Grace

While driving to the church today, I was listening to the local contemporary Christian Radio Station.  I know kinda expected for someone who is a minister.  But I will admit that there are times I rather listen to sports radio to hear the news on the Steelers or Pro Football moves.  So, this was a rare moment.  But enough of the tangent.  The thought they were passing on was about judgement.  

The announcer was talking about how a group of students were asked to think about the people they would never forgive.  As they made their list of people, potatoes were brought in to the room.  The students were to take and write the name of each person on the potato they were unwilling to forgive.  Then, they had to carry all the potatoes with names with them every where.  The students need to be careful where they left them (don't want anyone to find out who is not forgivable).  They also had to carry them every where.  That could get heavy.  Last, but not least, was the smell.  After a number of days the potatoes started to rot and smell bad.  

All of this was to point that it was "easier" to forgive than carry the weight of not.  But I was caused to think deeper.  We Christians tend to look at life in the perspective of self.  A great focus is place on Paul's teaching in the letters about grace alone being the source of salvation, not any work or action outside of faith.  Paul writes to the people of Ephesus:

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Now, I am a great believer and supporter in grace and not by works for salvation.  I whole hardheartedly proclaim with out doubt that there is nothing we can do for God to receive salvation and or forgiveness.  For my theological readers, I not not care which view of the atonement you want to take.  I am not proclaiming any specific view in this moment.   But, is there something more we as followers of Christ need to think about in the potato story.  It is a great illustration to impart how much easier forgiveness is than unforgiving someone.  But there is some grand spiritual implications in carrying that bag of potatoes.  Jesus was much harder on our position to forgive others.

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)

I hope we will grow into the faith that can do the Gospel message and be formed in fellow worker of the Kingdom demonstrating grace as we have received grace.  Maybe one day Christians will lose the stereotype of being judgmental.  The last one may take a while. 

Fourth Thursday of Lent: Lent 2014

Lenten Devotional
Luke 2-3

Today in Luke we enter into the heart of Jesus birth and young life.  Luke is the only writer to speak about Jesus' early years.  With this, all we hear about is a minor moment when he remands in Jerusalem during a pilgrimage.

This is the part of the narrative I have found intriguing over my life time.  It is because so many times we look down on children and young adults.  They do not have the wisdom or the knowledge that older adults have gained just by being alive.  We might consider a younger person more adapt at technology or new gadgets, but politics and history and theology is for the older and more wise.  But not in this case.

Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

In the time of Jesus, most of the great and honored teachers were aged and well read.  To have a young man life Jesus at the age of twelve answering and give wisdom greater than the work of the wise teachers was a true miracle.  Jesus was blessed with a great spirit of wisdom even at the young age.  He knew who's he was and what his life was all about.  Can we say the same for our self? 

Are we confident in proclaiming that we are children of God?  Are we willing to trust that God is willing to give us the wisdom we need at the right moment to answer questions posed and the need for wisdom?  

Fourth Wednesday of Lent: Lent 2014

Lenten Devotional 

Luke 1

I have had to a lot of writing and creative work the past few days, and I must admit that there juices are just not flowing well today. So, this is very late in the day. I hope a few people still catch it and read. But if you think I have skipped another day, I understand. But I wanted to get a few notes in for today about our reading. Today we start Luke. The good doctor (at least that is what tradition said his occupation was) is thorough in his report to Theophilus. We are not sure who this Theophilus is or what part he played in the early church. But Luke dedicates two books to telling him all about the life of Jesus and the actions of his followers after the resurrection.  I will admit Luke is a great book for all the information he gives about Jesus life and work.  If it wasn't for name sake I would call Luke my favorite gospel.

My favorite part of the first chapter is that we get to learn so much more about John the Baptist.  In the other gospels we just know he is some person out in the wilderness calling people back to God and making the way ready for Jesus' ministry.  We learn that he also baptizes Jesus to start His teaching ministry.  We learn of the family relationship between Jesus and John.  I enjoy the startling news to Zechariah in the temple that he was going to become a father.  

Many times in the gospel story we just gloss over the ministry of John because it is short, under reported and doesn't seem important.  But, John's ministry is essential to what Jesus was about to start.  John would be called the warm up act in today's circles.  He was the one to get the crowd ready to hear what Jesus was going to teach about and actions accomplished.  John introduced Jesus to a lot of people.  The introduction is just as important as the main act.  With bad introduction, people may not of paid attention of even realized Jess was around.  Everyone needs to be introduced by someone.  

Think back for a moment and think about who introduced you to Jesus for the first time.  Was it a parent, Sunday School teacher, or a close friend?  Where would you be today if they did not introduce you to Jesus?  Now think about all the people you have introduced to friends in your life.  How have those introductions changed their lives?  Did you introduce someone to a soon to be spouse?  A new best friend?  In those introductions how much work did it take on your part?  Not much I assume.  Are we willing to be the introduction of Jesus to others as our best friend?  I hope yes.  Jesus still needs introduced to people today.

Third Tuesday in Lent: Lent 2014

Lenten Devotional 

Mark 14-16

These are the last three chapters of Mark.  In them we move from the Passover feast shared with the disciples to a trial and crucifixion.  Mark wrote the facts very quickly and left little room for extra information.  I believe the report gives us a sense of just how back handed and wrong the whole trial and ordeal went for Jesus.  The  quickness of the story also tells us just how fast God is at making everything better.  The resurrection is just as quick as the crucifixion.  In all this great information and the central piece of the Christian faith, I want us to spend a few minutes on the last part of Mark.

When you read the end of chapter sixteen, you will notice that there is a bold line after verse 8.  In most modern translations, a note is written speaking that older texts of the Bible do not contain this section.  The end of the ancient text is "Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid."  The gospel message would seem to end.  No one, according to this account would have known about the resurrection.  We know this is not the end of the story.  Others are told and the disciples do go to the tomb and witness that it is empty.  Guards from the Romans testify to the earthquake in the morning and the empty tomb.  The story did move past this moment.  I feel I can connect well with the women at this moment in the story of Mark than any other.

If I just went to a tomb and found it empty and saw angels telling me he was alive, I would be scared.  I must admit there are times even two thousand years removed from the event, I am nervous to tell people about the event.  How many times have I not told someone about Jesus because of fear of someone's reaction or response?  Can we realty blame the women for being scared?  

The truth to come is that it is not our power to tell the message of Jesus.  We must trust in God's spirit in us to empower and strengthen us to tell others of Jesus.  Some will think we are a little crazy.  Others will embrace the message.  Others will dismiss the Gospel.  Even with fear, God will spread the message of Good News and grace, we just need to be willing to be His instrument.

Prophet Jesus

I am reading a book by Jared Wilson that the title alone drew me in, Your Jesus is Too Safe. If that title does not draw your attention, I do not think many titles will. I have not read very far into the book till I am realizing that it is touching very personal issues in my beliefs and life. So, I thought I might just see how others react to Mr. Wilson's comments and thoughts.

The premises of the book is that Western Culture in general, the church included, has watered down the person of Jesus to such a point that He is no longer resembles the person of the Bible. Jared works his way through a number of topics looking at the biblical Jesus' life to present who He really is and was.

The first chapter focuses on Jesus being a prophet. Jared looks at the different aspects of what an Old Testament prophet accomplished in his ministry and if those were accomplished and how they were accomplished in Jesus' ministry. Where I was struck was when Jared pointed out Jesus' constant refrain picked up from John the Baptist. "Repent for the Kingdom of God (Heaven) is at hand." This made me think about my life and the lives of those around me.

I started asking myself if I was living as one who had repented. Repentance is not just the act of saying I am sorry for what I have done in the past. It means turning ones self in a different direction. Not just our thoughts. We have to turn our whole person, body mind and soul to God. This is what Jared pointed out and convicted me. Have I turned my life around completely?

I am asking my self what would be different in my life if I were repentant with my whole person? How would I act different? How would I respond different?

Some people reading this (if anyone does) might be thinking about the reality that I am a pastor. Well, I am one and let me be the first to tell you that pastors are not perfect. Matter of fact, we have as many if not more flaws as everyone else. Many times the position we are in causes us to have more flaws. So, I confess that I am not fully repented. Not all parts of my life have been turned towards God. Help me Lord to live in repentance and be fully turned towards You.