro, there's a loving savior you can truly know
I know you seeking satisfaction, you can't find it though
Tryna dash for the cash and designer clothes

(CHORUS)

Verse 2:
Got money, got whips, got ice
Still broke homeboy! No Christ
Got a debt to pay, some real heavy wages
And the payment for his sin is pretty outrageous
I seen him park the car, suicide doors
Without Christ he walking through a suicide door
The dollar bill say in God we trust
Its funny cause money is the only God we trust
And she say that she a Christian, but I can�t tell
She ain't depending on God, she depend on male
1 stack, 2 stack, 3 stack, 4
They spent they whole life stacking up dough
And when they die not a dimes gone go
Now they physically rich, but they spiritually poor
And they probably never heard of 1 Corinthians chapter four
'Cause they said they can't imagine God's people being poor

(CHORUS)

Verse 3:
You might want you some change, yeah you might want a crib
But tell me where the Bible say that Jesus want us rich?
It says we should be content if we got food and clothing
That's the truth and bro, we tripping really being foolish homie
We shouldn't put no value on falling screens and stylish chrome
Even if you saved that stuff can't go with you when you back at home
So allow me to encourage you, if you agree the Word is true
You can only serve one Master, some of us is serving two
You can't serve God and cash, cant love the world and Christ
Put money out ya mind, focus on eternal life
I can't speak from experience, I ain't seen it but I'm betting
Treasures of this world ain't nothing next to the ones that's up in Heaven
Feel free to store em up, since we found the Lord is just
Amazing let us praise Him main and try to give Him more of us
Let us live our lives with Him, spend our days and nights with Him
Ignore the trash the world has to offer and delight in Him

(Chorus)

Finally, more on the story of Ed go to this link http://www.generousgiving.org/articles/display.asp?id=83.

Always keep in mind: Generosity must be a way of life because for the Christian we have received radical generosity from God. God is rich and owns everything! All that we have is due to Him. More radically, though, God gives us his most lavish gift in this:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

This is our motivation and this is our delight, we generously give because God more than generously gave us Jesus Christ, His Son, to meet our immense need and desperation. He did this because He loves you!

Warmly,

Jeff

You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)

2009-03-04T17:24:00.002-05:00

I love the music of Josh Groban. Even now I hear some of you saying, “Jeff, you got to be kidding, you are such a patsy.” My response to you is that you have to love me no matter what!!! Anyway as I was driving back to Columbia today, one of his songs emotionally impacted me. The song is called You are Loved (Don’t Give Up). Here are the lyrics:

Don’t give up
It’s just the weight of the world
When your heart’s heavy I
I will lift it for you

Don’t give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you I
I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved
Don’t give up

Because you are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the hurt that you hide
When you’re lost inside I
I’ll be there to find you

Don’t give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you I
I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you

Everybody needs to be loved
Don’t give up

Because…you are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the weight of the world

Don’t give up
Everybody needs to be loved

You are loved.

Friends, I know many of us are weighted down with life. I am. The good news is that because we are loved, we are able not to give up. You are loved by God. May you deeply experience Jesus who lifts you; who understands you; who hears you; who brings light to you; and who gives you hope in the midst of your hurt! May you walk alongside others by listening and understanding them and guiding them to Jesus! Here these powerful and loving words from God as we face the weight and hurt of the world.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11)

Warmly,

Jeff

Together is Sweeter

2009-03-04T09:27:00.003-05:00

Violets are blue
Roses are red
Let's see what I can do for you
You are white
Like vanilla ice cream
And you are black
Like chocolate sauce
When we put these things together
EVERYTHING gets sweeter!

By Amanda Rickett
Age 9

This is what we are all about at City of Hope Church!

Warmly,

Jeff

Make My Day!

2009-02-24T14:23:00.002-05:00

What encourages you? What makes you excited in life? What makes your day? For me, I love to hear people’s stories. This morning, I had the privilege to hear a God story from a new friend. As I listen to his story, I was greatly encouraged by the gracious work of God in his life. I am encouraged because it is so easy to get bored or dull in my faith relationship with Jesus Christ. But when God gives me opportunities to hear someone’s faith story, I see the work of God in the most powerful and unique ways, and it makes my day. It renews my faith and gives me a new hunger to tell the amazing story of God’s redemption found in Jesus Christ.

Not only does hearing the stories of those who have found hope and joy in Jesus Christ encourage me, but also hearing the stories of those who are still searching and wrestling with life. This too is a privilege and honor to walk along side others in search of meaning and purpose; in search of hope and joy; in search of significance and contentment. Knowing this struggle myself gives me the ability to listen and speak in humble and gracious ways.

How about you? Do you love to hear the stories of others? Do you enjoy entering the lives of others and helping them find their story amidst God’s big story? My hope and prayer is that God will continue to grab our hearts and help us hear one another’s stories and the stories of others in our lives so that more and more people will find the connection of their story to the big story of God’s redeeming love.

Here is an honest confession for us to consider as we admit our struggle and find renewal in Jesus Christ.

Father, we confess that we are satiated and bored.
Creation has bored us.
Work has bored us.
Family has bored us.
Friends have bored us.
Our homes bore us.
Television bores us.
Redemption has bored us.
Truth has bored us.
Faith has bored us.
Service to you has bored us.
You have bored us.
No generation in history has ever had so much to entertain it.
We are jaded and cynical.
We think the world is our servant, so we are not thankful when things go well for us, and we are not patient when they do not.
We believe every desire should be satisfied, so we are not delighted when they are, and we are not humbled when they are not.
We laugh, but do not know joy.
We are captivated, but are never really awed.
We celebrate, but we do not worship.
Have mercy on us, and forgive us.
Amaze us with grace – blood stained, incarnate, Messianic grace - the Glory of God in Christ.

Warmly,

Jeff

Mad at the World

2009-02-03T15:07:00.002-05:00

Have you ever been mad? A stupid question, I know! You are mad at your kids because they continue to disrespect you; you are mad at your parents because you don’t like how and what they are asking you to do; you are mad at your husband because he doesn’t listen and understand you again; you are mad at your wife because she questions your financial decisions again; you are made at your friend because she has disappointed you again; you are mad at our government because they are either interfering too much or too little; you are mad at our church because the leadership is neglecting your needs; and you are mad at your peers at work because they are either too lazy or too self-seeking. I am certain there are other types of things or people we are mad at in our lives. I was mad last night about the uncertainty of life, and my wife took the brunt of it. Being mad or angry is a common problem for us all. Things don’t go our way and we get mad. Some of us deal with it internally and hold our anger in while others express it externally and more than willing to let everyone know that we are mad. No matter how we express it, we all must admit that we get mad.

So what we should we do with our anger? Does the Bible help us deal with our anger? How can our faith relationship with Jesus empower us to deal with our anger and find redemptive ways to respond to those who disappoint and make us mad? Proverbs, a book in the Old Testament, provides some wisdom:

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29)

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32)

Before we feel guilty, let me remind us that there is much more to Proverbs. I like what Ed Welch says, “It has a method that connects with its content or theology. Wisdom is much too beautiful to be offered in drab propositional form. Instead, the content of Proverbs is situated in a decidedly family context. The royal parent is speaking to his beloved children. He wants the very best for the children. He wants them to steer clear of the many traps that can lead to ruin; he wants them to thrive. To this end, he woos, persuades, warns in love, spells out the consequences of choices, and thinks of catchy illustrations that tend to embed themselves in the mind’s eye. The royal parent works hard to make wisdom sound as attractive as it really is.”

So with this mind, we must consider the proper way to work through our ungodly anger. We must consider three essential truths about God. First, God is our model. God is our Father and we are his children, therefore, he is slow to anger and long suffering with us. The Psalmist reminds: “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15). We need to remember that throughout the journey of God’s people and our own personal journey, we have sinned habitually and consistently against God. We have a history of doing things our way and not God’s! Yet, He has always dealt fairly and justly and mercifully with us. Let me remind you about his forbearing patience with you: He is with you always even though you ignore and do not listen to Him; He has not left you or turned His back on you even though you have turned your back on Him; He answers your prayers even though you ask in selfish ways; He is always for you even though at times you reject His will; and He always loves you even though you show hate to others and Him by how you speak and act. God the Father delights to be slow to anger with you!

Second, God is our way. Jesus Christ, the Son of God took the righteous anger of God for us on the cross. Jesus experienced the wrath of God for our sakes. Yes, God was angry at our sins for it separated us from enjoying a right and intimate relationship with Him. Jesus Christ provided the only way for us to have this relationship. Because we have this very real, intimate and right relationship with the Triune God through the willing and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we now have the ability to deal with our anger. Meditate on these passages found in the New Testament.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation* for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. (1 John 2:1-3)

9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation* for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:9-11)

A relationship with Jesus Christ is the only way to effectively work on our anger.

(*An atoning sacrifice that satisfies the wrath of God on behalf of those for whom it is made.)

Third, God is our power. The Holy Spirit is committed to breaking us of ungodly anger. The Holy Spirit helps us see through God’s Word what lies behind our anger. Our anger is only the fruit of something deeper going on inside of us—what we really believe about God and ourselves. We get mad because our demands are not meant or we are feeling inadequate about ourselves. We get mad because what we value or better said what we worship (our honor, our comfort, being right, our reputation, our expectations, etc.) is being threaten. We get mad because the center of the universe (me and you) is being replaced by someone or something else. Being mad is a matter of the heart. The Holy Spirit is not only helping us turn from our anger but more importantly enabling us to turn from worshiping our comfort, our reputation, our expectations—our self. He enables us to find our true value on what really matters—God and His Kingdom. He enables us to find our true identity not in being right or looking good but in Jesus Christ who is our righteousness and goodness. He reminds us of the Gospel—you, a sinner (ugh, truth hurts sometimes), are greatly loved by a Holy and Gracious God demonstrated by sending His much-loved Son to rescue, redeem and declare you as His very own righteous and much-loved child.

As the Holy Spirit empowers us to more and more believe the good news of the gospel, then we can more honestly and effectively deal with our anger. Will you and I still get angry or mad? Certainly! I am still wrestling with being mad as I write. But God has given us all the resources we need to turn from what lies behind our anger and to turn to Him finding our ultimate satisfaction and contentment and power.

I end with these words by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Galatia.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Galatians 3:16-26)

Incomparable Valuable Kingdom of God

2009-01-27T14:27:00.004-05:00

Matthew 13:44-46
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."

As I think of the incomparable grace of God as expressed in Matthew 13:44-46, this above song from Kristyn Getty has encouraged me. The Kingdom of God is like no other thing we value. Because Jesus Christ brought us (stubborn, apathetic, uninterested, prideful, and sometimes seekers) into His Kingdom by freely and willingly giving up His life and paying for our insurmountable debt, He enables us to give up our agendas and plans so that we can follow him. Following Jesus does cost us, but as we grow in our understanding of the incomparable valuable Kingdom of God, it is worth the investment.

David Livingstone, a doctor, explorer and missionary in Africa once shared: “I place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of God. If anything will advance the interests of the kingdom, it shall be given away or kept, only as by giving or keeping it I shall most promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time or eternity.”

Craig Blomberg also challenges in his book Interpreting the Parables, “Those who would truly follow Christ must be prepared to abandon whatever might stand in the way of whole-hearted discipleship. In doing so, they acknowledge their utter unworthiness to earn God’s favor.”

Friends in Christ Jesus, because you have entered the incomparable valuable Kingdom of God, the Spirit of Christ is at work in you to make this happen. He is about removing those barriers that blind us from seeing the value of the kingdom of God so that we experience more of His grace but also that we might join him in transforming this community and world.

Warmly,

Jeff

Set Free in 2009 and Beyond!

2009-01-05T11:32:00.002-05:00

I have been wrestling with what it means to be set free by Jesus Christ. I have recently preached from Isaiah 61:1-3. The Servant of the Lord who is fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Luke 4:16-21) has come with a message of salvation and, a very important aspect of that message is that He has come “to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…” Bottom line: He has come to set His people free from their enslavement to sin (from our inability to overcome sin, from our inability to fight the temptation to sin, to release us from the control of sin, and to cancel our debt that we owe God). Because the Perfect God-Man Jesus willingly and voluntarily died on the cross for our sins, was resurrected, ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father and is our High Priest who intercedes for us, we are no longer enslaved to our sins, held captive to them—tied up by them or restrained and controlled by them. If you are a Christian then the Spirit of Christ lives in you and gives you the ability to fight our sinful urges, to overcome our sinful desires and to positively live out the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is our reality.

However, as I reflect on my life, boy, I sometimes don’t see this reality being played out. Evening time especially around dinner and then bedtime I feel tired and powerless to fight the temptation to become sinfully angry or sinfully lazy and disconnected with my family. I lie to myself that I am justified in my sinful actions—playing my Yahtzee game to escape dealing with conflict or quick to yell in my discipline. I worked all day don’t I deserve some peace and quiet! I am certain you hear the lie as well. But the fact remains that no matter how tired or powerless I feel I have no excuse because He has set me free. He has set you free as well! Thankfully Our Holy God loves us by faithfully and patiently pursuing, renewing, and reminding us of this reality. He does not give up on us and continues to enthusiastically and gladly work within us so that we can fight and overcome our sin and no longer be tied up or restrained and controlled by them.

Yesterday, as I preached this reality to a local church I encouraged the congregation that parents and their children can really have relationships where parents can discipline in love, have mutual respect and honesty and show their kids Jesus and where children can really obey their parents willingly and joyfully and enjoy spending time with their parents. I shared that because Jesus has set us free we can really forgive people who hurt and sin against us; we can really fight the temptation to be sinfully angry with our kids when they don’t do what we want them to do; we can overcome our resentment and bitterness that we have with God because life seems unfair or too painful; and we can really take responsibility for our sins and not blame our spouse or some else when we fail. The power of the cross and resurrection enables us to wisely move towards others who have hurt us or caused us harm; enables us to speak gracefully and yet boldly to our children who need correction; enables us to be bold and risky in sharing our faith; and enables us to involve ourselves in helping others in need. Friends, we have been set from the love of money and material things and enabled to joyfully give of our resources. He has set us free from our pride and the desire to control and manipulate God and others to get what we want. He has set us free from our unbelief that Jesus truly satisfies every aspect of our lives. The person and work of Jesus has set us free completely and thoroughly. He delights to make this reality more evident in your life!

I will end with a story of freedom and one I shared in my most recent message:

In her book Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Harriet Jacobs wrote these words about her years of slavery: "Only by experience can any one realize how deep, and dark, and foul is that pit of abominations."

Harriet was born in 1813 in North Carolina. For the first six years of her life, she lived in a comfortable home with her parents and brother, not realizing she was a slave. But when her mother died, Harriet learned she wasn't free.

At age 15, her new master, Dr. James Norcom, pursued and harassed Harriet, while Norcom's wife oppressed her. Seeking to protect herself, Harriet turned to a white, unmarried lawyer and bore him two children.

Norcom retaliated by sending Harriet to a plantation to work as a field hand. Not wanting her children to become plantation slaves, she ran away before they could join her there. With the help of sympathetic neighbors, both black and white, she made her way to her grandmother's home. For the next seven years Harriet lived in a tiny cubbyhole under the front porch roof. The confined space was nine feet by seven feet, with a sloping ceiling only three feet high at one end. She shared her hiding place with rats and mice. However, she read her Bible to encourage and motivate her.

During this time Harriet wrote to Norcom, asking him to sell her the children. He refused. However, the children's father did buy the boy and girl, allowing them to stay with Harriet's grandmother. Hiding even from her children, Harriet would squint through a peephole, hoping to catch a glimpse of them playing outside.

In 1842, Harriet escaped to the North, and two years later her children joined her. Still, she was in danger of being returned to slavery by Dr. Norcom and the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850. Complete liberation did not come until Harriet was forty years old, when her employer bought her freedom for $300.

Harriet Jacobs heard many messages loud and clear in her life. They way she was treated was ok, that slavery was ok, that being beaten was ok, and that her life belonged to others and that was ok. She experienced the pain of a family torn apart, the indignity of being sold as property, and the uncertainty of living at the whim of someone else. She experienced many barriers in pursuing freedom.

However, Harriet concluded her book with these hopeful words:

"Reader, my story ends with freedom."

Harriet Jacobs passionately wrote, "God . . . gave me a soul that burned for freedom and a heart nerved with determination to suffer even unto death in pursuit of liberty."

One has also encouraged:
“Saving grace makes a man as willing to leave his lusts as a slave is willing to leave his galley, or a prisoner his dungeon, or a thief his bolts, or a beggar his rags.”

Friends, you have been set free from your sins and God has given you a soul that now burns for freedom and a new heart nerved with determination to suffer even unto death in pursuit of this freedom. No matter how hard it gets in our lives and the barriers we need to break through, may we encourage one another with this reality—our story ends with freedom!

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

My Musings on The Shack

2008-12-21T08:30:00.003-05:00

Some in my church have asked me my opinion on the very popular book, The Shack. People who know me well understand that I am often leery of books from a "Christian" perspective that sell extremely well. I am no fan of Christian self-help books. Of course, The Shack is not a self-help book so I decided to read it. So here are my musings:

The other day I had lunch with a good friend and we talked about our thoughts on the book. It was helpful to flesh out my thoughts and concerns with him. Just as beneficial was to hear his thoughts and comments. I am glad that I have a friend I can share my life and junk with and still be accepted and loved. Pretty cool!

Back to my musings:

First, the book is well-written and establishes a good story line with some unexpected surprises. The author is creative and definitely writes with a noble purpose and goal. However, I did find it slow at times especially towards the middle of the book and weighed down in details that made my head hurt.

Second, I like stories with a redemption theme and this definitely has it. It deals with one man struggle with pain and brokenness in very honest and real ways. He shows the reality of how an awful event significantly and negatively impacted Mack's, the main character, relationships with God and those he loved.

Third, I appreciate his attempts to communicate the perfect unity and community of the Trinity. However, his attempts to show the Trinity is what most troubled me. I feel we are on dangerous grounds when we try to explain the mystery of the Trinity away and put Him in humans terms not found in Scripture. I understand the author's desire to help people see and experience God but we need to be very careful how we do this. At times he did this well and at other times he comes very close to heresy. On occasions I got lost in his explanations about who God is and how He works and left me with more questions then answers. At one point I felt he communicated everybody will get to Heaven because God loves everybody. He didn't outright say this but one could reach that conclusion in a couple of interactions with the main character and God.

With any book like this, Christians need to be discerning. I know that the author has touched many people because of the honest and intimate interactions between Mack and God and the description of God the Father as "Papa". But I found in many occasions his interactions among the Trinity too "mushy" even for me who is a very sensitive and "mushy" guy.

Final words: If you want a good read, then enjoy a good piece of literature. But I would not recommend it for young believers unless they are willing to discuss it with someone more mature in their walk with Jesus. Of course, you have the freedom to do what you want but we are called to help one another grow in our relationship with Him and reflect His beauty and grace.

Bottom line, you do NOT need a book like this to experience the awesome love and grace of God. The Bible is full of real life stories of pain and suffering that communicate our Father's tender yet bold love for His people. We are his Bride and Jesus, our Groom, is actively winning us to Himself. Sorry I am preaching now.

These are my musings.

Pastor Jeff

History, Samuel and the Bible

2008-12-12T13:31:00.003-05:00

Just a quick comment on something special that recently happened. My son, Samuel, is homeschooled this year for 5th grade. We kind of skipped 4th grade to get him ready for 6th grade next Fall. Anyway, this mid-morning he took a history test and he didn't do very well. He became very frustrated in the midst of the test and discouraged at his grade. On his own accord he went directly to his room because he was very sad. Around noon Val and I were having lunch and we wanted him to come down and eat with us. When Val went up to his room, she found Samuel snuggled on his soccer pillow and reading his Bible. When Val came down to tell me that he was reading the Bible, my soul was greatly encouraged. What an example for us! Samuel modeled to me a very simple but at times hard truth that when things get tough or when discouraging things happen, turn to God and His Word. It is there where God met him and encouraged his soul. As God did that for Samuel, He delights to do that for us as well.

May the sufficient grace of Christ that met my son a few moments ago, meet you now.

I sensed that God wanted me to share this with you today!

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

Music of Christmas

2008-12-11T11:39:00.002-05:00

I love Christmas music. They are some of my all time favorite music.

I love Nat King Cole’s rendition of The Christmas Song. Seeing Bing Crosby and David Bowie sing The Little Drummer Boy on You-Tube is downright special. Hearing Karen Carpenter sing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and I’ll Be Home for Christmas is soothing but also sad because she died at an early age from anorexia. Even though Michael W. Smith is not a great singer he has produced and orchestrated some the best new Christmas music (Christmas Time, Gloria, It’s A Wonderful Christmas, and Sing We Now of Christmas/O Come, O Come Emmanuel/Emmanuel melody are my favorites). My other favorites are Joy to the World, Silent Night, Go Tell It On the Mountain and O Holy Night, especially when Josh Groban sings it.

Sometimes the music helps me remember of Christmas past and my families Christmas traditions. Some of my favorite traditions were waiting on the stair steps as my Dad went downstairs to turn on the lights and get things ready on Christmas mourn; my parents Christmas Eve party with family and friends; and my grandparents coming to our home on Christmas morning. The music also encourages me to continue similar traditions. I do the same thing my father did plus we read the Christmas story before Samuel and Amanda can come down. Our family enjoys cutting down a Christmas tree near or on Val’s birthday and hosting now my parents, brother and sister, and their children for Christmas Eve lunch and gift exchange.

Mostly, Christmas music as I reflect on the lyrics stirs my heart with joy and hope. They also stir up some painful memories and disappointments. I long for my Savior Jesus and look forward to the day when my struggle with sin is over and find complete rest for my soul in Him. But for now, the Christmas music reminds me that God is with me (and at great cost to Himself) in the work and person of Jesus Christ and he will complete His gracious work in me and in you. Whatever you are going through this Christmas season, my prayer is that you may know this Jesus who is no longer a Babe in a manager but the Redeeming Lord of our restless souls. I leave you with some newer artists who are gifted songwriters and musicians.

"Joy Has Dawned upon the World"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2004 Thank you Music

Joy has dawned upon the world,
Promised from creation—
God's salvation now unfurled,
Hope for ev'ry nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love—
Jesus born of Mary.

Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels
As the mighty Prince of Life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother's breast,
Vuln'rable and helpless.

Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story.
Gold—a King is born today,
Incense—God is with us,
Myrrh—His death will make a way,
And by His blood He'll win us.

Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom;
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst'ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of hist'ry.

Have a Merry Christmas season and let me know some of your favorite Christmas music and traditions.

Love, Pastor Jeff

Grateful for All Things Good

2008-11-24T11:17:00.001-05:00

Giving thanks is not just for mealtimes. Gratitude is a whole way of life giving thanks to God for all good things.

I appreciate the following thoughts from G.K. Chesterton and John Stott that encourage us to giving thanks for all good things. Both are found in John Stott’s commentary on 1 Timothy and Titus, part of The Bible Speaks Today series (p. 115).

G.K. Chesterton beautifully writes:
You say grace before meals.
All right.
But I say grace before the play and the opera,
And grace before the concert and pantomime,
And grace before I open a book,
And grace before sketching, painting,
Swimming, fencing, boxing, walking, playing, dancing;
And grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

John Stott agrees and writes:
We should determine, then, to recognize and acknowledge, appreciate and celebrate, all the gifts of the Creator: the glory of the heavens and of the earth, of mountain, river and sea, of forest and flowers, of birds, beasts and butterflies, and of the intricate balance of the natural environment; the unique privileges of our humanness (rational, moral, social and spiritual), as we were created in God’s image and appointed his stewards; the joys of gender, marriage, sex, children, parenthood and family life, and of our extended family and friends; the rhythm of work and rest, of daily work as a means to cooperate with God and serve the common good, and of the Lord’s day when we exchange work for worship; the blessings of peace, freedom, justice, and good government, and of food and drink, clothing and shelter; and our human creativity expressed in music, literature, painting, sculpture and drama, and in the stills and strengths displayed in sport.

To reject these things is to abandon the faith, since it insults the Creator. To receive them thankfully and celebrate them joyfully is to glorify God, ‘who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment’ (1 Tim. 6:17).

I would add: we give thanks for Jesus who has saved us from our sins and given us a new life in Him. We thank Him for the freedom, power, and grace to serve Him faithfully and others with mercy and compassion.

Friends, give thanks for all things good!

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

The Church has an Image Problem

2008-11-17T11:44:00.001-05:00

This Friday, November 21, we have an opportunity to discuss the image problem of the church. We have an opportunity to hear from those outside the church and actively listen to their concerns, insights, and valid gripes regarding Christianity. I look forward to this time as we reflect on these concerns and gain a clearer perspective on how we can live out of our Christian faith more graciously and powerfully. I encourage you to come and invite others to this important discussion.

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

Come to Jesus Moment

2008-11-13T11:58:00.002-05:00

This morning as I listened to my daily dose of NPR (National Public Radio), I was somewhat surprised by a statement from a quest on their program. This man described the current economic crisis and the potential GM bailout. In regards to the GM leadership, the economist, in a manner of fact way, stated that the GM executives need to have a “come to Jesus moment.” He was saying this: They need to come to grips that their product is radically broken and they need something to save them in order to make a new and improved product. This “savior” was not the government bailing them out, he emphasized, but a new way of thinking in the development of their autos. Now I heard this statement after a lengthy discussion with some folks yesterday at Starbucks. One man just recently lost his job and another man is struggling to make it directly due to the economic crisis. Once they found out that I was a pastor, the man who lost his job inquired, “I bet a lot people in light of this current economic downturn are coming back to the church much like 9-11?” Basically, he assumed many are having “a come to Jesus moment.”

As I think much about what is going on in our nation and the world as it relates to the economy, there are grave concerns among us (me included). How will we survive as a nation? How will we survive personally? Where are we going to make sense out these tough times? Is there someone who cares about these things? Is there someone to help me with my fears or anxiousness? Is my financial success all that brings meaning to my life? Is there something else that can give me lasting value or significance?

I hope in these hard times that both Christian and non-Christian consider Jesus and have “a come to Jesus moment” or more importantly “a come Jesus life-changing encounter.” For the Christian, my prayer is for us to see that there is more to life than pursuing the America dream but we are to pursue Jesus and his ways. God calls us to serve as Jesus served giving ourselves in sacrificial ways. When Jesus’ disciples were arguing over who is the best, he gently but firmly confronts them,

42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45).

For the Christian, we must believe more deeply the great cost of our Savior to die for us in order for us to live for Him and others. I know that I am guilty at times of living a self-consumed life. The love of money can have a powerful impact on what we value (nice house, huge amounts in savings and retirement plans, expensive clothes, new cars, etc.) None of these are wrong in of themselves, but when hard times hit and we become overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, we know that we have misplaced our devotion from God to money and what it brings.

However, Jesus has great love for us as He ultimately demonstrated by His death on the cross for all our sins. Because of this relationship Christians have with Jesus, He empowers us to live in a radical generous way. So when hard times come, we are not destroyed or bankrupted by fear or anxiety for our ultimate hope is not in financial success but in Jesus and the satisfying relationship He brings to those who are known by Him.

If you are one who is reading this and not a follower of Jesus, I would encourage you to consider Jesus and experience “ a come to Jesus moment.” Consider the above words of Jesus in Mark 10. Finally, consider these words of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew. I know that when I truly come to Jesus, he helps me with my fears and anxiety!

6:19-34
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

7:24-28
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

Turmoil and Trust

2008-10-01T11:41:00.003-04:00

“Armageddon” and “the World almost coming to the end” are recent statements I have heard by the media and economists to describe the U.S. current economic turmoil. These graphic descriptions show the major impact many think will occur if our government leaders do not approve the “bailout” or “rescue” (depending on how one sees it). These are biblical ideas, and it is always fascinating to me on how much our country has been affected by a certain segment of Christianity.

I am not writing to refute this, but ask the question: where do we as Christians or in truth anybody turn when faced with major concerns like the downturn in our economy? For many of us, we struggle with fear: how much will my pension or retirement fund lose? Will I be able to make it when I retire? Will I lose my home? My car? Will I be able to send my children to college? How will I afford gas or groceries for the month or this week? Will I be able to provide adequate clothing and health care for my children? These are real concerns that we face.

The unknown economic future causes much anxiety, much stress and much inner turmoil. So where do we turn for comfort, for peace, for joy, for rest and for resolve? Let me encourage you to turn to the One who has not left us, who is active with us, and who is in control of all our destinies—the Triune God!

Let me remind you of God’s care for us during difficult and certain times:

“To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, and only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:17).

Even though our economy changes, God never changes; Even though our economy goes into decline, God never decays; and Even though the economy appears to be out of control, God is always in control. God is the Eternal King of the past, present and future. Even though we can’t see God, God sees us and knows our situation. In fact, we see His love, grace and mercy through the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul shares a radical reality with us: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”

Maybe God is using this present economic situation to draw people to Jesus and to help them see that the financial markets will not bring true happiness and satisfaction. God is extremely patience with us and slow to judgment. He wants us to repent of trusting in other things, and begin today to trust the only Savior and King Jesus.

Maybe God is also using this period in history to convict and encourage Christians to examine our own lives in what we are trusting in for satisfaction. Hear these words from Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt 11:28-29).

Jesus understands us when we fear and are in panic mood. He invites us to experience true peace and rest in the midst of this turmoil. Even though things may look bleak, Jesus reminds us of His tender care and gentle spirit that will enable us to face our fears and panic and find real rest. During these tumultuous times, Jesus is really and truly the only One to turn to for contentment and peace with God.

I end with this beautiful truth about Jesus that I received from a friend the other day:

“If the exhibition of God's glory and the deepest joy of human souls are one thing, then evangelism means depicting the beauty of Christ and his saving work with a heartfelt urgency of love that labors to help people find their satisfaction in him” (John Piper, God's Passion for His Glory, p. 38).

Grace and Peace in Jesus,

Pastor Jeff