I was looking at the news this week and, like most of you, I was disturbed a bit by the story of the 103 year old woman about to be evicted from her Atlanta home. Obviously, to get to that point means there is a story of issues and a track record of bad communication or inability to comply with or maintain the customer/bank agreement. Issues that are easily resolved or rewritten.
What I realized though is that when the deputies refused to evict her even though the papers in their hand gave them the right to means that morality is still being influenced by what God had laid down centuries ago as right and wrong.
Exodus 22:22-23 says, "Do not exploit widows and orphans. If you do and they cry out to me, then I will surely help them."
So, this Christmas season, remember that even though we may see more celebrating with the "what do I get" and commercialism of the economic factor, we can still rest assured that the reason for Christmas is still the same: God sent His Son into the world to save it!
Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
It Isn't Fair
“Why did this have to happen?” the elderly mother asked me as I was leaving the hospital. Her youngest son lay there dying of cancer. It had aggressively depleted his body mass until he was barely recognizable even to those who knew him. I hugged her, and transparently told her, “I don’t know; but I do know that it’s not fair.” Sickness isn’t fair. Death isn’t fair. A mother waiting to bury her son isn’t fair. I realized I was walking dangerously close to an area that I am definitely not an expert.
As the family and I sat together in the hospital room over the next few days we talked. We talked about how it isn’t fair. That it wasn’t supposed to be this way. Where did this come from? Why? What did he do to deserve this? All the questions that come out of pain, sorrow, loss, helplessness, and fear.
But they’re right. It isn’t fair, but it is reality. It wasn’t supposed to be, but it is.
God told Adam and Eve that eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would bring death but they were deceived and they did – and it did – and it’s not fair but it is reality. The war had begun; the battle for our lives was on. But God promised He would take care of it. He had a plan to fix it. It would take time but it would come. (Genesis 3)
When Jesus tells us in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but would have eternal life, that is what He’s talking about; the promise God made to fix it. Death. Life. God has a plan.
The apostle Paul talks about the last enemy to be destroyed by Christ would be death. (1 Corinthians 15:26) Until then, it isn’t fair. It wasn’t supposed to be that way but it is.
So here we are, living and dying dependant on the grace of God through His Son Jesus. And all the while we’re fighting over which religion is the best one or the right one and how people should think like this or that. We’re broken in our relationship with God, our Creator, and we’re in the line of fire between God and His enemy, Satan. This world is a broken, messed up place and so are we…but God...didn't send a religion into the world to fix the problem - He sent us His Son!
Jesus said in John 3:17 that He did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it. Basically, He knows it’s not fair; things aren’t right like they should be. Injustice, sickness, death, dysfunction, all are rooted in the disobedience that came from the beginning and leads to death. Jesus said in Luke 4 that He came to bind up broken hearts, set free the captives, bring joy for sorrow, give sight to the blind, and proclaim that God is for us and not against us.
Until we put our faith and belief in Christ, we sit in an unfair, unjust world. One day, God will wipe away all tears from our eyes and there will be no more sickness, death, pain, or sorrow. (Revelation 21:4)
Until then…
“For sin is the sting that results in death…but thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
It isn't fair, but that's why God came to us with life beyond what we think we know and understand. He knows.
As the family and I sat together in the hospital room over the next few days we talked. We talked about how it isn’t fair. That it wasn’t supposed to be this way. Where did this come from? Why? What did he do to deserve this? All the questions that come out of pain, sorrow, loss, helplessness, and fear.
But they’re right. It isn’t fair, but it is reality. It wasn’t supposed to be, but it is.
God told Adam and Eve that eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would bring death but they were deceived and they did – and it did – and it’s not fair but it is reality. The war had begun; the battle for our lives was on. But God promised He would take care of it. He had a plan to fix it. It would take time but it would come. (Genesis 3)
When Jesus tells us in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but would have eternal life, that is what He’s talking about; the promise God made to fix it. Death. Life. God has a plan.
The apostle Paul talks about the last enemy to be destroyed by Christ would be death. (1 Corinthians 15:26) Until then, it isn’t fair. It wasn’t supposed to be that way but it is.
So here we are, living and dying dependant on the grace of God through His Son Jesus. And all the while we’re fighting over which religion is the best one or the right one and how people should think like this or that. We’re broken in our relationship with God, our Creator, and we’re in the line of fire between God and His enemy, Satan. This world is a broken, messed up place and so are we…but God...didn't send a religion into the world to fix the problem - He sent us His Son!
Jesus said in John 3:17 that He did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it. Basically, He knows it’s not fair; things aren’t right like they should be. Injustice, sickness, death, dysfunction, all are rooted in the disobedience that came from the beginning and leads to death. Jesus said in Luke 4 that He came to bind up broken hearts, set free the captives, bring joy for sorrow, give sight to the blind, and proclaim that God is for us and not against us.
Until we put our faith and belief in Christ, we sit in an unfair, unjust world. One day, God will wipe away all tears from our eyes and there will be no more sickness, death, pain, or sorrow. (Revelation 21:4)
Until then…
“For sin is the sting that results in death…but thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
It isn't fair, but that's why God came to us with life beyond what we think we know and understand. He knows.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
A Good Place to Start
“Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.” – Daniel 2:20-23
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. It was deeply disturbing to him and he didn’t know how to handle it or what to do. He called all the wise men of the kingdom together to help him decide what to do next. Like any good leader, he sought advice, right or wrong, from those he trusted. He wanted to get to the bottom of the trouble he was facing and deal with it.
What he ended up doing instead was succumbing to his fears and declaring a decree that would have all the wise men of Babylon executed because they wouldn’t do what he wanted them to do.
When Daniel heard of this, the bible tells us that he handled it with wisdom and discretion. He went to his God-fearing friends and the bible tells us that, He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.
God answered their prayers, they took the answer to the king, and he was truly impressed with the God of Daniel. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries…”
Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.
I don’t believe this was Daniels “dream job”! He was now working for a foreign government; one that held conflicting convictions and practices than he had. This government didn’t even recognize the traditions and history of Daniel’s heritage. But, here he was, in charge and influential. He was right where God wanted him so that God could speak into the times and lay out and accomplish His purposes.
Solomon reminded us that, “there is nothing new under the sun.” – Eccl. 1:9
So, let’s look to the teachings of the Apostles and prophets for matters of how we believers ought to behave when we are faced with conflicting political matters and controversial legislation in our own governing system!
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior. – 1 Timothy 2:1-3
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. – Titus 3:1-3
This seems like a good place to start!
King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. It was deeply disturbing to him and he didn’t know how to handle it or what to do. He called all the wise men of the kingdom together to help him decide what to do next. Like any good leader, he sought advice, right or wrong, from those he trusted. He wanted to get to the bottom of the trouble he was facing and deal with it.
What he ended up doing instead was succumbing to his fears and declaring a decree that would have all the wise men of Babylon executed because they wouldn’t do what he wanted them to do.
When Daniel heard of this, the bible tells us that he handled it with wisdom and discretion. He went to his God-fearing friends and the bible tells us that, He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.
God answered their prayers, they took the answer to the king, and he was truly impressed with the God of Daniel. The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries…”
Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men. At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.
I don’t believe this was Daniels “dream job”! He was now working for a foreign government; one that held conflicting convictions and practices than he had. This government didn’t even recognize the traditions and history of Daniel’s heritage. But, here he was, in charge and influential. He was right where God wanted him so that God could speak into the times and lay out and accomplish His purposes.
Solomon reminded us that, “there is nothing new under the sun.” – Eccl. 1:9
So, let’s look to the teachings of the Apostles and prophets for matters of how we believers ought to behave when we are faced with conflicting political matters and controversial legislation in our own governing system!
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior. – 1 Timothy 2:1-3
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone. – Titus 3:1-3
This seems like a good place to start!
Monday, February 28, 2011
In the Mind of God
Solomon wrote that “[God] has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT
It’s been a difficult thing for us to find out what is in the mind of God…but we’re all curious. For centuries we have dug into the ground, looked into the stars, analyzed and criticized each other’s beliefs, gone to war for our convictions, and pursued the who, what, and why we are here, hoping to find out how it all began.
As we’ve been learning in our ten-week series, The BIG Picture, the scope of eternity is forever past; it includes the present, and moves into the forever future. That’s a lot for our finite minds to try and wrap around.
The good thing to remember is that God chose to pursue us. But, what does that look like? Would I recognize Him? Would I know who just crossed my path today? Would I understand what He wants for me? Sadly, most of us wouldn’t, actually don’t, recognize, or see, or know, or understand. But that doesn’t mean He isn’t on the job!
I have to face it; I get turned around or even lost while driving a lot. Just because I don’t know or see or recognize where I am doesn’t mean that I can’t get there from here; I just need my bearings, some understanding of where I am and then I can calculate the next move. I need a landmark, a familiar sight, or an explanation of the map.
Enter the Word of God. The Bible. What if we were to look at it not as a road map or a behavioral guidebook, but as a diary? What if God has been trying all along to unfold to us who He is and what He is like more than having been trying to tell us what He wants from us? Abraham, the father of faith, didn’t have a Bible to go by – he had a relationship with God where God saw his faith and counted his heart righteous for it.
Peter said, “God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.” - 1 Peter 1:20 NLT
You see, God has been thinking and planning and working on this stuff for a long time. I don’t believe He would claim to create us in His image, love us so much that He would send His only Son to die a death payment for our sins, and offer abundant and eternal life to all who accept Him and not let us in on who He is and what He is thinking!
As the bible begins with the creation story, it has been debated and scrutinized and argued over for centuries about how creation was done. I don’t think that God had it written like it is for the purpose of debating things we can never know (like Solomon said) but that it is written like it is to show us who He is and what He is thinking.
The story goes that God said this and it was so and it was good. Until He said, “Let Us make man in our own image…” It was there where God reveals a bit of Himself to us. Things around us like nature and all created things, the beauty of sunrises and sunsets, are all from God speaking them into existence. But we, on the other hand, are something different. God’s spoken word at this point was not to speak into existence, but to declare what He was about to do. He rolls up His sleeves, gets His hands in the dirt, and is personally involved in creating us. We are not just a thought spoken into existence from God; we are His handiwork, formed from the dust of the ground like a potter would create a clay pot. We have His fingerprints in our DNA.
I believe He is trying to show us how all along it has been in His mind to be personally involved with His people. Do you recognize Him?
It’s been a difficult thing for us to find out what is in the mind of God…but we’re all curious. For centuries we have dug into the ground, looked into the stars, analyzed and criticized each other’s beliefs, gone to war for our convictions, and pursued the who, what, and why we are here, hoping to find out how it all began.
As we’ve been learning in our ten-week series, The BIG Picture, the scope of eternity is forever past; it includes the present, and moves into the forever future. That’s a lot for our finite minds to try and wrap around.
The good thing to remember is that God chose to pursue us. But, what does that look like? Would I recognize Him? Would I know who just crossed my path today? Would I understand what He wants for me? Sadly, most of us wouldn’t, actually don’t, recognize, or see, or know, or understand. But that doesn’t mean He isn’t on the job!
I have to face it; I get turned around or even lost while driving a lot. Just because I don’t know or see or recognize where I am doesn’t mean that I can’t get there from here; I just need my bearings, some understanding of where I am and then I can calculate the next move. I need a landmark, a familiar sight, or an explanation of the map.
Enter the Word of God. The Bible. What if we were to look at it not as a road map or a behavioral guidebook, but as a diary? What if God has been trying all along to unfold to us who He is and what He is like more than having been trying to tell us what He wants from us? Abraham, the father of faith, didn’t have a Bible to go by – he had a relationship with God where God saw his faith and counted his heart righteous for it.
Peter said, “God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.” - 1 Peter 1:20 NLT
You see, God has been thinking and planning and working on this stuff for a long time. I don’t believe He would claim to create us in His image, love us so much that He would send His only Son to die a death payment for our sins, and offer abundant and eternal life to all who accept Him and not let us in on who He is and what He is thinking!
As the bible begins with the creation story, it has been debated and scrutinized and argued over for centuries about how creation was done. I don’t think that God had it written like it is for the purpose of debating things we can never know (like Solomon said) but that it is written like it is to show us who He is and what He is thinking.
The story goes that God said this and it was so and it was good. Until He said, “Let Us make man in our own image…” It was there where God reveals a bit of Himself to us. Things around us like nature and all created things, the beauty of sunrises and sunsets, are all from God speaking them into existence. But we, on the other hand, are something different. God’s spoken word at this point was not to speak into existence, but to declare what He was about to do. He rolls up His sleeves, gets His hands in the dirt, and is personally involved in creating us. We are not just a thought spoken into existence from God; we are His handiwork, formed from the dust of the ground like a potter would create a clay pot. We have His fingerprints in our DNA.
I believe He is trying to show us how all along it has been in His mind to be personally involved with His people. Do you recognize Him?
Monday, February 21, 2011
A Bit Snowed In
My wife will tell you that she enjoys being snowed in once in a while. It takes the pressure off the busy schedule and everyone gets a bit of a break for the day. You can shut the alarm clock off, drink an extra cup of coffee, take a nap, and have lunch with family. Oh, it’s more work shoveling, plowing, rearranging appointments, making up homework, but for the most part it’s an interruption we can work with now and again here in the North Country; it’s actually sort of expected once in a while.
Me, I get a bit claustrophobic when it happens. I enjoy the snow, the break in the schedule, the time at home, and the extra cup of coffee for sure. But, as I look down my driveway at the snowdrifts that even my four-wheel-drive will not go through, my sense of independence is being shut down. I admit, I think it is a bit of pride too. My thoughts go to, “I can’t control this,” or, “I can’t leave the yard, how can I get anything done?” That’s where I give up my joy. I lose the child-like sense of awe and exploration. I forfeit the chance to enter in and gain from the experience choosing instead to worry and fret, when I know that all the worry in the world will not move the drifts from my driveway or open up the day’s schedule.
I like where David asks God to, “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” (Ps.119:18) He goes on to say that he feels like a foreigner in hostile territory; that only God’s guidance will be sufficient for him to live. He is referring to the written Word of God, the Torah, looking for wisdom and instruction; I like to think he’s feeling like I do – a bit snowed in and helpless. But let’s take this same attitude into all that God is doing around us every day. “Open my eyes that I might behold Wonderful things in what You are doing right in front of me.”
We may be feeling a bit snowed in, trapped, our sense of independence being taken away, our world may seem a bit hostile, we may feel we don’t fit in anymore, we aren’t sure what is going on. I’m reminded of the apostle writing these words: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.” (Eph. 2:19) Thank God, there is more to this life than the mire of our everyday efforts!
This is because of what Jesus has done for us. His Kingdom is the real world. His plan for mankind is what will ultimately be accomplished. His name is what will stand the lengths of time. His purpose for each of us is His desire. The apostle John, referring to Jesus, said that the Light had come into the world and it cannot be overtaken by its darkness.
We may see controversy, we may have differing views on everything from religion to politics, but the Word of the Lord will last forever and God’s purpose will be accomplished in it all – whether I worry about it or not! So, “Lord, open our eyes that we may see Wonderful things!”
Me, I get a bit claustrophobic when it happens. I enjoy the snow, the break in the schedule, the time at home, and the extra cup of coffee for sure. But, as I look down my driveway at the snowdrifts that even my four-wheel-drive will not go through, my sense of independence is being shut down. I admit, I think it is a bit of pride too. My thoughts go to, “I can’t control this,” or, “I can’t leave the yard, how can I get anything done?” That’s where I give up my joy. I lose the child-like sense of awe and exploration. I forfeit the chance to enter in and gain from the experience choosing instead to worry and fret, when I know that all the worry in the world will not move the drifts from my driveway or open up the day’s schedule.
I like where David asks God to, “Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law.” (Ps.119:18) He goes on to say that he feels like a foreigner in hostile territory; that only God’s guidance will be sufficient for him to live. He is referring to the written Word of God, the Torah, looking for wisdom and instruction; I like to think he’s feeling like I do – a bit snowed in and helpless. But let’s take this same attitude into all that God is doing around us every day. “Open my eyes that I might behold Wonderful things in what You are doing right in front of me.”
We may be feeling a bit snowed in, trapped, our sense of independence being taken away, our world may seem a bit hostile, we may feel we don’t fit in anymore, we aren’t sure what is going on. I’m reminded of the apostle writing these words: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.” (Eph. 2:19) Thank God, there is more to this life than the mire of our everyday efforts!
This is because of what Jesus has done for us. His Kingdom is the real world. His plan for mankind is what will ultimately be accomplished. His name is what will stand the lengths of time. His purpose for each of us is His desire. The apostle John, referring to Jesus, said that the Light had come into the world and it cannot be overtaken by its darkness.
We may see controversy, we may have differing views on everything from religion to politics, but the Word of the Lord will last forever and God’s purpose will be accomplished in it all – whether I worry about it or not! So, “Lord, open our eyes that we may see Wonderful things!”
Monday, February 14, 2011
A Clear Connection
“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” – Acts 2:46-47
Wow, what a great turnout for our time of sharing, connection, worshipping, and celebrating Branches’ 1st anniversary! THANK YOU to everyone who organized it and to all who participated in it.
It was fun to see how so many brought something to give away. There were dozens and dozens of things. Everything from babysitting to yard work, baked goods and spending time together! These are the things that make us who we are. As we begin to use our gifts and talents and share them with each other it reminds me of how the early church began living out their faith.
Acts 2 records a clear connection between our personal faith and membership in the kingdom of God. The writer, Luke, tells how this personal faith is lived out in things like sharing meals, devotion to the teaching of God’s Word, small groups meeting house to house for prayer and communion and meals in general as well as methodically taking care of the needs of the needy. It resulted in the Lord continuing to add to their number daily those who were being saved as they did these things.
Meaning…
They weren’t just hanging out and doing these things with other Christians. In their prayer meetings, at their meals, as they talked and taught about God’s Word, there were people with them who didn’t believe it yet. As the people of God lived out their faith day to day like this Luke makes a clear connection that this is what advances God’s Kingdom! This is what we have begun at Branches Church and it is a good thing!
Wow, what a great turnout for our time of sharing, connection, worshipping, and celebrating Branches’ 1st anniversary! THANK YOU to everyone who organized it and to all who participated in it.
It was fun to see how so many brought something to give away. There were dozens and dozens of things. Everything from babysitting to yard work, baked goods and spending time together! These are the things that make us who we are. As we begin to use our gifts and talents and share them with each other it reminds me of how the early church began living out their faith.
Acts 2 records a clear connection between our personal faith and membership in the kingdom of God. The writer, Luke, tells how this personal faith is lived out in things like sharing meals, devotion to the teaching of God’s Word, small groups meeting house to house for prayer and communion and meals in general as well as methodically taking care of the needs of the needy. It resulted in the Lord continuing to add to their number daily those who were being saved as they did these things.
Meaning…
They weren’t just hanging out and doing these things with other Christians. In their prayer meetings, at their meals, as they talked and taught about God’s Word, there were people with them who didn’t believe it yet. As the people of God lived out their faith day to day like this Luke makes a clear connection that this is what advances God’s Kingdom! This is what we have begun at Branches Church and it is a good thing!
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