The Beginning in the End

This will be my last post of 2015.  Somehow in my human pride I imagine that this will cause tears and mourning for someone (probably my mom).  While there, in reality, will be no tears from the absence of another post (due to the fact that I will be on vacation!), there is often a sense that comes at the end of the year of retrospection and introspection that can sometimes cause sorrow as we look back and find ourselves disappointed with our accomplishments for the year.  After all, we made resolutions and goals that this was going to be the year that we _____________________ (fill in the blank) and as of December 22 ____________________ remains undone.  And yet in the sadness and disappointment is a glorious reminder of the gospel.

Jesus came to earth precisely because of our failures.  On a much larger scale we must understand that our sin required that Jesus came to be born to die.  My failures to accomplish what I set my mind to should remind me of my failures to accomplish what God designed me to, and in that failure breaking the very relationship that I have with God.  But the glorious birth of our Savior reminds us that there is a beginning in the end.  Yes, the year is ending, we will never have another 2015.  But, there is a glorious beginning we have because of Christ.  Eternity with God.  We get to live forever with God.  And my temporary life on earth is just the beginning of this eternal life. 

What this actually reveals to me is how shortsighted my goal formation actually is.  I will make goals and plans for a 2016 that I am not even sure how much of it I will be around for.  After all, Christ could return tomorrow.  Perhaps my goal formation should be a little more eternal - doing and planning to do the things that matter most.  Now please do not misunderstand what I am saying, I am not saying that every moment of 2016 should be spent in church or witnessing or passing out tracts to people.  If you did this you would fail your important God-given responsibilities as a husband, or a mother, or a daughter, or a son.   But what I am suggesting is that your "mundane" responsibilities should be focused on the beginning in the end.  When you go to work, do so with the mentality that Christ is returning and He asks you to do your work as unto Him.  (Colossians 3:17)  When you are at home realize that you playing with your children has eternal implications.  In point of fact, the return of Christ being imminent gives increased value and meaning to each activity that we do and makes them that much more valuable. 

And yes, for most of us, there are things that we could do differently.  We could put down the remote for a few minutes and read our Bibles.  We could set the computer mouse aside momentarily and stop looking at cute cat videos and spend some time in prayer.  But Christ coming to earth has given meaning to life here on earth.  And we should realize that the baby in the manger was Immanuel, which means, "God with us".  And that God will be with us for eternity.  This really is just the beginning in the end.  Or more precisely, the beginning of the joy that never ends.  And in this we are indeed reminded of the gospel. 

Thank you Jesus.  And Merry Christmas!

The Spirit of Christmas Future

Ebenezer Scrooge fell asleep and was awakened by three spirits in the classic Dickens' tale, A Christmas Carol.  When I think of this, I am reminded that the real story of Christmas has an impact on the past, the present and the future.  For the story, the impact of the future was still negotiable, and Scrooge asked if he could change.  For the real Christmas story however, the impact of the past is real, the impact on our present is real, and the impact on the future is just as real. 

We think of the past of Christmas often as we reflect on baby Jesus laying in a manger, surrounded by Joseph, Mary, likely a few animals (although this is simply assumed) and a few moments later the Shepherds arriving.  We think on the humility of this event and are often astounded.  Every time I drive by a nativity scene I am reminded of Christmas past - an event that really happened and shaped the course of history.

We also can find ourselves focusing on Christmas present.  Not the gifts and wrapping, although these often do consume much of our focus, but on the impact that Christ coming has in the here and now.  I have salvation because Christ was born, I have life because Christ was born, I have the Spirit of God and the Word of God all because Christ was born.  These are glorious truths both past and present, but they do not present the complete picture of the Christmas story.

This is why I think the book of Revelation contains the narrative of the birth of Christ.  In Revelation 12 we are reminded that "And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron; and her child was caught up to God and to His throne." (Revelation 12:5, NASB)  This is a part of the larger context of the battle between God and Satan, between ultimate good and everything that opposes good.  The glory of this story is ultimately recorded for us in Revelation chapter 20 when this adversary of God, the opposition to God is finally defeated along with all of those who chose to side against God.  In other words, God wins.  And the Christmas story is a large part of the narrative of God winning.  It is because Christ conquers death that God wins.  It is because Christ conquers the grave that God wins.  It is because Christ conquers sin that God wins.  God chooses to use the birth of this baby in humble circumstances to be the means by which victory is ultimately won. 

But in our present it does not seem to be that God has won.  Children are murdered, women are assaulted, brother fights against brother, sister steals from sister, families are disintegrating, we face moral ills on every side and it does not seem that God has won.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem that became a song that captures the heart of this struggle well.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

This is one of the many joys of the Christmas story - it reminds us that our future is secure, right does prevail because our God lives and is still accomplishing His perfect plan for our world.  God has redeemed us in Christ, He has saved us from our sins, and He will save us finally and completely at some time designated in the future.  Until that day we cry out to the Savior born of a virgin, "Come quickly Lord Jesus."  Which is a cry to make the promised future our present.  And what a glorious gift it will be. 

The Importance of Truth

I have a pet peeve.  It may seem like a small thing, and perhaps it is - I know at least that most people probably do not take this as seriously as I do, but my peeve is with Christmas carols.  You read correctly - Christmas carols.  I am as joyous about the holidays as the next guy, but my difficulty comes when carols seem to be for some people a source of truth about the coming of the our Savior.  For instance, when Jesus was born, did he cry?  "Away in a Manger" tells us no, but if Jesus does not cry when he is born, he was not born human, for that first cry is what allows a newborn to draw breath.  How many wise men were there?  The Scriptures do not say, but the song does, and some long forgotten tradition does.  People remember what they sing. 

I am not fighting against sentiment.  Please do not misunderstand - I have no problem with singing these Christmas songs, even the ones that have things in them that may not be true.  I love watching my children sing these songs during Christmas plays and programs.  I even enjoy singing the songs, particularly while caroling and encouraging people who may not be able to get out.  I am NOT anti-carols.  I am however against every instance where people develop their understanding of anything apart from the authority of Scripture. 

There seems to me to be no better time to remind us of the importance of the Scriptures than the time when we celebrate the coming of the central figure of the Scriptures.  There is no tradition, no song, no historical understanding that should inform us above the Scriptures.   Truth is important, and Truth has been given to us in not only the person of Christ, but in every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God - which is the Bible.  What a privilege we have to be able to have such a glorious gift from God.  May we be careful not to squander it.  May we be urgently engaged in reading and studying it.  And may we be sure not to neglect it. 

So may I remind us all this Christmas time to be discerning about what we hear, and see, and think and understand.  May we run every single element of truth through the purifying filter of the Word of God and determine what is Truth and must be obediently followed and believed.  The rest we may need to reconsider our response to, and realize that songs, or the opinions of myself or other, are not gospel truth and pale in comparison to the Gospel Truth that we have - our Bibles.  Hold tightly to Truth.  Be willing to let the rest go!

God With Us

" 'Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which translated means, 'God with us,' "  (Matthew 1:23, NASB)

This verse never ceases to amaze me.  When I read the Scriptures, it is amazing to me that God would be with me at all.  In fact, there are myriads of reasons why God should not be with me.  Sin is introduced in Genesis chapter 3 and separates mankind from God.  When I was born, I was born in sin and was separated from God who made me, and yet here God promises to humble people that Mary will have a child and they will call Him "God with us".  God himself came to be human.  God the Son left heaven above and the glories of the throne-room of God the Father in order to be born as a fragile infant child in a much smaller space than He was used to, in a bed of hay, needing to be fed, cared for and nurtured into a good young Jewish boy.  This was God with us.  No fanfare, no trumpets heralding to the world that He had come.  The heralds went instead to a field where Shepherds were watching their flocks.  And yet this baby, born in humble circumstances, would be the solution to the separation that mankind had from God.  He was God with us.

This singular statement is something that separates Christianity from many of the other world religions who believe that God is so "otherly" that their deity is above mankind to the extent that there is gulf fixed between them that cannot be breached.  And while we as Christians contend that there is a gulf fixed between us and God, it is one that has already been breached by the Son of God and that is bridged by His shed blood.  What a glorious truth to recall at Christmas.  The baby came and was born to die so that you and I could have life.  He is God with us who enables us to be with God.  This is the truth of Hebrews 10:19-22.  We have access to God and can be with God because God was first with us.  God with us. 

The statement also gives us something to look forward to.  We not only have God with us, not only can we be with God, but we will be with God in a tangible way that involves the removal of the presence of sin and the glorious eternity of heaven on earth with Christ as Ruler over all that is.  This promise of a new heaven and a new earth inaugurates a new era where all is restored and even made better than what it was at creation.  A time when the dwelling of God is with me and "He will dwell among them and they shall be His people. . ." (Revelation 21:3, NASB)  God with us in an ultimate way that will never change - a time with no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, no more crying, no more pain.   God with us. 

And all of this made possible because of God's movement toward us in the form of a little baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a feeding trough.  What a glorious paradox - the restorer of humanity came as humanity to demonstrate that our frailty can be overcome.  Praise be to God.  God with us.

Religious Tryptophan

A food coma is coming.  Somewhere across the country in the immediate future, some husband, father, brother, wife, mother, or sister will consume a Thanksgiving Feast and immediately discuss the wonder of the meal and how tryptophan has made them sleepy.  For those unaware of this glorious amino acid, it exists in many things and is extremely important in the human diet.  However in large doses, it can cause drowsiness and is even prescribed at time as a sleep aid (in its non-turkey form.)  And while turkey does not have an excessively high level of the substance contrary to popular belief, the high levels of consumption on Thanksgiving can contribute to the feelings of lethargy that so often accompany the large meal.  Sometimes I wonder if the church (the universal church, not any one particular church) has consumed too much religious tryptophan.  It would seem to be the case as we have grown decidedly lethargic regarding the condition of our own lives and even more so about the condition of the world around us. 
Please understand that I am not speaking of the political climate, I fully expect politicians to be politicians.  I am not speaking of the moral climate either.  I know that the world is going to get worse before Christ returns.  This has always been the case as demonstrated in the story of Noah.  I trust that God will judge the world for their immorality. 
The lethargy that I am speaking of relates to the gospel.  We have been tasked as the church to take the gospel into the world in which we live.  We do this by speech and by action.  But the present day church seems to do so little of both.  We expect that our pastor will share the gospel, the deacons will share the gospel, the other people more spiritual than I will certainly share the gospel.  And so we sit quietly, not speaking gospel, not enacting gospel.  And we forget the challenge of 1 Peter 5:8-9.
"Be of sober spirit, BE ON THE ALERT.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.  But resist him, firm in your faith . . ." (NASB, emphasis mine)
Note the call to be on alert.  And the motivation for our alertness is that the devil is always actively seeking someone to devour.  And we must resist him.  We must resist him actively, fighting his influence in our lives at every opportunity.  I think the number one way that Satan battles us as believers is to cause us to forget that there is urgency.  He doses us with religious tryptophan so that we sit idle while our neighbors go to Hell.  We sit idle while our co-workers continue down the path to Hell. 
Please understand the spirit in which this is written.  I am as guilty of this religious coma as anybody, and am writing this to myself most of all.  I need to wake up.  I need to be ready at all times to give reason for the hope within.  I need to be alert.  I need to recognize the penalty for my silence and apathy - people will not hear the gospel.  And they cannot respond to the gospel unless they hear the gospel.  And they cannot hear the gospel unless someone goes and speaks it to them.  So I need a shot of Godly adrenaline to counter the effects of the religious tryptophan I have consumed. Do you?

On Being a Sheep

This past Sunday I spoke on Psalm 100.  I loved talking about this text and the means by which we give thanks to God.   However, given this focus, I was unable to look in depth at one part of this text that is absolutely incredible to me.  Verse 3 ends with, "We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture."  This seemingly simple statement is deeper than what my feeble mind can wrap itself around.   I want to examine this in a little detail.
The first statement - "We are His people" seems so simple, but I think that we fail to realize the depth of it.  We are His people, not only in the sense that He created us, but that we belong to Him.  This is a statement of possession even more than it is a statement of identity.  If you are a sheep that is a part of a shepherd's pasture, you belong to that shepherd.  Likewise, as His people, we belong to Him.  This concept is found throughout the Scriptures.  And, this is especially true for believers.  Galatians 2:20 reminds us that the life we now live we do not live for ourselves, but we live for and in and through our faith in the Son of God.  Ponder for a moment that you are a part of God's possession.  As I think about this, there are two things that this means for me.  The first seems negative - I do not belong to myself.  I am owned by God.  I do not have freedom to do whatever I please, I must please my Master, the one who owns me.  This is contrary to my western ideas of self and how important I really am.  I have a hard time being owned.  I want to own myself, to own my life, to own the world around me and make it mine.  But God is very clear, I am His.  I am His people, the Sheep of His pasture. 
The second thing that this means for me is related to the second half of this segment of Scripture.  The second statement is that we are ". . . the sheep of His pasture."  And in this we find the much more positive portion of the text in our minds.  We belong to the flock of God and therefore get to bed down in His pasture.  And his pastures are green and lush and fulfilling and gorgeous and everything that we His sheep would desire.  We are blessed.  We get the joy of living where God lives, and we get the joy of this for eternity!  I get to rest in the pasture of God for eternity.  This is indeed a tremendous blessing.  And it is glorious.
May I remind us however that the second benefit is contingent upon the first statement.  The only sheep that get to bed down in the pasture of their master are those that are owned by the master.  He will protect and heal and guide and direct, but only when we submit ourselves to being owned. 
Can you imagine a sheep, standing outside of a luscious green pasture, refusing to go in because he refuses to be stamped with the mark that tells all that he belongs to his master.  Sure the mark may be painful, sure it may lead through the valley of the shadow of death.  It is true that the Master may place you in situations that you wish you did not have to face.  But it is within the right of a perfectly loving and holy Master to do so.  You belong to Him. 
So often, I, as a follower of Jesus, want all of the blessing, but very little of the belonging.  I want to be rewarded, but do not want to be commanded.  I want God to work His perfect will, but do not want to surrender mine.  I want to be protected, but I do not want to be confined.  And the psalmist reminds me in a simple statement that becomes so profound that I am ". . .His people and the sheep of His pasture." He reminds me that this is more than identity, it is a statement of possession.  I am a sheep.  Stubborn and prone to wander far too close to danger on my own, I am His sheep, and He will lovingly draw me back to Himself.  How joyous to realize sooner rather than later the joys of living within the fold that God has given me!  I belong to Jesus!

The Gospel and Starbucks Cups

I want to say thank you to all those who have been reading my blog and giving me positive feedback and encouragement.  I am so grateful for all those who take the time to read and continue to encourage your comments and feedback and input on the blog.  My goal for this blog is to encourage biblical thinking and help those who read it draw closer to Christ.  I strive to keep it positive and uplifting.  And I hope that today's blog will be no different, but I want to address something that I have seen recently that concerns me.
Within the last few days and weeks a story broke regarding Starbuck's cups for the Christmas Season.  Apparently some people are upset that the cups are simply red and have no symbolism on them whatsoever.  I have seen angry Facebook posts and calls to boycott Starbucks all because of the lack of symbolism. 
My initial response to this was disbelief that people who claim the name of Christ would become so antagonistic toward a secular organization for the failure of the secular organization to share their values, but I wanted to research the issue a little deeper before developing a response and so I looked at previous years cups.  In previous years, Starbucks has had designs on the cups such as reindeer and floral patters but I have not yet found a cup that had the gospel printed on it.  Which leads me to my response.
First and foremost, when we read the Scriptures, we should remember that the world in which we live is in rebellion against God.  This is true.  And this should indeed bother us.  But it should not drive us to boycotts and anger, it should drive us toward the gospel and our need to preach the gospel to every creature that God gives opportunity to.  I think of Paul in the city of Athens in Acts 17.  When he went through the city he saw all sorts of idols; instead of bemoaning that Athens was pagan and secular and should be Christian, he instead preached the gospel, using the idol to the unknown god as a launching point to introduce the gospel to the culture around.  I think of Christ who had more to say to the Pharisees and other religious leaders than He did to the pagan culture around the nation of Israel.  So the rebellion of the world is a problem, I do not deny this. But the biblical response to the rebellion of the world is ALWAYS the GOSPEL. 
Secondly, I think that the responses that I have seen reveal to us our lack of proper priorities.   We see a cup that does not have enough religious symbolism on it and we get up in arms, but we respond with apathy to the problems of genuine need around us.  We ignore the sanctity of life issues that seem to become more and more prominent, and we sit back and say nothing while the world around us redefines sexuality and the family.  And this is to say nothing of the way which we use the resources that God gives us.  James defines true religion as visiting those in distress and keeping oneself unstained by the world.  (James 1:27)  Sadly, when I stamp my feet and cry and moan when secular organizations do not share my values I am drawing all the attention to myself and becoming stained by a world that wants me to think that life is all about me.  And when I am stained by the world in this way, I lose my impact on the very people I am hoping Christ can change. 
If you are one of those who are upset over the secularization of the world around us, please understand that I too am bothered by the directions that our world is heading.  But also remember that this is not a surprise, and that it will get worse before it gets better.  So, before you hit enter and that Facebook post goes up on your wall, ask yourself what your friends who do not know the Lord will think of your post.  Will it help you reach them with the gospel?  Will you be able to preach Christ better because of what you have said?  Does your response adequately reflect the priorities that the Scriptures tell us that we should have?
Perhaps the best response is to buy a cup of coffee for an unsaved friend (even if it is at Starbucks) and talk to them about why Christmas means so much to you and share with them of your Savior whose birth we celebrate. 

Decisions

Decisions matter.  Sometimes it may not seem like it, but the things which we choose to allow ourselves to think and see and do - these things matter.  So often in life we have a backwards view of decisions.  By this, I mean that we tend to look back at the decisions that we have made in the past and evaluate them based upon their "successfulness" - which usually means, how happy or contented or beneficial to me was the decision I made.  A bad decision becomes one that causes me or someone else harm.  A good decision brings pleasure.  This is the template that we usually use when we are evaluating the decisions that we have made. 
One problem with this style of living is that we are always making our next decision based upon the results of the previous decision.  So if something made me happy I will choose to do it again.  I am convinced that as a Christian I need a different template for making choices. 
The first thing that I believe needs to change is the evaluative measure that I use in decision making.  I am not the center of the universe.  I need to consider not what makes me happy, but what pleases God who created me.  Joshua encourages the people of Israel to "choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. . ." (Joshua 24:15 NASB)  I believe that this is the center of biblical decision making.  I do not make decisions that will make me happy, I choose to make decisions that please God.  And in doing so I find that the natural result is my own joy. 
The second thing that I believe is fundamental to making decisions as a believer is which direction I look.  I believe that a Christian should not evaluate based solely on the past, but on the present and future as well.  Is this decision one that will have future ramifications on my relationship with God, with others, or on myself? 
There are many other factors that we should consider when making a decision, but ultimately, if we can get these two criteria at the forefront of our decision making, I believe we will be doing well.   But I want to illustrate what this looks like.  Allow me to use a hypothetical situation that may be all too common.
Joe Smith (any similarities to persons real or fictional is completely unintentional) is sitting in front of his TV wondering what to watch.  Most of the time he will choose to watch something that makes him laugh or cry or rage (the rage part is for all you Lions fans).  But the primary and perhaps only thing that Joe will consider is what makes him happy and what has in the past brought him enjoyment.  I am suggesting that Joe consider what would make God pleased and what impact what He chooses will have on his present and his future, regardless of what past decisions he has made. 
Please do not misunderstand - I am not suggesting that the answer to Joe's decision will be the same every time or that there is something inherently wrong with a decision to relax and watch TV.  God wants us to enjoy this abundant life we have in Christ and enjoy our limited time here on earth.  I am suggesting that Joe use a different set of criteria to determine what he is doing and what he should watch.  And TV is only one area where this becomes an issue.  We should consider these things in our financial decisions, our family decisions, our occupational decisions, etc.  If we are to be a living sacrifice as Romans 12 calls us to do, then perhaps we need to consider that we should make God primary and consider each decision under a different set of criteria.  For me, the criteria of considering God and others before self is difficult enough to last me a lifetime of growth! 

Thanksgiving

Fall is officially here.  And with fall comes the Fall holidays, the notable one for the purposes of this blog being Thanksgiving.  Part of me cringes every year at this time as I realize how few thanks I have given to God for all that He has done for me.  It is sad that I need a holiday to remind me of something that I should be doing on a daily basis.  Psalm 136:1 reminds us of our need to give thanks when the psalmist says, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, For His loving-kindness is everlasting." (NASB)  Psalm 108:3 tells us that David promises, "I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples. . ." (NASB).  Psalm 107 adds that we are not only to give thanks to the Lord for His loving-kindness, but also ". . .for His wonders to the sons of men" (NASB).  In Psalm 107 it repeats this refrain more than once.  We give thanks to God for who He is and what He does.  May I share with you today some things I have been reminded of my need to be thankful for?  If not, please stop reading.  If I may, read on.

1. I am thankful for the things that God chooses not to give me.  This seems odd, but it is absolutely true.  We have been praying as a family that God would sell our house in Illinois for months, and God has chosen to postpone this process.  I am thankful for this because of all of things we have because God has chosen to answer my prayers in a way I had not anticipated.  We have been able to draw closer to our church as they have circled around us in prayer.  We have been taught patience and trust.  It has strengthened our marriage.  It has given me a new appreciation for the strength of my wife and kids.  And this is the short list!  All these blessings would not have been mine if our house had sold immediately.

2. I am thankful for the inconveniences of life.  Yesterday as I drove to Illinois to care for a house I have been praying would sell I was slowed by a number of situations and arrived in town a little later than I had hoped.  And then as I drove by an accident that I very well could have been a part of had I gotten there 15 minutes earlier, I was reminded that God's timing and plan is perfect and the things that I perceive as inconveniences can be God's protection.

3. I am thankful for the patience of God with me.  I am thankful He is longsuffering and kind.  I am thankful that He is loving and good.  Each time I read the Word of God I am reminded of a characteristic of who God is.  And in each one of these I need to give thanks.  But, I am also thankful that God is just and holy and jealous for His own name.   I am thankful for the Savior who satisfied the justice and wrath of God and imputes to me His righteousness.  Suffice to say, I am thankful for the theology of who God is!

So, what will you find to be thankful for today.  Let us be thankful each day for the blessings of God are innumerable!
Give Thanks!

What are you reading?

I am always interested in what others are reading in the Scriptures and what they are learning from it.  Currently I am working on reading the ESV Bible through in a year.  It has been a good project as I try and read a different translation each year and have been through the NIV and NASB and NKJV so far.  So often when it comes to Bible reading people are hindered by what they consider to be their own failures.  Let's be honest together - we do not read the Bible enough.  We do not know the Bible as well as we should.  But none of this ultimately matters because of Christ!  The Scriptures encourage us to study them and know them, but never give a "Thou shalt read four chapters per day" or any other such demand.  What God reveals to us He is most interested in is the life change that comes as a result of reading and studying.  And life change can happen over the course of just one or two words.  Life change can happen in a verse, or a chapter, or a book, or wherever the Holy Spirit chooses to illuminate the text to our heart and change us to be more like Christ.  I do not believe it matters at all how much you read - it matters how you read;  are you reading to change your life?  If you read to change, God will use His Word to make you more like Christ. If you read to meet some self-instituted requirement, you will likely not be reading to change.  God can still use this of course, but He will have to overcome the barrier that you yourself have placed. 
So often instead of reading for change we hear that the pastor has read the Bible through multiple times and we assume that we could never do that so why bother trying.  So, by all means, don't try and read the Bible in a year.  Make a goal instead to read the same chapter every day for a week.  Or a month.  Make a goal to read a book (pick a short one to start with) in a month's time.  Read one verse a day every day for this year.  Read one chapter from the Old Testament and one chapter from the New.  Read the verses around your favorite verses.  You may miss a day.  You may not reach your goal, so try again and read.  And the more you read God's Word - however large or small a portion- the more God will use His Word to change your heart and mind.  And the more your heart and mind are changed the more you will love to read God's Word.
So forget about me and how much I read.  Forget about how much your friend or neighbor reads.  Forget about how much you want to read and can't.  Just READ.  And when you read, encourage others with what you have learned from what you read. 
I am currently reading through the book of Mark - what are you reading?

Why I am thankful for gravity (or, the necessity of absolutes)

Can you imagine a world with no absolutes?  A world in which gravity was only a suggestion and at random intervals throughout any given day you could being to float aimlessly in space does not sound like a glorious place to be.  Or have you considered living in a world in which every action did not have an equal and opposite reaction?  Imagine going to a door and pushing to no avail.  Then you read the sign that says "pull" and laugh at yourself and pull the door only to have it remain shut.  The door is not locked, but no matter how much force you exert, there is no requirement that the door open.  A world without absolutes becomes chaotic and scary!  I am glad that I do not have to worry about floating off into space - gravity will always keep me planted on terra firma. 
It is interesting to me that humanity generally accepts these absolutes and is even grateful for them, but when it comes to morality humanity scoffs at the idea that a moral code could be absolute.  We know that gravity and thermodynamics provide an orderly world in which random forces do not upend us.  They protect us.  But moral absolutes are seen as being of a different nature altogether.  This is not surprising when you read and understand Romans 1.  But what is surprising is how often Christians deny the authority and presence of absolute truth in the way that they wander and may believe whatever wind of doctrine happens to be floating by.  Instead of grounding ourselves with the truth of the Word of God we find ourselves floating in the nebulous caverns of the spaciousness of false teaching. 
We become tentative and scared to say something that might offend instead of speaking the truth in love.  We become fearful of what someone might say or think.  Or we just assume we do not know enough to speak truth.  May I propose an alternative?  1 John 4:4 tells us "You are from God, little children and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (NASB)  If what we are proclaiming is an absolute it is because it has its source in God and God's Word.  And if it is absolute, than we should be willing to proclaim it boldly recognizing that God is greater than whatever the world may throw at us.  This is why it is so critical as Christians to speak as authoritative only what the Word of God says.  But we must speak it. And in order to speak it we must know it.  And in order to know it we must study what God's Word says.  And when we see the truth that is revealed, we must be willing to proclaim it boldly - because a world without absolutes (even moral ones) is an incredibly scary place.

Children at Play

It is somewhat sad that it is hard for me to remember what it felt like to be a child.  As I get older (at the ripe old age of 36), I get further distanced from the joys of childhood.  I am so focused on all of the things that I, as an adult, need to care for.  There are bills, there are schedules to keep, to-do lists that need doing, more bills come, the time passes, things keep getting added to the to-do list.  It seems to be a never ending and over-whelming struggle against the clock.  And then you watch children play.  They play carefree - not worrying about even the next moment, only thinking of that which is presently entertaining them.  They play whatever their imaginations will allow - they create worlds with bad guys and heroes, with monetary abundance or need.  And they use whatever tools they have at their disposal.  Need to capture a robber, no problem - simply pick up the stick and it becomes a police issued weapon.  Need to sail to Spain, no problem - hop on the couch and trim the sails and you are off on a rolling ocean bound for foreign lands.  Perhaps this is why the Scriptures so often refer to being children.  Christ himself tells us that we need to have faith like a little child.  And Paul in Romans says, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, . . ." (Romans 8:16).  We are children of God.  This means that we have the freedom to play.  We are not to be bound by the worry and anxiety that comes with "growing-up" instead we are to cast all of our cares onto the One who is capable of carrying them.  We are not to get so lost in the busyness of the world around us that we forget to use our imaginations - we are told instead that we should trust a God who will do things beyond what we ask or imagine.  We serve a God who has created an environment in which He has provided all that we need.  We serve a God who continually cares for us and watches over us.  So let's play.  Let's live our lives as though God has taken care of everything.  Let's imagine together the things that God can accomplish in and through us and play!  When we do, we pick up sticks and they part seas.  When we do five loaves and two fish feed thousands.  When we play and trust God and simply obey what He directs us to do the results seem to me to be so much more enjoyable than trying to "be an adult" and holding all of the worry ourselves.  So let's get out there and play!

Driving and spiritual growth (or the lack thereof)

I am convinced that there is no more effective and readily available test of our spiritual maturity than driving.  Unfortunately, it is a test that I too often fail. 
In the perfect providence of God, at this point in my life I am doing more driving than I would like.  Yesterday it was a 10 hour plus round trip to go back to Illinois and take care of some things there before turning around and coming back to MI.  While I am driving, there are many things that I truly enjoy.  These include:
     - the scenery in MI - a constant reminder of the creativity and goodness of our God.
     - the scenery in IL - a constant reminder of the provision of God (seemingly endless corn and soybeans - beautiful in its own way)
     - the time to pray
     - the time to reflect and plan
     - the tim. . .that guy just cut me off.
And so begins the test of my spiritual maturity.  I would love to tell you that I calmly forgave and prayed for him.  I would love to tell you that I did not honk my horn with a great deal of vigor for being inconvenienced for approximately 2.5 seconds.  I would love to tell you that I did not give him a dirty look.  But alas, if I were to tell you these things I would be lying.
It amazes me that I can go from "spiritually in tune" to anger in 2.5 seconds of being inconvenienced.  A reminder of the fact that apart from the grace of God I would be lost in my sin!  In that moment what occurred was actually a complex and very intricate series of events that can be summarized like this:  I stopped thinking about God and only thought about me.  MY life was put in danger for 2.5 seconds.  MY plans were delayed by 2.5 seconds.  MY car was almost damaged.  MY emotional state was changed.  And once I was thinking about me, it was hard to go back to thinking about God.  And therein lies the difficulty of sin. 
In Genesis 3 we are told that Eve eats the fruit because she thought that it was good for food, a delight to the eyes and it was desirable to make her wise.  Millennia later John writes that we are not to love the world, which consists of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.  It is amazing to me that these three things correlate so well to what Eve saw.  The root of all sin is taking our thoughts off of what God commands and instead thinking of ourselves.  Which is why I think the Scriptures are so clear to the grow in Christ we must die to self. 

     "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."  Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

Driving reminded me that I am still in the process of dying to self.  And unfortunately for us, self can reappear in 2.5 seconds.  God help us to die to ourselves so that Christ can be seen in us.  To God be the glory.

King Tut and Jesus

My family and I were able to go and see the King Tut exhibit yesterday at the Grand Rapids Public Museum.   This was an exciting trip for us as my children have been studying some of ancient Egyptian culture and life in school.  The exhibit itself was magnificent and wonderfully and elaborately created.  I was in awe from start to finish. One of the things that stood out to me the most was the care with which the people preserved the body of King Tut.  The resources that were poured into making sure that he had an easy transition in the afterlife.  (side note:  I am not at all condoning Egyptian mythology)   Amongst all of the gold and all of the detail and all of the symbolism, one thing stood out to me.  When Howard Carter discovered the tomb when they got to the shrine that contained the body, it actually was 4 shrines, each one contained inside the others.  The closer you got to the body, the more ornate and precious and valuable the decorations and detail.  The Egyptians spent a lot of time and money to make sure that their Pharaoh (whom they considered to be deity) was well recognized, even in the afterlife.  And then you see it.  A replica of the open sarcophagus of King Tut.  Detailed, designed by people who were looking directly at the real thing.  You can see the outline of his finger bones - you can see the age on the wrappings and you know he is dead and has been so for over 3000 years.
Which brings me to Jesus.  Jesus died around 2000 years ago.  He was buried too - cared for and preserved, though not nearly with the intricacy and valuables that the pharaoh was.  And yet, there is no exhibit proclaiming the glories of the King of Kings.  No intricate vaults. No gold.  No museums.  And I for one am extraordinarily glad for this.  "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said."  (Matthew 28:6a, NASB)  Our Savior conquered death.  He is not buried any longer.  He is no longer adorned in grave clothes.  He is ALIVE. He is at work in my life.  I pray He is at work in yours.  There was so much value given to a dead ruler from a bygone era.  How much more value should we place on a ruler who has ruled from the beginning of time and will continue to rule until time's end?  Only the value that we can offer Him is not found in silver or gold, but in a life lived sacrificially for Him and for His glory (Romans 12:1-2).  May the museum that people see in my life be a constant testimony to the Risen Savior.  May they see His rule and reign evident in the past of my life, but also in the present.  And may every moment of my future point to the value that I give to a Savior who gave so much for me.  Soli Deo Gloria.

Children of God

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."  1 John 3:1 (NASB)

I was preaching on this text Sunday and have reflected on it since and am absolutely floored by the truth in this statement.  When we properly understand who we are apart from Christ, this truth becomes even more overwhelming.  You see, I was not a good person walking a path toward God.  I was an enemy of God - under the wrath of God - far from God.  And it was in this condition of alienation that God chose to change me and make me like His Son.  We are children of God solely because God called us to be so. 
The truth of our adoption goes so much farther though as we take a look through the rest of the Bible.  One of my favorite passages is found in Romans 8.

"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."  Romans 8:16-17 (NASB)

Here Paul reminds us that we are indeed children of God and that the Holy Spirit present in our life is the testimony of this truth, but goes farther and adds that because we are children of God, we are heirs with Christ.  This means that we inherit everything that Christ inherits.  And Christ gets everything.  God does not just make us children - he makes us children who are co-heirs with Christ.  Can you imagine an American revolutionary soldier taking a British soldier and adopting him as his own child and even giving him equal shares of the inheritance?  An Allied soldier adopting a Nazi?  This is what God did for you and for me. 
But there is an even cooler part.  Are you ready?  The trials that we go through - they are a reminder that we are God's adopted children who are receiving the inheritance of Christ.  Notice the last part of Romans 8:17. We suffer with Christ because that is part of what Christ receives - temporary suffering for eternal reward.   I think that is a pretty good trade.  And, it means that my cancer = a reminder of the adoption into God's family.  My temporary "homelessness" = a reminder of my adoption into God's family.  But, it is only good news for those who are fellow heirs with Christ.  If you have never placed your faith and trust in Christ you cannot share my hope. 
I am truly blessed to be a child of God.  Are you?

Introduction

People often view church as something to do - a place that you go once (maybe twice) a week and fulfill a sense of religious obligation.  Church is so much more than something to do - it is something to be - a group of people actively loving one another and encouraging one another to be more like Christ.  This is my vision for White Lake Baptist Church. 
In our small little corner of the world I want to be able to dialogue with our people and our community in a way that encourages all of us to grow toward Christ and in Christ together.  That is my hope for this blog - that it would simply be a place where we can grow together.  Each day it seems that God is teaching me something new.  Sometimes these lessons are painful - sometimes they are joyous.  If God would choose to allow my lessons to encourage others, I would welcome the opportunity.

To God alone be the glory.