Wednesday, June 30, 2010

I Think I'm losing My “Marbles”

The other day I was watching Peter Pan with my son, Drew. There’s a scene in the film where Peter Banning, the adult Peter Pan, has one of the lost boys living with him, back in London, England. Well, at the beginning of the film Peter Banning doesn’t know that he was once Peter Pan. Anyway, living with Peter Banning was as an old gentleman, Tootles, who was constantly walking around the house saying aloud that “I think I lost my marbles, can’t find my marbles.” Well, it turns out toward the end of the film that Tootles really did lose his literal marbles. Come to find out, one of the Lost Boys back in Never Land stole them from him when they both were young lads.

Well, I said all that to simply say that I often feel like I have lost my marbles. Only I’m not referring to literal marbles. I’m talking about my mind, my way of thinking. The other day I was visiting with an acquaintance, and the comment that was made went something like this, “I just started dating this person and we decided to live together for a year to see if we want to get married.”

Okay, okay. I don’t want to seem as if I’ve buried my head in the sand. I know that we are living in a different time. But when I was young, I knew when I made a decision to do something whether or not it was dishonoring to God. My acquaintance made this comment and had no clue as to why it was not good to “shack up.”

I am writing today to encourage my brothers and sisters who claim to know the name of Christ to continue to call what's right, right and what's wrong, wrong. Because the truth is what the scripture calls wrong is wrong despite what society accepts. Note this scripture I think it rings true more and more as each day passes Proverbs 20:7“The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.” Ok, I've got to show you another. Check this one out, too. Proverbs 10:11“The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.”

What I am saying is that we can’t falter in calling Christian brothers and sisters to walk with integrity before God. If a man says he’s following God, then according to scripture he must at least make an effort to walk with integrity. And according to what we just read, when we live and walk in righteousness before God, our children will be blessed. What a promise!

Then the other Proverb teaches us that when a man is righteous, his life is lived out well. I really like that. We can’t stop calling men and woman to walk upright before God. You know when I was younger I knew certain truths. I knew premarital sex was wrong, I knew shacking up with a girl was wrong, etc. I knew it because I had people in my life who lived right and who taught me what was right. And they didn't care if I wanted to hear it or not. The older folks had wisdom and we can’t deny that simple wisdom in light of modern evangelism. Allow me to use some literary liberty becaue the truth is I don't know who my great great grandmother is or even if she was a believer for that matter. However, I can almost hear her in my spirit say these words“Tell em, da truth son even if dey don’t like it, cause God don’t like ugly.”

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Dear God give me “Wisdom”

I’ve been reading through some verses in the book of Proverbs everyday for the last month. What a blessing this has been to me. What I have notice as I’ve read is the wisdom that flows out of the mouth of so many different people are basically quotes from God's word, and I bet many of them don’t even realize it.

I’ve heard people say or I have even said stuff like “look at the glass half full not half empty.” How about this one “nothing will work unless you do?” Let me list a few others that I have heard just for kicks: ability is a poor man's wealth; you will reap what you sow ten fold; you better strike while the iron is hot; lead by example. These are just a few of the many examples of wise sayings that I have heard flow out of the mouth of different people at different times.

What I’ve noticed, while hearing folks say all of these wonderful words of wisdom and don’t take this personal, so many of these sayings that I have listed have proceeded out of the mouth of people who are just plain foolish. To have information doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is wise.

I like what Solomon says to his son as he teaches him about being wise. Note Proverbs 1:6-7“To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.” You see according to Solomon, wisdom and understanding are only good when they are working together in the heart of a man who fears God. However, if you take in wisdom and fail to add knowledge to that ingredient, it would be similar to baking a cake without eggs. And if you’ve ever eaten a cake with out eggs you already know that it doesn’t taste very good.

But there’s also another word that makes wisdom and knowledge active. That word is fear, and what fear is to knowledge and wisdom is similar to what “heat” is to cake mix and eggs. Until you add heat that cake mix and eggs is not fit for human consumption. So many people, they are just like that uncooked cake mix and eggs. They are full of knowledge and wisdom but they do not practice what they know to be true. You have everything you need to be a good tasting yellow cake with chocolate icing. But you don’t have any heat. You don’t have any fear of God, and what the world needs today more than ever are believers who “FEAR” God. Yea, I said it.

Monday, June 28, 2010

If You Don't Mind It Don't Matter

I have spent several years of my working experiences working in the Sales Industry. Certainly a principal trait that I have observed in the character of most successful sales professional is, they have learned the value of keeping their minds focused on what matters most.

So often we as people get our minds fixated on things that we can’t change or impact certainly in a day’s time. And you know how it goes, what we can change, affects us the least and what we can’t change, affects us the most, “read that through twice don’t want you to miss that truth.”

Kind of reminds me of a teaching of Jesus, check this out Matthew6:34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.”

Think about that for minute Jesus the God man who has in himself the power to speak life into a dead man, is teaching his disciples that each day has enough evil in itself, so just concern your self in the dealings of the day and whatever tomorrow brings, concern yourself with tomorrow on tomorrow.

Now how practical is that, as you are reading this short devotion: quick, stop and ponder how much of your day has been spent on thinking about things that will not occur before the end of the day. I can hear some of you saying, “preacher, make it plain.”

Ok, okay here goes, some of us have already spent most of the day concerning ourselves with things that for all intensive purposes may or may not even happen, certainly before days end. This is why Jesus tells his disciples that concerning your self with problems that might happen at some point in the future is silly. And you already know!!! Jesus holds the key to our future. So in the words of my beautiful wife “quit worrying about it would you?”

Saturday, June 26, 2010

He “Hit” Me First

Nothing like trying to solve a dispute between two kids, right? My wife and I have raised three of our own children and it never fails that whenever I as the parent go into a fight and attempt to resolve a dispute between two kids I will hear those ever so faithful words, “but he or she hit me first.”

In my quite time with the Lord I was reading through some of Jesus’ teachings, and Jesus taught some things that, to me, seemed to be a bit challenging to say the least. Check out these verses. Matthew 5:39-42 “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have [thy] cloke also. 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” I can hear some of you now in the words of my oldest daughter “Dad, Seriously?”

To be a follower of Jesus Christ meant that we are being asked to follow Christ, literally. Now that’s a novel idea. But think about that for a minute, Christ said to turn the other cheek when someone hits you. Hang-on I’m not finished yet. Jesus says if someone sues you for a shirt, don’t fight it. Take of your jacket and give them that as well as the shirt. It gets even more extreme than that, check this out. Jesus says if someone asks for your help to clean their house, don’t just clean their house but help them clean their basement as well.

Now if you think that’s radical, check this one out. Jesus says and I’m going to quote this one Matthew 5:43-44“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Now if you read that, your probably thinking what I was thinking this morning as I read through those passages. Jesus is probably talking spiritual and not literal right?

Ok, here’s the deal. Jesus wants all who follow him to understand that to follow him means that we do what he did, even if the doing cost us some discomfort. Though you may be attending a church that’s teaching otherwise, what I have just shared with you in scripture is really what it means to be a “Christ follower.” I wonder after reading this would you say that you truly are following in the steps of Christ or are you one of those people who just talk about. There’s a word for that kind of thing, it begins with an “H” and ends in “Hypocrite.”

Friday, June 25, 2010

HOLY Cow Batman “””Pow”””

I grew up in the early 1970’s watching Batman and Robin. I can remember Batman and Robin doing those fight scenes and I can almost hear Robin exclaiming to Batman something that sounds like “Holy Cow, Batman,” and the fight would be on. Batman and Robin of course would tear the room apart using everything with in reach as a weapon and they would ultimately arise with the Victory.

This mourning in my quite time, I’m currently reading through Exodus by the way. I noticed something that was familiar and at the same time a bit odd. I notice just how often blood was shed, check out this verse Exodus29:38 “Now this [is that] which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.” Now why in the world would these Priest be instructed to offer(which meant to kill) two lambs every day, one in the mourning and one in the evening, now that seems a little excessive you think. Well it would only seem excessive if you don’t understand just how Holy God is. Side bar, here is my ADD kicking in again, “I hope you can end a sentence using "is", anyway.

Let’s see where were we, “Holy” now that’s a four letter word that carries a big punch. To be “Holy” means to be set apart, separate, sanctified, and consecrated, you’re starting to get the picture. Ok, okay God’s Holiness required restitution on our part so that fellowship was even possible to begin with. In other words God is so sacred and good that in order for man that is you and me to have fellowship with him there must be a payment of some kind. So the job of the Priest in the case of the Old Testament, Aaron and his sons, they were to prepare and offer up a lamb, every day and every night as payment or atonement so that fellowship could be possible. Were swimming in deep waters here but what I’m saying is simple if you think about it.

God’s word in the book of Hebrews teaches with clarity what God’s “Holiness” required note Hebrews10:8-10 “Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].”

Don’t Panic this isn’t that hard. God establish a pattern in his righteous law. The pattern was the continual sacrificing of innocent lambs. Remember that two lambs were killed daily to pay for the “sins” of the people. The shedding of the continual lamb’s blood was a symbol of sanctification or a setting apart of the people. Jesus came and he did away with that law or legal pattern because he became that final “sacrificial lamb.” Remember, God’s holiness required payment and that final payment was the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The text says that we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.

So that next time you think about what it means to be “HOLY” try and remember the “cost” of holiness. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I could become “HOLY,” so act like it. “Oops there goes that “it” again!!!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Spiritual Success is gonna cost a Pound of Flesh

We are coming up on yet another 4th of July and this July will be my 40th celebration. That may be trivial to some but I only mention that because the older I get, the more I understand the importance of the self sacrifice that was made for the freedoms we now enjoy today. Currently, I am reading an autobiography about Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, and of course I am noticing the many sacrifices that were made in the name of the preservation of the Union.

Lincoln was quoted as telling the congress that “If we are going to preserve these United States, then a sacrifice of a small part to save the whole is well worth the cost.” Of course President Lincoln was referring to the 11 confederate states that had broken away from the Union and formed what we now know as the Confederate States of America.

Here’s the deal. So many of God’s people desire to grow in their faith walk but those same people are unwilling to sacrifice anything to achieve spiritual maturity. Paul said it best. He leaves no questions as to what he is teaching us in the text Rom 8:4”the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Ok, the gold nugget in the river bed is found in the action verb “walk.” Whoop there it is folks. Are you walking? Let me paint the picture so that you don’t miss the point of the painting.

Abraham Lincoln wanted to create a country of United States. However, this daunting task would have been a completely impossible task unless he had people that were willing to give their life literally to help him in that cause. People had to sell their homes and lands in order to help finance this war to help preserve the union.

God invites us to go and make disciples of all nations. And you guess it, that “Faith Walk” will often cost us a great deal. My prayer is that God will raise up a nation of men and women who are willing to sacrifice their fleshly desires so that together we can fulfill the call of adding to God’s kingdom.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

A Man and His "Dice"

I have not been lazy but the explanation for my inactivity have been vacation sort of. My oldest plays volleyball so I have been sitting court side at her volleyball games for the last several days in the windy city of Chicago.

I have spent the last few weeks teaching through the book of Esther. I noticed in my reading through of Esther for about the tenth time, that Haman the enemy of Israel threw dice to determine, which would be the best day of the month to murder thousands of innocent Jews.

Now think about that for a minute, this guy Haman hated the Jews so much that he played a crap game to determine which would be the best day to have them all killed. I read that and I thought to myself why in the world do people hate each other to that magnitude? What causes such strong hatred, not for a people only but for an entire ethnic group? I could understand hating someone that I know personally, but this guy Haman hatred was so strong that he wanted to annihilate an entire ethnic group, which vastly included people he didn’t even know.

Ok let’s agree that extreme hatred exist, and from what I can tell extreme hatred kills and destroys the life of a lot of innocent people. So then it only makes sense that the best way to fight against this extreme hatred is with extreme love. Now your probably thinking what does extreme Love look like, glad you asked John15:13“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Ok, okay “lay down my life” you are probably thinking what does that mean exactly? Laying down your life simply means putting another person needs above your own. You can start by greeting people and not becoming upset when they don’t speak back to you; yielding in traffic and letting another person have the right of way, even if they don’t deserve it, visiting a coworker who may be in the hospital, how about inviting a neighbor over for dinner. Then there is extreme love, literally giving your life so that others can live. To write that and see that phrase in print gives “me” chills. You see Radom Love changes the life of people, but Radical Love changes the world, and this world is in desperate need of an overhaul.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Hey I'm learning "Greek"

For the last few days I have been really noticing the goodness of Jesus Christ. Today while I was reading, I noticed a curious Greek word “Tetelestai.” The word “Tetelestai” is an accounting term, used by the folks who lived during the time of Christ. This word “Tetelestai” was a word often written at the bottom of an invoice used to show that a service rendered had been, paid in full.

Ok, now you are thinking what does this word “Tetelestai” have to do with Christ! Glad you asked, check this out. As Jesus was slipping into death he said something that those standing close to him only heard him uttered John19:30“it is finished.” Why would Jesus say, “it is finished”? I think it’s worth it to do some scriptural investigation to find out the answer to that question. Paul said that Christ death was payment for your sins and mine, he said it this way 2Corinthians5:21“For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” So Jesus who committed no wrong action became the payment, the “Tetelestai” for the debt incurred due to my sin or wrong actions.

Think about it this way, whenever I go purchase an item from the store the clerk will usually hand me an invoice and most of the time, at the bottom of that invoice, I will see that the payment has been made in full by what shows up at the bottom of the receipt or invoice. This is exactly how we need to see Christ death on the cross. Whenever we commit a wrong action; lie, cheat, steal, you get the point, a debt is incurred. And the payment for that debt or wrong action is death. So then Jesus death on the cross was not just any death, his death was actually a “payment” to satisfy the debt that was incurred due to my wrong actions.

This word “Tetelestai” is important for me and you to understand because the meaning that this word carries with it. “Tetelestai” means that a payment was made that covered the full debt incurred because of our sin. So then, Christ death on the cross paid for my past, present and any future sins. This is good to know; because now I don’t have to focus on Not Sinning, “wow say it preacher” instead I should be focusing on walking obediently before God. This kind of perspective keeps us from frustrating the “Grace” extended to us by Christ work on the Cross.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Growing Grapes

Jesus had a way of expressing and teaching practical principals for living that would just simply blow you away. I have read through John 15 at least a dozen times and I saw a principal while doing my daily study that I think needs to be shared.

Jesus' style of teaching was fairly simple, yet very deep. He would often use his very surroundings as teaching tools for his classroom. So, when Jesus decided to teach his boys, a principal on abiding in the vine, he was more than likely standing in the middle of a “grape vineyard.” You know “grapes” those little precious things used to make that delicious bottle of “Merlot.” Ok, I can hear your brains' wheels screeching to a halt, and posing the question why was Jesus standing with his disciples, mind you, in the middle of a vineyard? Now that’s a topic for another day.

Anyway, let’s see, where was I? Jesus says in John15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” So I’m reading this passage and immediately in my mind I’m thinking “do.” You know do “spend more time witnessing”, do “spend more time teaching”, do “spend more time reaching out to others”, do blah blah blah blah.

And then it hit me, a Vine Branch does not “do” anything to produce grapes. The branch that produces the grapes is the branch that is “connected to the vine.” It could not be that simple I thought to myself, you mean all this time I have worked so hard to be a better Christian and all I have to do is stay close and connected to Jesus! In the word’s of one of my many favorite teachers, Charles Swindoll, “How foolish is it of me to think that I could do anything without spending time with Jesus? Well, that’s about as foolish as a dried-up twig trying to grow a grape!”

Monday, June 7, 2010

Come unto Me

I was having my bible reading time with the Lord this morning and this may be a bit of a surprise to some of you, I didn’t have a bible, just a cup of coffee. Oh how I enjoy my coffee in the mornings. Well anyway, in between “sips” I began to muse over a particular passage of scripture where Jesus is quoted as saying, Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

And as that Colombia Dark Roast slipped ever so slightly down the old pie hole I had a marvelous thought, which I think is worth repeating. Jesus does not call us to go to church. He does not call us to do ministry work. And he does not call us to do missions work. Now that’s a scary thought for some. The truth is God calls us to come unto “him.”

Now I need to pause parenthetically here and say that as a Pastor of a growing church I tend to get a bit irritated on Sunday mornings when I look out over the congregation and see so many people who just stay home, because they’re tired, maybe they just slept in, went to the lake or whatever the reason. So while the coffee aroma was yet in the nostril, God tapped me on the head and he said to me in my Spirit, with Clarity of course, William I want you to bring people to “me.” I then with that thought I said with a sighed “Lord, I understand.”

You see God wants more than anything for people to come to him and in the process of knowing him we will begin to love what he loves. Make no mistake about it. Christ loves his “church.” So if you have not been attending Church but you want to know God, you can find him at a good Local Church. Remember the Church is his bride.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Is God For-Sale

Now that's a good question. The other day someone asked me that very question. I think it went kinda like this "Pastor is it right for people to sale things inside the church". I don't think God is surprised at the amount of commerce that is being generated under the auspice of church ministry. Everyone knows that the Truth about God and his Word can be spread through all sorts of media; websites, Music CD's, Music Videos etc. The truth is Church's are no longer just a single building but we have church campuses. I could go on but you can see clearly that all of the things mentioned cost money and they also generate revenue.

Jesus Christ just had away of simplifying the most complicated and difficult issues. One day Jesus and his disciples where going to the Temple probably to do worship are teach whatever the case they went to the Temple. And Jesus and his comrades’ arrive at the Temple gates and they notice that folks are selling things inside the Temple. This of course infuriates Jesus. Jesus is angry because the Priest and the men working for the priest were making merchandise of God's people. Allow me a moment to explain, folks would have their own sheep ready to give to the priest to perform their ritual sacrifice to their God, and the priest would tell them that their sheep or goat wasn't good enough go back and buy one of the sheep from the guys selling in the Temple. Man that sounds to me like they were stealing and profiteering from ministry. Notice how Jesus response to this silliness he gets a cord of rope, and starts turning over tables and whipping folk’s “behinds” and then he says something to them that is simple but insightful... Mark 11:17 “And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves”.

Ok Jesus is quoting from an old testament passage found in Jeremiah. So buying and selling in the church is no new problem, you can be sure of that. So let’s look at this thing from Jesus perspective. The issue for Christ was not that they were selling things in the Temple; He never says to the men "why are you selling sacrifices etc. in the temple. He clearly is upset because the men are buying and selling with the intent to steal or make merchandise of God's folk.

Ok folks I'm about to drop some truth on you so don't miss this. Christ is always more concerned with the intent of the heart than he is with the method and or action. So the correct answer to the original question. Is God for-sale "NO God is not for sale" and the church building should-not be used to make merchandise of the people of God. So how does that truth reconcile with the issues of all of the revenue that is being generated while doing genuine church ministry i.e. movies, videos, books, cd's etc. There is a clear cost associated with doing ministry but when the importance of Generating Revenue supersedes the importance of Ministry we no longer have the correct heart attitude and we are in grave danger of having Christ pullout his cord of rope and turn over our proverbial money tables, and have him whip some behind J.