Created for Salt-Free Declaration

Made Like Your Creator

       This summer we have been considering the idea of declaration…I do declare! We didn’t think of it first, it’s part of us, because it’s part of Him. The One who has made known what He declares. Just so your not confused, God declares He is…

I Corinthians 1:9 Faithful               I John 1:9 Forgiving                        Psalm 56:8 Aware

Philippians 2:13 At Work             Philippians 4:19 Supplier                 Ephesians 2:10 Mastercraftsman

Psalm 103-1-3 Healer                  Psalm 23 Shepherd                         2 Corinthians 12:9 Sufficient

               

       I’ve invited us to consider our proclamation this summer. How we speak, what we speak, the heart from which it speaks. The trouble of salt water sometimes pouring from a fresh spring and a heart made new for the sake of a new(salt-free) declaration. But God knows something about proclamation. We declare things because we are made to be like the one who made us. His declaration is not burdened with any double-speak or duplicity. His pure heart has proclaimed and the result brings light and life, may our proclamation bring the same!!

Wearing an Identity or Having it Wear You?

       The essence of cool is that cool is never trying to look cool...it just is. I was in Canal Park taking some photos for my sermon this Sunday. Come join us, it's about breakwaters...anyway, people watching is always fun and an enjoyable part of getting out in our tourist town.

       Here's what overwhelmed me today as I was watching people. We gain so much of our identity through our externals. The miltary jacket, aviators, skinny jeans, team jackets, name brands, dreads, angst, hairstyles, scowls, camera equipment etc...Have you ever noticed the difference between when someone looks the part, but they aren't and then when someone owns the look they have. Like the 13 year old boy who tries to mousse his hair like his 19 year old brother. He doesn't own the look, the look actually owns him. Whatever attempts are being made to be cool are lost when your look owns you!!

      Years of being a Youth Pastor means years of watching young people try to take on an identity. When the look they choose and the person they are goes together it's radically different than when the look chosen is some fantasy land of theirs. 

       It's the difference between a facade, a veneer or solid piece of oak through and through.

       This is at the heart of discipleship and maturity. There is a moment in time when the look owns us and we are trying real hard to be something we are not (really). If we are honest with ourselves and spend our days fixing the core of our hearts, what comes on the outside will be a reflection of what's been remade on the inside.

        Our identities are never really about what's on the outside like we could wear it. Our identity is fashioned on the inside and we wear it. Is a life of faith a facade? A look that we're trying to achieve for the purpose of... Or is a life of faith something that penetrates to the marrow of our bones. We are not disingenuous or duplicitous( I actually do know big words and use them once in awhile)! Solid, believable, to the core. Faith in Christ has a look to it. Facades, Veneers, and Genuine are all pretty easy to spot.

Week Three, Leadership: Immune Systems and Leaders

"Leaders function as the immune system for their institution."

                                                              -Friedman

       Sickness comes into our body. Invasive germs, bacteria, disease step into a healthy system to bring their chaos and sickness. The body has a built-in response to this invasion and when it's working well the invasive disease is put in it's place and taken care of. In an unhealthy system these invaders are able to run rampant and cause all kinds of trouble. What does any of this have to do with leadership? It's a great picture for the nature of the job of leadership.

       Ever had a boss like Michael Scott? Ever worked with someone who spread all kinds of chaos in the workplace? Ever had your child push a boundary or boldly walk right over it and ask what you're going to do about it? Ever had a player on your team cause division and strife for their own agenda? Ever have a leader claim they were exclusively right and everyone else is suspect?

       Boundaries are a big problem with diseases. They long for everyone else to be as sick as they are. They will stop at nothing but conversion. Leadership is the task of the immune system. To define and maintain health in the midst of all the germs around. As a parent, business leader, team leader...the ability to know who you are(being well-defined, well-differentiated) is the key to spotting the germs that come your way. The strength required to say no to sickness is a priority in leadership.

       Most leadership training puts great emphasis on motivating people rather than helping a leader understand the effect of their presence in the midst of a system. What happens to you in chaos? What happens when the rumors fly? What happens when the child screams and demands their way? How do we respond to the sabotage(rumors of adults, eye-rolling of our teens, screams of our two year olds)?

       In the Old Testament their is a fine example of leaders not being the immune system they needed to be.  Germs and sickness were coming in and instead of fighting off the problem like an immune system should, here's their response...JEREMIAH 6:14 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. 'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace. Like having cancer in your body and having a Dr say, no need to do anything about it, it'll be okay.

       Can you think of a time when you've had to step into some situation and act like an immune system, fighting back something that shouldn't be happening?

       Is there something going on right now where you should be stepping in and offering leadership to make something go a different way?

Week Two: The world as best I remember: Faithfulness

       Faithfulness: Two things that come to mind when I think of this word...

• Holding on to a promise. God's promises don't run out or get cut short or have an expiration date.
• Marital vows. I promised my wife I would love her and her alone 'til death do us part.

       I've come upon a realization in my life. I'm a little weak on faithfulness...hold on it's not what you think. This week I've been thinking of faithfulness in terms of consistently, day-in-and-day-out keeping up with my obligations. I'm a project kinda guy. I can focus much thought and energy into a project. A beginning, an ending with steps along the way. Life is a series of projects strung together. The more varied the projects the better...intense short term focus that changes year to year, season to season.

       But you see there is part of my life that needs focus that is a little different. Everyday attention to a lifelong project...faithfulness. All the of the sudden the word becomes a little boring to me, you know...oatmeal again this morning kinda boring!! It leads me to another related observation this week...

       I love change...God is Immutable. God never changes. Hasn't changed for years (infinity X infinity). It dawns on me how much I love change, need change, see benefit in change. Something I value for my personal experience is an opposite value in my relationship with God... a rock that doesn't change, shift, move, wear down, give up, or wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

        I realize God is perfect...he has no reason for change. I'm imperfect...in need of more change than I could ever be aware. God's quality of faithfulness is certainly rooted in being unchangeable. My progress towards faithfulness can only come when I stop needing to change (another reason Heaven is a mind blower). In the mean time I'll be thankful for Him and continue on my path to become something new.

Week Two Leadership: System Traps and Well-Differentiated Leaders

"It's about leadership in the land of the quick fix, 

about leadership in a society so reactive 

that it cannot choose leaders who might calm it's anxiety. 

It's about the need for clarity and decisiveness in a civilization 

that inhibits the development of leaders with clarity and decisiveness.

-Edwin Friedman

       Much of what we are going to talk about in this next year comes from a favorite book of mine. "A Failure of Nerve" by Edwin H Friedman. Feel free to get a copy and read ahead.

       As I mentioned last week so many books about leadership give us some idea about how to motivate others. One of the premises of this book is that the leader's presence and being has more to do with the health of the system than anything else. How many times have you watched an episode of Dog Whisperer or Super Nanny?

       The dog owner/parent thinks they have invited an expert to fix their dog or their child. But in every episode the real issues lie with the leaders. The nanny or dog expert can step in and take control of the situation in almost an instant. What makes the presence of those people different than the current leaders of the system? How important is just the presence of a person leading?

       Just like the nanny or dog expert steps into identify what's going wrong in these relationships...Friedman has identified four major problems that should be addressed...

• Regression: systems become oriented to the weakest members, aka..."the Squeaky Wheel gets the grease." "Instead of focusing on strong, power is leveraged to the recalcitrant, passive-aggressive, anxious members of the system." The Bill Belichick interview this last weekend spoke about how things go best when the best players are the best leaders. I'm guessing he keeps it that way. Energy should be directed to the "visionary, imaginative, and the motivated."
• Devaluing decisiveness: We wrongfully hire experts without considering decisiveness. Things happen in a moment at work, home, church...The kind of person you are, will affect the knee-jerk reaction you and I give in these leadership moments. Judgements that come when you don't have time to weigh through all the facts are not valued enough.
• Data Junkies: There is an obsession of gathering info to make decisions. How often have you seen people live in a paralysis of analysis. So much information gathered that a delayed decision or inability to make a decision IS a decision. Know who you are, make decisions according.
•  Unreasonable belief in reasonableness: This is one of my favorites. When we were first parents we were told we had to explain everything to our kids. If we explained our expectations there would be no issues. Our children would understand and always yield to the way we were leading them. Being reasonable doesn't always work with people who are being unreasonable. Sometimes we had to step in and force our children to obey for the greater good for them and us. What happens when an invasive organism that lacks self-regulation needs to do something different? This is a pervasive problem in leadership.

       So the antidote to the above is the well-differentiated leader. Here's the definition, we'll talk about it more next week...

       Well-differentiated Leader:  Someone who has clarity about their own life and direction. Someone who does not get lost in all of the anxiety around them. Someone who can separate themselves and yet remain connected with people. "I mean someone who can manage his or her own reactivity to the automatic reactivity of others and therefore be able to take stands at the risk of displeasing."

Week One Sermon Prep: HE IS

       Due to our Arctic blast of last week and and a cancelled Sunday Service, this week is a redo of last week. We ended our year through the Bible and I plan to speak on the close of Revelation and the invitation to come and show this video.
       This video was made by me a few years ago for a sermon detailing the many attributes of God. The song itself is done by Aaron Jeoffrey and pulls out a descriptor of God for each book of the Bible. God is all these things and more. Be blessed by it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP6vxOtDeFU&feature=youtu.be

Week One The world around me: Beauty Eh

       Beauty eh! Works if your Canadian! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is only skin deep. A thing of beauty. Age before beauty.
       I immerse myself in a hobby that is a constant consideration of beauty, pleasing lines, correct shapes and styles. When I get carried away sometimes I am reminded of the verse from Ecclesiastes ...

 All things are wearisome,

    more than one can say.

The eye never has enough of seeing,

    nor the ear its fill of hearing.

9 

      

        Looking more and more at beautiful things has a way of stealing the joy of beautiful things. At some point there begins to be an emptiness with the obsession about seeing beautiful things. 

       I was listening to the radio last week and a lady was speaking about beauty. She was talking about attributes of God and how we are created in God's image. That God's creation is beautiful. While it says of Jesus that he wasn't much to look at... the truth is..."Nothing compares to the Beauty of the Lord." God is beautiful. This lady on the radio was saying that part of the reason women wrestle with issues related with beauty revolves around the God given gift of beauty. The pressure to portray the beauty of God. The knowledge that men are attracted to beauty. The realization that God ordained ways become twisted and fallen and instead of bringing life as God intends, the sinful version steals life.

        Beauty is kinda like tastebuds, it's not a real requirement to run the universe, but the flavor of vanilla, and a towering waterfall, and my beautiful wife are all wonders to enjoy.

       The fall away from God mars these gifts, reduces them to things for our pleasure instead of a source for which we take in the sunset and say Thank You God!!

       I was forced to watch the Bachelor last monday(yes I was going to watch the BCS Championship Game). I noticed a lot of beauty. I noticed a lot of insecurity. I noticed a lot of irony. Gratefully I noticed a beauty born in the confidence of a right relationship with our maker. The coolest thing was the later was in my living room and said yes to me years ago. Beauty Eh!

Week One Leadership: An emotional component to leading

"The safest place for ships is in the harbor, but that's not why ships were built.

                                                                                     -Anonymous

       I'm a big believer in systems theory. We all live in systems. Your family, employment, church, boards, friend units, government, rotary club etc...are all systems. Every system organizes itself around those who exert influence into the system, and those who are along for the ride at best or sabotage influence at worst. Those who hold some sort of power in the system are least likely to see the weaknesses they exhibit. Those who follow those in power have great radar for the norms they see.(Think of the last time you participated in a group where you were the new one. How did that feel?) The weak notice the injustice that the strong can't see!

        Systems, like individuals, have the potential to go off track. January is a limited spending  month. Individually I just got used to spending a lot for the holidays. I can't keep that up, I have to pull back, control myself, get back on track. Systems get off track. Leadership is the act of  helping the system get back on track. But as we all know leadership that rightfully calls people to start doing something "different" is always met with a great big smile right!!! It's generally met with resistance (passively) or sabotage(actively).

        There are a lot of books and resources out there to try and inform you of several characteristics of great leaders. All of those things are true, I don't want to dispute that, but I've always felt there is something missing in those presentations. 

       There is an emotional toll in leadership that is not talked about and at the heart of becoming a healthy leader. The emotional toll of sabotage that comes from people you are trying to lead is important. Important to know where it's coming from, why people respond that way, what to do about it, but most important... who are we going to be in the midst of it. What does it look like in us, when our child or employee throws a temper tantrum in the midst of our decisions? 

       Whether you hold a position of high authority with many under you or you have a three year old, leadership is a priority. Those with high character and integrity need to infuse every system with healthy leadership. Healthy leadership starts with healthy people. Stay tuned next week as we see what that looks like.

            

New Year, New Plan

       I want to thank people for taking the time to join me last year in a journey through the Bible. My 2013 archive will be just that. Maybe over the years, I might go back and rewrite some of the more feeble attempts!!
       This year I knew I needed a plan. 6-7 days a week of blogging is a bit much and I also needed some themes. My goal in the coming year is to blog three days a week centered on three themes.

1.       Mondays will be on a favorite issue of mine: Leadership. What it is, what it isn't, how to do it better, how to avoid some mistakes AND that leadership is for everyone. Everyone has someone who looks up to them.

2.      Wednesdays will be some object lesson about life from my ongoing lessons!!

3.       Thursdays will be some content regarding my upcoming sermon for the weekend.

That's the plan. The invitation from Christ is still...come! I look forward to saying yes more often!!

Revelation 20-22 Simply: Come

December 31st, Revelation 20-22

       An abbreviated timeline seems in order with the best saved for last. Of all the things read in Revelation there are certainly some things that come across pretty clear...

• The serpent, the devil, Satan is bound for a thousand years.
• Those martyred or those who did not worship the beast reigned with Christ during this      time
• Satan released from prison, to come out and deceive the nations(this one always gets to me). How can you have God reign for 1,000 years and Satan be released and find a following?
• The Great white throne judgement. Any name not found in the book of life was thrown into the fire.
• New Heaven and New Earth
• New Jerusalem. For the great city witnessed by John check out 21:18-27

       In the final chapter, a river bright as crystal and a fruit ree(not bonsai, I presume) that bears a different kind of fruit each month. "No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him. They will see His face and His name will be on their foreheads. Night will be no more. They will need no light or lamp or sun, for the Lord will be their light and they will reign forever and ever."

       The close of this whole journey is a great invitation... Come! Let that sink in for a bit...Come! You're invited. The Spirit and the bride say to you and I... Come, let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price...

       This whole story for an entire year has led us to this moment, a moment to gain that which God has been offering all along.

       There are a lot of readers from a lot of places. Not knowing your background or your understanding of God, this has been the invitation all along. To Come, and find life, peace, and reconciliation with the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords and to dwell with Christ forever. Because of Christ's death on the cross our sins are forgiven. Our hearts being made new through repentance and the power of God.

      If you want to know more about that e-mail me at fourteener@usa.net. For many these last three chapters are a great cause for celebration. "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

Revelation 17-19 Meet "Faithful and True!"

December 30th, Revelation 17-19

       Reading through this text, all I could think about is power. For years I attempted to grasp at some of it. Because of some realities God has blessed me with I got over a lot of it. People are going to do what they are going to do and most situations are out of my control. Then there are glimpses into real power. Evil has a power. John witnessed her and said he marveled greatly.
       Historically I think of people who had great power, in charge of much, making history, advancing kingdoms. These are the stories we hear about, the people we read about. The reality is that most people will live and die and if 100 people remember your name a decade after you die, that's probably pretty good.
       We live in a culture of fame and world-wide audiences. We think on a more grand scale than out great-great grandparents ever thought. "Our daily bread"was a grand story of God's provision. It still is, but no one posts about it to Facebook.
       These great things, obsession with power and importance will pass away. I find myself wondering a little bit. Being created in God's image means leadership, power and authority are part of the make-up of the world. What does heaven look like? All these things that happen here on earth...will they be no more? Jesus speaks about not having marriage in heaven. I can't imagine not living with Leah in heaven(I mean it's heaven now right!!) Maybe in a perfect world and the connection we'll feel with one another, even a great marriage will not be able to compare!?!?!?!
       Chapter 19 is the beginning of this transition to our time in heaven. It rightfully starts with a magnification of God almighty and the invitation to supper and to worship Jesus
       A white horse is about to break forth and the rider is called Faithful and True. I love the personification of these two ideas. The common phrase of our day is "Don't Judge Me." It's said with so much confidence. The rider of this horse, "Faithful and True," is said to judge in righteousness and make war. I imagine this judgement will come regardless of our request. Being judged now and understanding righteousness is better by far I'm sure.May it be so, may you find life in Jesus Christ, Faithful and True

Revelation 13-16 Which side are you on?

December 30th, Revelation 13-16

       Seven bowls + seven angels + 666 + two beasts + 144,000 + three angels + seven plagues =??
If nothing else it equals a pretty intense story. The more I read the story, the more I am pretty convinced being a character in the story would be a little over the top. I like for all of my excitement to be in a movie, not real life.
       As I find myself in the story, I totally understand why people want to figure out the book of Revelation. First their is a need to protect myself. I want to figure out how to get out of it. Throw the word rapture in there somewhere so I know, I'm Gone!! Second it is rather interesting to immerse yourself in the descriptions of beasts with multiple heads. Can you imagine John writing all of this out. It's a vision right, it's not real?? It's sounds like it was pretty vivid, like waking up from a dream and yet panicked.
       What I do enjoy is the feeling of peace I get when God, Jesus, the angels arrive on the scene.
As a matter of clarity in the middle of chaos... 14:7"Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgement has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."
       I'm not gonna claim I know a lot, and I know about myself that I come away from a text like this with more enthusiasm about impressions than details. Some of you operate the other way, your also created in the image of God!!
       But here's my impression... God's coming back and it is in everyone's best interest to be on His side. If you are not on His side there will not be a small amount of trouble. I'm glad we serve a God who is more excited to motivate people through love. Motivations of fear are second rate. But every once in awhile it's probably a good reminder to consider which side you find yourself on. This great world we love too much is coming to an end at some point and being a follower of the one who made it all is the right place to be...for us...and others.

Revelation 9-12 Big World, Big God!!

December 28th, Revelation 9-12

       In the relative peace and ease of the society we live in, it is a very different thing for us to think in terms of war-like adversity. Not that we don't have soldiers living in that reality, but it's very different than a people group around the globe that has known nothing but fighting for several generations.
       We open up this text and trumpets are being blown and a third of mankind is being destroyed. A woman is giving birth and a dragon is is throwing away a third of the stars and chasing this mother and child(shades of the Christmas story and a flight to Egypt).
       For me, it's all a reminder about the bigger picture. We live in our day to day highs and lows, we allow things to revolve around us. A text like Revelation is a call to realize the battle taking place in the far reaches of the universe. Evil and Holiness in a war that includes everything and all of the sudden, my life appears to be as small as it is.  In the midst of coming to grips with this reality it forms the question, what does God want from me… then it goes back to what I've blogged about. The passages I love that sum things up…do justly, love mercy, walk humbly.
       The big stuff is too overwhelming. How do I help a lady being chased by a dragon? Since I'm not Mario de Nintendo, the real answer is, I look to God who is my help, my fortress, my strong tower. Revelation is a book with "over the top" excitement. It gives the feeling like I've changed roles from participant to spectator because what's happening goes way beyond my control(like it always is).
       The good news from today's reading is 11:15b "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever." The day God is in control and we willingly submit as a whole…a good day!

Galatians 4-6 Life and good fruit!

December 27th Galatians 4-6

       One of our main values in the Evangelical Covenant Church is to keep in step with the Spirit. The second half of Gal 5 outlines this idea for us plainly. It's the task of walking by the Spirit and not gratifying the desires of the flesh. these two are opposed to each other and end up in different places. Verse 19 gives a look into the life lived in the flesh and a great transition begins in 22.
       These two lists side by side help capture the difference I see in the lives I interact with. Here's God's heart for people if they would live into His way… this is what God wants for you, the fruit of letting go and allowing the life of God to fill change you…"the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." You can have as much of that fruit as you want!!
       Verse 25 adds a little extra with an invitation… "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."It's really a call to pay attention the the Spirit's promptings in my life. To be sensitive to sin. To stop when asked to stop, to go when asked to go. To practice listening to God's voice at all times so it's more clear and we're used to His voice in the hard times. Jesus speaks a bout the sheep being able to recognize the shepherd's voice. Are you familiar with your friends voice on the phone so that they don't have to say who they are.
       There is life in keeping step with the Spirit, close…and in step. Life and good fruit!!

Revelation 4-8 Heads Up!

December 27th, Revelation 4-8 

Guest Blogger – Cheri  Hudspith – sister to Terry

These five chapters are chapters I have taken classes on. I’ve learned what various theologians believe about what these verses might mean. And I am grateful I have studied those things and may find myself doing so again. 

But today, I notice three things: worship, only Jesus will do and an invitation to trust.

I love all the worship that is expressed in these five chapters. I have found that on some days the very best choice has been to sit down and imagine this scene and participate in worship through speaking or singing the words, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” My heart and mind have been changed by these words on many occasions. Worship is essential for having a kingdom perspective.

The next thing I notice is that it is obviously a momentous occasion that John is being given access to. What was it like for John to witness these things?  I caught for the first time that John weeps when he believes there is no one that can open the scroll. The events can’t move forward without one who is worthy to open the scroll. How many times have I been in a situation where I was convinced no one could solve the problem? No worries John, Jesus is worthy and available to open the scroll. The time has come. 

These words in Revelation provide an opportunity to trust God. What do they mean? What will this look like on earth? I have come to trust that these words given to us will all make sense when they need to make sense. I pray that if I am here on earth when Jesus opens the scrolls and the events foretold begin to unfold that I/we will be able to recognize them as the fulfillment of this vision. I want to be grateful for God’s big “heads up” on this rather than fearful about it.

What did you notice?  If you have the time, I’d love to hear your answer to that question in the comment section.

I Corinthians 9-11 I surrender for the gain of others.

December 26th, I Corinthians 9-11

       See devotion I just wrote on Romans 14-16, then flip here and notice the title for chapter 9 in my Bible…wait for it…"Paul Surrenders His Rights."
       Paul decides to preach the gospel free of charge here in Corinth. Gifts up what he claims as a right for the weak immature members of the congregation. The irony…9:19 "for though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them." to the Jews a Jew, to the weak as though weak, all things to all people because the gospel and winning people to Christ is more valuable than my rights.
       It is a struggle for us here in America. We are taught at an early age about our right. The right to free speech, the right to arm bears, the right to a fair trial, on and on. Don't mess with my rights. Seldom do we ever hear about the idea that I could lay down my rights for the benefit of another… I wonder why?
       For Paul, it's about the gospel. Figuring out how to know people well enough to shape this message so they can interact with it and by God's grace and will say yes. It's not a cookie cutter presentation, it has a heart for people, such that I would live another way so they could hear it. I would understand my teenager so they could get it, I would understand my neighbor, so I can speak to their heart and not  my canned sermon I learned at Evangelism class.
       I surrender for the glory of God and the gain of others

Romans 14-16 Growing old, giving up, letting go... holding on to Jesus

December 26th,  Romans 14-16

        Sometimes we get things backwards.

Here's the command of God… those who are strong are supposed to surrender things in order to be a blessing to those who are weak.

Here's the observation from church life… those who are strong demand that the weak do it their way, with no regard whatsoever for the stumbling blocks being placed all over.

       If the weak are going to stumble it is the responsibility of the strong to give up something for the weakness of another member. If you are not willing to see things this way you are not walking in love. If it means I give up meat, wine, feelings about circumcision,order of service, carpet color, entrance design, etc… I will do so for the benefit of others. Gladly for the benefit of others. I have determined the valuable things like loving Jesus and come to grips with the non-essentials(almost everything else).

Growing old, giving up, letting go, holding on…to Jesus

Romans 1-3 If God has an opinion on something...

December 26th, Romans 1-3

       I've avoided this topic for far too long. It's not because I am not clear about my understanding, or try to live a world where I avoid conflict. I've been a little convicted after listening and watching a presentation concerning the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, where his understanding about hot topics of the day require action and not passivity. German churches went with passivity and things got twisted.
       Duck calls have brought us to a point of discussion, but as usual we don't get to the heart of discussion, we just flirt with issues that are not the real issues.
       We begin to have a discussion about freedom of speech, it's really not about that. Phil's not in jail for what he said. We move to how Phil spoke about it, like a guy from the woods down south HAS to speak about these matters in a way that validates us, it's not about that. To me this whole thing is about faulty views concerning tolerance.
       A free society allows things to be up for discussion. Nazi Germany didn't allow for that, dissenting voices were murdered by the state(that's different than losing money for a TV show by the way). All of the discussion here centers on love, acceptance, tolerance. Tolerance seems to be redefined as every opinion about every subject is valid. There are a lot of opinions out there. If there is a God, and if His opinion matters, it would be a priority to come in line with how he views things. How he views things has been made pretty clear…Romans 1:21-27

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.

       Christians have to get over the idea of getting everyone to see things the way they do. Understand that first century Christians had no delusion that they were the majority in any moral discussion. The offense that people feel comes from the idea of tolerance that comes our way. It claims to extol the virtue of every opinion, true and valid. Christians then get excluded as having a position on a subject that stands opposed to the current stream of thought. Our struggle here isn't really a freedom of speech issue, it's a definition of tolerance issue.

       For mean tolerance is a pretty low value anyway. Imagine…"I tolerate you." God asks us to love, which is different than accept every idea. Honor one another. I can treat you with great respect and disagree with you. To me, this is the core of our problem right now. I don't have to dehumanize people that look at something different than me. In the end, if we believe in God, know that He is our judge, we can just leave it at that. For those who care nothing about God or His expectations, our opinions(what they perceive as simply our opinions) won't matter to them. Jesus had a saying for that, he who has ears, let them hear.

Revelation 1-3 Reflections...

December 26th, Revelation 1-3

       And so it begins. The last book in a year full of God's word. Revelation is a book that stirs up a lot of thought. It makes people try to figure out, things that are not for us to know in any sense of fullness. As we walk through this book for the next couple of days, I really want to address what we do know and rest in a God who has already written the story.
       John's in prison and the invitation is to write down what he sees. Needless to say John witnesses a pretty awe inspiring vision. Usually when we write things we try to understand what we're trying to write. I imagine John just speaking into a tape recorder, not trying to figure it all out, but be dutiful to communicate what you see. strange, but better than other jail activities I assume.
       In these first three chapters there is a vision of Jesus with a description and a bit about seven of numerous things. The next two chapters start off with a message for each of the seven churches this letter is written to.
       Churches are much like our individual lives. Things true about us that are positive, things true about us that need some attention so we can move to a better place of honoring our God. Some tend to read through this narrative and only pick out the positive. Some read through this narrative and only pick out the negative. You and I need to learn to pick out both. To spend some time with the Lord and discover what's going well in our walk of faith and what needs to change. The end of the year and beginning of the next, seems to be a great time for reflection.
       Maybe reading through the things that Jesus had to say about the highs and lows of these churches would prompt something in your heart about a new thing God wants to stir in you for the coming year.
       I thank God for the work He has already accomplished in you and for the things yet to be done. By God's grace may we press into knowing the presence of Christ in our life in a more full way, and enjoy Him more thoroughly each and every year!!

2 John-Jude: Holy Tension, Great Doxology, and a Merry Christmas

December 25th, 2 John-Jude

       First of all Merry Christmas. I pray that your celebration of Jesus' coming to be our High Priest and make a one time perfect sacrifice for us causes great joy, satisfaction and celebration in your heart this day!!
       Today's scripture is a bit of a lesson about love, but also the tension of sickness in the body. I've always said things are more simple than they appear. The trouble is, things are also more difficult than they appear. All three of these short books this morning, speak of love, but they are also all written to  address some problem. People who are confusing matters of grace, the deity of Christ, and selfishness.
       We are called to do two things that sometimes seem at odds with each other. 1. Love people.  2. Correct things that are wrong. The writer  speaks about both the wondrous love of God and living in that with one another. " I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." But..."anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God."
       Two realities, same location, has to be dealt with. Don't wilt over important matters. Don't forget to love as Christ loves us! Both!
       Finally, one of my favorite doxologies. Jude 1:24-25

"To Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore, Amen."

Now that's an ending!