Thursday morning, October 23, 2008 [a beautiful day but a bit cool for me; 540],
Because only a few of you responded to my last perspective, I am tempted to move on from those questions, but for some reason the temptation to stay-the-course a while longer is winning out. So, I invite your attention to John 3:1-4: "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Him by night, and said to Him, 'Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to Him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter the second time into his mother's womb, can he?'"
Now, take a minute and think about this situation: Jesus came as Messiah to the Jews, God called them the apple of His eye, and in this moment, He has not just an ordinary a Jew, but a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews, standing before Him, apparently "ripe and ready for the picking." One would think that Jesus would have jumped all over the chance to make this convert; by anyone's standards, this "catch" would have qualified as a good night's work for any evangelist!
Let's pretend for a few minutes that we have not read the rest of the story. How would Jesus have responded to Nicodemus question (How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter the second time into his mother's womb, can he?), if He had followed the protestant, evangelical mentality of the last 100 years or so regarding evangelism?
The plea would have gone something like this: Nicodemus, you must be born again and this is how that is accomplished. (1) You must recognize that you are a sinner and, therefore, desperately need Me, the Savior; (2) You must confess your sins; (3) You must repent of your sins; (4) You must ask Me to forgive you and, then, receive My forgiveness; (5) You must invite Me to come and live in your heart; and (6) You must be baptized. Got it, Nicodemus? Good!
Now, close your eyes and pray this prayer after Me: I Nicodemus recognize that I am a sinner and in desperate need of You, Jesus, to be my savior. I confess that I am a sinner and that my sins are many. I promise to turn from my sins and to get out of the sin business. Please, I beg of You, forgive me for my many and grievous sins. I gladly receive your forgiveness. Please, now, come and live in my heart. Thank you so much.
If Jesus had truly followed the aforementioned mentality, He would have responded with something like this: Nicodemus, I want you to drive a stake into the ground (pretend) to mark this spot and this time; it will serve you well when the Devil comes in an attempt to rob this experience from you. Then the closing comment: Nicodemus, how do you feel?
If you notice, Jesus did NOT follow this plan, not at all; in fact, I have to believe that, at least for the next few days, Nicodemus wondered why he ever got into that conversation in the first place. The truth is Jesus response had more to do with the wind blowing than it had to do with confession, repentance, and forgiveness!
Go figure! Maybe He wasn't in as big a hurry to evangelize as He should have been!?
Your comments?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A Few Good Questions
Tuesday evening, October 21, 2008 [clear and 680],
In all probability I will be misunderstood; however, I am going to take the risk and ask this question: During Jesus' life on earth, how many converts did He make? Let me ask it another way: How many examples are there in the Scriptures of Jesus making a convert to Christianity? Let me ask it this way: How many examples can you find in the Scriptures where Jesus presents the gospel to someone and they repent, ask for forgiveness, pray the sinner's prayer and make a confession of faith? Let me regroup and ask my risky question this way: How many times in the Scriptures do we see Jesus preaching, then giving an altar call that is followed by a group "walking the aisle" and, thus, inviting Jesus into their hearts? After you do your research, I would really like for you to forward your responses to me, as I am very interested in learning what you find.
Now, let me ask you another question: How many examples can you find in the Scriptures where Jesus is presented with a golden opportunity to make a convert but, instead, He throws the opportunity to the wind? Look carefully because I think you will find more of these than the other. If you choose to look carefully, I think you will find that Jesus would flunk Evangelism 101 in most (if not all) Seminaries; to be sure, He would be excluded from Tuesday Night Visitation.
Ready? Good! Now see how many examples you can find where Jesus not only "throws the golden opportunity to the wind" but also offends the one who seems to be interested, so much so that one would wonder if he/she would ever return. Again, if you should look carefully (really you won't have to look very carefully at all) you will find that He never made coming to Him attractive or easy; much to the contrary, His "theme song" went something like this: If you want to join my team, if you want to follow me, then you had best fasten your seat belt because it ain't going to be what you think (I said that "G" rated in order to keep you reading; When He spoke, He didn't seem to care whether we continued or not).
OK. Do your homework and let me hear from you.
Have a great night,
Mac
In all probability I will be misunderstood; however, I am going to take the risk and ask this question: During Jesus' life on earth, how many converts did He make? Let me ask it another way: How many examples are there in the Scriptures of Jesus making a convert to Christianity? Let me ask it this way: How many examples can you find in the Scriptures where Jesus presents the gospel to someone and they repent, ask for forgiveness, pray the sinner's prayer and make a confession of faith? Let me regroup and ask my risky question this way: How many times in the Scriptures do we see Jesus preaching, then giving an altar call that is followed by a group "walking the aisle" and, thus, inviting Jesus into their hearts? After you do your research, I would really like for you to forward your responses to me, as I am very interested in learning what you find.
Now, let me ask you another question: How many examples can you find in the Scriptures where Jesus is presented with a golden opportunity to make a convert but, instead, He throws the opportunity to the wind? Look carefully because I think you will find more of these than the other. If you choose to look carefully, I think you will find that Jesus would flunk Evangelism 101 in most (if not all) Seminaries; to be sure, He would be excluded from Tuesday Night Visitation.
Ready? Good! Now see how many examples you can find where Jesus not only "throws the golden opportunity to the wind" but also offends the one who seems to be interested, so much so that one would wonder if he/she would ever return. Again, if you should look carefully (really you won't have to look very carefully at all) you will find that He never made coming to Him attractive or easy; much to the contrary, His "theme song" went something like this: If you want to join my team, if you want to follow me, then you had best fasten your seat belt because it ain't going to be what you think (I said that "G" rated in order to keep you reading; When He spoke, He didn't seem to care whether we continued or not).
OK. Do your homework and let me hear from you.
Have a great night,
Mac
From Sunday's Message
In my continued quest to answer the question, "What difference does my being a Christian make in my life," I shared the following with my congregation this past Sunday, prefacing them with this comment: My living according to the will of God, i.e. my doing the things that God desires of me for my good and for His glory, requires the following:
1. I must rest in the finished work that Jesus accomplished for me through His vicarious death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
2. I must spend significant amounts of time in solitude.
3. I must invest my life in the lives of others, even when doing so seems to be to my disadvantage.
4. I must read what others have to say about the things I believe.
5. I must study the Bible not merely for the purpose of teaching and preaching, but to know Him whom to know is eternal life.
6. I must never forget that life is not about me, but about Him.
7. I must never forget that everything belongs to Him; consequently, I am only a steward of what He has entrusted to me.
8. I must remember that I do not become a man of prayer and then pray; instead, I pray and, thus, become a man of prayer.
9. I must use my giftedness freely and frequently.
10. I must never get so caught up in any aspect of life that I neglect any of the above.
1. I must rest in the finished work that Jesus accomplished for me through His vicarious death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.
2. I must spend significant amounts of time in solitude.
3. I must invest my life in the lives of others, even when doing so seems to be to my disadvantage.
4. I must read what others have to say about the things I believe.
5. I must study the Bible not merely for the purpose of teaching and preaching, but to know Him whom to know is eternal life.
6. I must never forget that life is not about me, but about Him.
7. I must never forget that everything belongs to Him; consequently, I am only a steward of what He has entrusted to me.
8. I must remember that I do not become a man of prayer and then pray; instead, I pray and, thus, become a man of prayer.
9. I must use my giftedness freely and frequently.
10. I must never get so caught up in any aspect of life that I neglect any of the above.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Anxious about Tomorrow?
Monday morning, October 20, 2008 [sunny, beautiful and cold; 380],
This is a portion of what Jesus had to say in that well-known sermon He preached from the mountain side, aka The Sermon on the Mount: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where you treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6: 19-21). He went on to add this: "Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (vs. 34). At the very least, we cannot blame Him for not warning us!
Yesterday, General Colin Powell endorsed Barak Hussein Obama—surprise, surprise. Obama made it clear that he was "humbled and honored" to have received his endorsement, not to mention that Powell would surely be one of his advisors, possible even have a "formal" position, if he (Powell) should so choose.
Powell made it clear in his endorsement of Obama that, in his opinion, there is nothing wrong with the US President being a Muslim—surprise, surprise, again. I must assume that, in his opinion, there is nothing wrong with the Pope being a Southern Baptist, or a United Methodist, for that matter. I wish he would travel to some Muslin country and suggest that a Christian become their leader; even better that a Christian woman become their leader. Why, I feel sure that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is already considering Sarah Palin as his immediate replacement! If not her, then, surely, an orthodox Jew.
Folks, I don't give a rip what Colin Powell says, God said this: "You shall have no other gods before Me" and from what I can see, i.e., in my not-so-humble opinion, He meant what He said, and He has NOT changed His mind, and Allah is NOT another name for the God who spoke those solemn words!
Now, that ain't the end of the story; Powell also said this: Barak Obama (he left out his middle name for some strange reason; maybe, just maybe, oh never mind!) has the advantage of big bucks and a big name. I guess he thinks, that of all the requirements that must be met for one to become a US President, these rank at the top of the list, kinda' like a five-star General ranks above a four star. Well, for some reason the same God who made it clear that we will have no other gods before Him, the One who is the creator of the universe, the One who put the stars in space and counted them, the One who is all-knowing did not choose to follow Powell's philosophy in making His decision, as to who would be the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He chose a man who had not bucks at all, not even a place to lay His head and a name that, well a name that was completely rejected!
I find it noteworthy, however, that God did say this about that Name: ""Therefore God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of those who are in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).
I really don't think we need to be anxious about tomorrow!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Don't Count Your Chickens before They Hatch!
Thursday morning, October 16, 2008 [beautiful and 520],
Last night I watched the final episode of the 2008 Presidential debates. This morning I read Psalms 1-3. Listen to a few excerpts from these Psalms: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" (1:1); "Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us! He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them: but as for Me, I have consecrated My king upon Zion, My holy mountain" (2:1-6); "O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no difference for him in God.' But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about" (3:1-6).
A few weeks ago, I took advantage of the opportunity to vote early; consequently, the debate did not determine my vote. The truth is my decision was made long before I voted. The more I learned about Obama's world view, the more I realized that his entire life is a strong statement against everything I believe and for which I stand. Furthermore, I do not trust him—not at all—and I do not because he has not given me any reason to trust him but every reason not to trust him. On the other hand, both McCain and Palin have given me many reasons to trust them, reasons that have been a part of their lives for many years.
Yes, if you listen to the polls, it appears that my vote will be lost; however, need I remind you "not to count your chickens before they hatch" and as best I can tell, they haven't "hatched" as of yet. So hold on but do vote! Whatever you do—vote!
Sadly, regardless of who the next president might be, the future looks pretty bleak, especially if seen through the eyes of those who cannot see the larger picture, the picture that is quickly coming into focus (much like the old Polaroid) for those who have eyes to see, to really see. The fact is this: there is a God in heaven, the Only True God, who is sitting in the heavens laughing and scoffing at His enemies BUT this same God is a shield about His children, our glory and the lifter of our heads!
As you journey through these days, remember this: "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose . . . in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:28, 37).
Grace & peace,
Mac
Last night I watched the final episode of the 2008 Presidential debates. This morning I read Psalms 1-3. Listen to a few excerpts from these Psalms: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" (1:1); "Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us! He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them: but as for Me, I have consecrated My king upon Zion, My holy mountain" (2:1-6); "O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no difference for him in God.' But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about" (3:1-6).
A few weeks ago, I took advantage of the opportunity to vote early; consequently, the debate did not determine my vote. The truth is my decision was made long before I voted. The more I learned about Obama's world view, the more I realized that his entire life is a strong statement against everything I believe and for which I stand. Furthermore, I do not trust him—not at all—and I do not because he has not given me any reason to trust him but every reason not to trust him. On the other hand, both McCain and Palin have given me many reasons to trust them, reasons that have been a part of their lives for many years.
Yes, if you listen to the polls, it appears that my vote will be lost; however, need I remind you "not to count your chickens before they hatch" and as best I can tell, they haven't "hatched" as of yet. So hold on but do vote! Whatever you do—vote!
Sadly, regardless of who the next president might be, the future looks pretty bleak, especially if seen through the eyes of those who cannot see the larger picture, the picture that is quickly coming into focus (much like the old Polaroid) for those who have eyes to see, to really see. The fact is this: there is a God in heaven, the Only True God, who is sitting in the heavens laughing and scoffing at His enemies BUT this same God is a shield about His children, our glory and the lifter of our heads!
As you journey through these days, remember this: "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose . . . in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:28, 37).
Grace & peace,
Mac
A Shield about Me; The Glory and the Lifter of My Head
Thursday morning, October 16, 2008 [beautiful and 520],
Last night I watched the final episode of the 2008 Presidential debates. This morning I read Psalms 1-3. Listen to a few excerpts from these Psalms: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" (1:1); "Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us! He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them: but as for Me, I have consecrated My king upon Zion, My holy mountain" (2:1-6); "O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no difference for him in God.' But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about" (3:1-6).
A few weeks ago, I took advantage of the opportunity to vote early; consequently, the debate did not determine my vote. The truth is my decision was made long before I voted. The more I learned about Obama's world view, the more I realized that his entire life is a strong statement against everything I believe and for which I stand. Furthermore, I do not trust him—not at all—and I do not because he has not given me any reason to trust him but every reason not to trust him. On the other hand, both McCain and Palin have given me many reasons to trust them, reasons that have been a part of their lives for many years.
Yes, if you listen to the polls, it appears that my vote will be lost; however, need I remind you "not to count your chickens before they hatch" and as best I can tell, they haven't "hatched" as of yet. So hold on but do vote! Whatever you do—vote!
Sadly, regardless of who the next president might be, the future looks pretty bleak, especially if seen through the eyes of those who cannot see the larger picture, the picture that is quickly coming into focus (much like the old Polaroid) for those who have eyes to see, to really see. The fact is this: there is a God in heaven, the Only True God, who is sitting in the heavens laughing and scoffing at His enemies BUT this same God is a shield about His children, our glory and the lifter of our heads!
As you journey through these days, remember this: "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose . . . in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:28, 37).
Grace & peace,
Mac
Last night I watched the final episode of the 2008 Presidential debates. This morning I read Psalms 1-3. Listen to a few excerpts from these Psalms: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers" (1:1); "Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: let us tear their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us! He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them: but as for Me, I have consecrated My king upon Zion, My holy mountain" (2:1-6); "O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no difference for him in God.' But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about" (3:1-6).
A few weeks ago, I took advantage of the opportunity to vote early; consequently, the debate did not determine my vote. The truth is my decision was made long before I voted. The more I learned about Obama's world view, the more I realized that his entire life is a strong statement against everything I believe and for which I stand. Furthermore, I do not trust him—not at all—and I do not because he has not given me any reason to trust him but every reason not to trust him. On the other hand, both McCain and Palin have given me many reasons to trust them, reasons that have been a part of their lives for many years.
Yes, if you listen to the polls, it appears that my vote will be lost; however, need I remind you "not to count your chickens before they hatch" and as best I can tell, they haven't "hatched" as of yet. So hold on but do vote! Whatever you do—vote!
Sadly, regardless of who the next president might be, the future looks pretty bleak, especially if seen through the eyes of those who cannot see the larger picture, the picture that is quickly coming into focus (much like the old Polaroid) for those who have eyes to see, to really see. The fact is this: there is a God in heaven, the Only True God, who is sitting in the heavens laughing and scoffing at His enemies BUT this same God is a shield about His children, our glory and the lifter of our heads!
As you journey through these days, remember this: "We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose . . . in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us" (Romans 8:28, 37).
Grace & peace,
Mac
Monday, October 13, 2008
On Living the Life
Monday evening, October 13, 2008,
As some of you know, I have been pondering the answer to this question for several weeks: What difference does my being a Christian, one who believes the gospel of Jesus Christ, makes in the way I live my life. To say that another way: How does my being a Christian influence my living for the will of God? I offer the following (from my message this past Sunday morning), and I trust they will be meaningful to you:
1. My living for the will of God has little to do with following someone's list of rules, even the Ten Commandments, and lots to do with following the leadership of the Holy Spirit; consequently, I can live free from the burden of trying to keep the rules and, thus, focus on what He is actually saying to me.
2. My being a Christian has taught me that another's opinion of me does not define or determine my identity; consequently, I can live free from the power of the mirrors of a thousand opinions, and thus free from the shackle of control.
3. My being a Christian has taught me that you do not have to agree with me in order for you to be correct, especially in areas of theology; consequently, I can live free from the shackle of having to prove you "wrong" so I can be "right" or vice versa.
4. My being a Christian has taught me that I do not have to know the answer to every question; in fact, it is quite fine that I do not; consequently, I am able to live free from the burden of having to impress you with my "spiritual" knowledge.
5. My being a Christian has taught me that I can relate to others without thinking I have to "win" them to Jesus; consequently, I can enjoy the company of another without having to judge whether or not he/she is a Christian and, thus, free from the burden of attempting to do the impossible.
6. My being a Christian has taught me that God is not only sovereign over all, but also that He is love, every time and all the time; consequently, I can live free from the burden of having to manipulate my circumstances in order to avoid His wrath.
7. My being a Christian has taught me that suffering is not only a normal part of the Christian life, but also that God uses it to conform me the image of Jesus; consequently, I can live free from the fear that the suffering that comes into my life is the result of some sin that I have committed.
8. My being a Christian has taught me that His strength is made perfect in my weakness; consequently, I can live, boasting about my weaknesses, rather than feeling that I have to hide them.
9. My being a Christian has taught me that my job is to love you, not to judge you; consequently, I can live free from the burden of having to point out your faults, in order to hide my own.
10. My being a Christian has taught me that because God orchestrates the steps of my life, I never meet another person by accident; consequently, I can live in the eternal state of expectancy, knowing that He will open doors for ministry that I could never open, try as I might.
Blessings to you in your journey,
Mac
As some of you know, I have been pondering the answer to this question for several weeks: What difference does my being a Christian, one who believes the gospel of Jesus Christ, makes in the way I live my life. To say that another way: How does my being a Christian influence my living for the will of God? I offer the following (from my message this past Sunday morning), and I trust they will be meaningful to you:
1. My living for the will of God has little to do with following someone's list of rules, even the Ten Commandments, and lots to do with following the leadership of the Holy Spirit; consequently, I can live free from the burden of trying to keep the rules and, thus, focus on what He is actually saying to me.
2. My being a Christian has taught me that another's opinion of me does not define or determine my identity; consequently, I can live free from the power of the mirrors of a thousand opinions, and thus free from the shackle of control.
3. My being a Christian has taught me that you do not have to agree with me in order for you to be correct, especially in areas of theology; consequently, I can live free from the shackle of having to prove you "wrong" so I can be "right" or vice versa.
4. My being a Christian has taught me that I do not have to know the answer to every question; in fact, it is quite fine that I do not; consequently, I am able to live free from the burden of having to impress you with my "spiritual" knowledge.
5. My being a Christian has taught me that I can relate to others without thinking I have to "win" them to Jesus; consequently, I can enjoy the company of another without having to judge whether or not he/she is a Christian and, thus, free from the burden of attempting to do the impossible.
6. My being a Christian has taught me that God is not only sovereign over all, but also that He is love, every time and all the time; consequently, I can live free from the burden of having to manipulate my circumstances in order to avoid His wrath.
7. My being a Christian has taught me that suffering is not only a normal part of the Christian life, but also that God uses it to conform me the image of Jesus; consequently, I can live free from the fear that the suffering that comes into my life is the result of some sin that I have committed.
8. My being a Christian has taught me that His strength is made perfect in my weakness; consequently, I can live, boasting about my weaknesses, rather than feeling that I have to hide them.
9. My being a Christian has taught me that my job is to love you, not to judge you; consequently, I can live free from the burden of having to point out your faults, in order to hide my own.
10. My being a Christian has taught me that because God orchestrates the steps of my life, I never meet another person by accident; consequently, I can live in the eternal state of expectancy, knowing that He will open doors for ministry that I could never open, try as I might.
Blessings to you in your journey,
Mac
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Clergyfied or Not!
Thursday afternoon, October 9, 2008
This past Monday, I was in Clayton and found myself doing something I frequently do—eating! For those of you who know me, I know you will find that hard to believe; however, it is the truth and nothing but the truth.
Just for context, I will tell you that immediately prior to my eating, I had been washing the vinyl siding on our mountain cabin, and for some reason, I went to the cafe without changing clothes; in other words, I did not look very "clergyfied." Truth is, I looked more like the man who rides on the back of the garbage truck, after and 8 hour day in the summer heat, and I probably smelled accordingly. I might add this to my "statement of context": I went to the cafe to eat, not to do ministry; in fact, ministry was not even on my mind. As soon as I saw that Southern Fried Chicken was the special of the day, I completely forgot about everything but my mission purpose—to eat.
Have you ever noticed that the Holy Spirit often has plans for you, plans that for some strange reason He chooses to keep to Himself prior to your arriving in the middle of them? Any logical person would think that when He has something important for you to do, He would, at the very least, notify you ahead of time, so you could look "clergyfied" but trust me, for some reason, He is NOT always logical, or so it seems.
Have you also noticed, however, that when someone really needs to hear from Him, they aren't too concerned about how the messenger is dressed, or about the aroma that exudes from his earthsuit. Truth is they couldn't care less if he is a Wesleyan or a Calvinist or a Hindu or a Chickendu, for that matter. Once the messenger begins to speak the message of hope and life and freedom, the one who needs to hear from Him comes to attention like a private in Marine boot camp.
Innocently enough, the owner walked over to our table to speak and to be sure we were enjoying our meal. Just as innocently, I asked her if this was the first Sunday they had been open this fall, thinking that they did so during the leaf season, to accommodate hungry leaf-lookers (hardly any stores, even restaurants, are open on Sunday in that area). Immediately, she apologized for being open, telling us that their pastor and many of their friends were disappointed that they had chosen to do so, but she assured me that their "ox was in the ditch."
I really want to tell you what happened next but that is for Sunday's message. Suffice it to say that The Holy Spirit can do His work without giving me any notice whatsoever and regardless of whether I am wearing smelly clothes or the vestments of the clergy.
That really is good news for me because the older I become, the less inclined I am to look "clergyfied"!
This past Monday, I was in Clayton and found myself doing something I frequently do—eating! For those of you who know me, I know you will find that hard to believe; however, it is the truth and nothing but the truth.
Just for context, I will tell you that immediately prior to my eating, I had been washing the vinyl siding on our mountain cabin, and for some reason, I went to the cafe without changing clothes; in other words, I did not look very "clergyfied." Truth is, I looked more like the man who rides on the back of the garbage truck, after and 8 hour day in the summer heat, and I probably smelled accordingly. I might add this to my "statement of context": I went to the cafe to eat, not to do ministry; in fact, ministry was not even on my mind. As soon as I saw that Southern Fried Chicken was the special of the day, I completely forgot about everything but my mission purpose—to eat.
Have you ever noticed that the Holy Spirit often has plans for you, plans that for some strange reason He chooses to keep to Himself prior to your arriving in the middle of them? Any logical person would think that when He has something important for you to do, He would, at the very least, notify you ahead of time, so you could look "clergyfied" but trust me, for some reason, He is NOT always logical, or so it seems.
Have you also noticed, however, that when someone really needs to hear from Him, they aren't too concerned about how the messenger is dressed, or about the aroma that exudes from his earthsuit. Truth is they couldn't care less if he is a Wesleyan or a Calvinist or a Hindu or a Chickendu, for that matter. Once the messenger begins to speak the message of hope and life and freedom, the one who needs to hear from Him comes to attention like a private in Marine boot camp.
Innocently enough, the owner walked over to our table to speak and to be sure we were enjoying our meal. Just as innocently, I asked her if this was the first Sunday they had been open this fall, thinking that they did so during the leaf season, to accommodate hungry leaf-lookers (hardly any stores, even restaurants, are open on Sunday in that area). Immediately, she apologized for being open, telling us that their pastor and many of their friends were disappointed that they had chosen to do so, but she assured me that their "ox was in the ditch."
I really want to tell you what happened next but that is for Sunday's message. Suffice it to say that The Holy Spirit can do His work without giving me any notice whatsoever and regardless of whether I am wearing smelly clothes or the vestments of the clergy.
That really is good news for me because the older I become, the less inclined I am to look "clergyfied"!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
I tried to tell you to pray for Valorie, as she would be Douglas' primary caregiver during this time of his life. Hopefully, you remember that he had a surgical procedure done at a very delicate anatomical address this past Tuesday. Well, as I tried to tell you, Valorie needed our prayers! Hopefully, this picture is worth a thousand words and I will say no more.
I must tell you, however, that Douglas developed a fever early this AM, so he is not out of the woods, yet. Valorie still needs your prayers!!
Blessings,
Irrefutable Evidence and Complete Devotion?
Thursday morning, October 2, 2008 [gorgeous day; 630],
Presently, I am reading George Barna's book, "Revolution" along with Jim Palmer's book, "Wide Open Spaces." The doing so has caused a "stirring" within me. Listen to this portion of what Barna has to say and I'm betting that you will experience your own heart-stirring: "The hallmarks of the Church that Jesus died for are clear, based on Scripture: your profession of faith in Christ must be supported by a lifestyle that provides irrefutable evidence of your complete devotion to Jesus . . . He died because He loves you and me, He wants an everlasting relationship with us, and He expects that connection to be so all-consuming that we become wholly transformed—Jesus clones . . . " (p. 25-26).
Now listen to this portion of what Palmer has to say and I'm betting that you will experience a different kind of heart-stirring (be warned!): As a pastor, I began having ambivalent feelings toward the Bible, but I suppressed those feelings because of my obligation to study and teach it. Despite this, even after leaving professional ministry, I maintained a regular time of personal Bible study. Quite honestly it was simply one of the many items on my daily to-do list, but there was very little joy or meaningful connection with God in it. My negative feelings toward the Bible intensified as my discovery of God apart from religion continued. After all, it seemed like the Bible was at the center of my Christian religion, a religion that had left me empty, exhausted, and disillusioned. During my process of shedding religion I put away by Bible for a season, and it's one of the best things I've done for my relationship with God. I quit reading it. I tuned out preachers and others quoting or referring to it . . . The results? God deepened His life in me during my hiatus from the Scriptures in ways I'm still coming to grips with. At the top of the list was the experience of God's unconditional acceptance . . . For me, God went from being locked up in a book that I accessed during morning quite times, sermon preparation, and Bible study to being everywhere all the time" (p. 48-49).
Now, listen up: I believe that Barna's intention is, well, it is well-intentioned; however, I must hasten to say that after 60+ years as a Christian, I have NEVER seen a clone of Jesus, not even close. Yes, I could simply be blind, but I do not think so, and I do not because there is nothing in the Bible that even hints that we are to be clones of Jesus. Disciples? Yes! Friends? Yes! Clones? Absolutely not! Admittedly, the notion of living a lifestyle that provides irrefutable evidence of one's complete devotion to Jesus might sound a bit intriguing; however, please do not take the "bait" to quickly. The terms "irrefutable evidence" and "complete devotion" give me the "willies," as I have never known even one person whose lifestyle provided me with either, certainly not my own.
Yes, I do strongly believe that faith in Jesus does affect the way one lives his/her life, but I am wondering if genuine faith in Him doesn't free us from thinking we have to live in such a way as to provide irrefutable evidence of our complete devotion to Him, and, instead, empower us to stop reading the Bible for a season, to stop having a quiet time, to stop thinking we have to "win the world for Jesus" and to simply take a rest in His finished work.
Having said all of that, I have this question: How has your being a Christian affected the way you live your life? Please think about this, and, by the way, I would love to hear your answers.
Blessings!
Mac
Presently, I am reading George Barna's book, "Revolution" along with Jim Palmer's book, "Wide Open Spaces." The doing so has caused a "stirring" within me. Listen to this portion of what Barna has to say and I'm betting that you will experience your own heart-stirring: "The hallmarks of the Church that Jesus died for are clear, based on Scripture: your profession of faith in Christ must be supported by a lifestyle that provides irrefutable evidence of your complete devotion to Jesus . . . He died because He loves you and me, He wants an everlasting relationship with us, and He expects that connection to be so all-consuming that we become wholly transformed—Jesus clones . . . " (p. 25-26).
Now listen to this portion of what Palmer has to say and I'm betting that you will experience a different kind of heart-stirring (be warned!): As a pastor, I began having ambivalent feelings toward the Bible, but I suppressed those feelings because of my obligation to study and teach it. Despite this, even after leaving professional ministry, I maintained a regular time of personal Bible study. Quite honestly it was simply one of the many items on my daily to-do list, but there was very little joy or meaningful connection with God in it. My negative feelings toward the Bible intensified as my discovery of God apart from religion continued. After all, it seemed like the Bible was at the center of my Christian religion, a religion that had left me empty, exhausted, and disillusioned. During my process of shedding religion I put away by Bible for a season, and it's one of the best things I've done for my relationship with God. I quit reading it. I tuned out preachers and others quoting or referring to it . . . The results? God deepened His life in me during my hiatus from the Scriptures in ways I'm still coming to grips with. At the top of the list was the experience of God's unconditional acceptance . . . For me, God went from being locked up in a book that I accessed during morning quite times, sermon preparation, and Bible study to being everywhere all the time" (p. 48-49).
Now, listen up: I believe that Barna's intention is, well, it is well-intentioned; however, I must hasten to say that after 60+ years as a Christian, I have NEVER seen a clone of Jesus, not even close. Yes, I could simply be blind, but I do not think so, and I do not because there is nothing in the Bible that even hints that we are to be clones of Jesus. Disciples? Yes! Friends? Yes! Clones? Absolutely not! Admittedly, the notion of living a lifestyle that provides irrefutable evidence of one's complete devotion to Jesus might sound a bit intriguing; however, please do not take the "bait" to quickly. The terms "irrefutable evidence" and "complete devotion" give me the "willies," as I have never known even one person whose lifestyle provided me with either, certainly not my own.
Yes, I do strongly believe that faith in Jesus does affect the way one lives his/her life, but I am wondering if genuine faith in Him doesn't free us from thinking we have to live in such a way as to provide irrefutable evidence of our complete devotion to Him, and, instead, empower us to stop reading the Bible for a season, to stop having a quiet time, to stop thinking we have to "win the world for Jesus" and to simply take a rest in His finished work.
Having said all of that, I have this question: How has your being a Christian affected the way you live your life? Please think about this, and, by the way, I would love to hear your answers.
Blessings!
Mac
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