Live in the Word

In Praise of...

2011-06-03T08:00:00.000-06:00

I can't imagine having a hot, saucy, extra-cheesy pizza sitting in front of me without eating it. Sausage, pepperoni, maybe onions and mushrooms if I'm splurging! But that's just me. I have a nearly irresistible urge to eat a freshly-made pizza.

Food seems to have an open door policy for many of us. We diet and swear off of many things, but put our favorite foods in front of us and the diet begins anew "tomorrow." Funny people, we are. It's difficult to stop eating something we like so much.

If there's one thing I can learn from a good pizza it is this: if we collectively desired to serve God as fervently as we down our favorite foods, we'd certainly change and things would begin to change around us.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

First, let's frame the discussion: "You are the light of the world." You are the antithesis of the darkness. You are the difference-maker. And why? Because God has desired for you to be placed on a stand - to give light to everyone around you. . Knowing that changes the way I wake up and the way I go about my day. Knowing that changes my mind-set, my thought processes. God has lit a light for all to see. What am I doing with that?

Second, let's consider the goal: ".. and praise your Father in heaven." The ultimate goal is that the world, so impacted by the light would ultimately praise God. The lamp's purpose is to be lit. But a lit lamp in an empty room is useless. The purpose of lighting the lamp doesn't end with giving light - it ends with what the people see once the light is lit.

Third, let's consider the process: "...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds..." Phrased another way: we are imparted with a certain light that dispels darkness whose ultimate goal is bringing praise to God; therefore, we are to do good deeds. We are not to do good deeds so that we get the light, or retain the light, or get a better stand. We are the light, we were placed on a stand. Now, we are to do good deeds. We are to do good deeds with the express intent of bringing praise to our Father in heaven.

Fourth, a question from the passage. The last verse states, "...your Father in heaven." In all the good deed doing, it is nothing if we don't acknowledge and credit our Father in heaven. We will have missed the goal. How do the ones impacted by the light know that there is a Father in heaven? We tell them. We tell them at the beginning, or tell them at the end. We make it overt or quietly tell them when they ask. Each situation is different, but you have to tell them, somehow. Ultimately, those impacted by any good deed we do must see that it is done for and to the praise of God. Don't forget the goal.

For me, the next time I see my favorite food, I'll consider - have I desired to serve God as much?

Irrational Fears

2011-06-01T10:55:00.000-06:00

I started climbing, in part, because I was afraid of heights. Not so afraid that I wouldn't go close to the edge, but I felt uncomfortable - that the structure or ground might just give way and I would plummet to my death. I started climbing because I no longer wanted to be a slave to irrational fear.

How is that fear irrational? It's irrational not because one shouldn't have a healthy fear of falling - so as to take precautions, to think, to be sure of one's next move. No, irrational in the sense that two people standing side-by-side on the edge of a cliff are equally as safe, yet one may feel safe and the other may feel afraid.

Fear is related to not fully understanding the gear and systems that keep a climber safe. The more one comes to understand how the equipment is made, what is made out of, how it is tested, and how it performs on an actual climb, the more one comes to trust that it will hold a fall.

Fall is scary, but the first fall is the worst. It's difficult not knowing whether the equipment will hold. Will the rope break? Will the metal come undone? Will the safety backups fail? But after a fall one finds that they hold just fine. The second fall is not as scary. The third, the fourth, it begins to come naturally. A fall, a catch, start climbing again. In fact, the more one falls on the equipment, the more one trusts it!

I think that the adventure of climbing and overcoming of fears is a physical manifestation of what happens in our relationship with God. Consider the following verses which speak clearly of God's provision for us:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: 'Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Luke 12:22-26

Have you been trapped in a state of fear - wondering where provision would come from? Have you spent hours or days - even weeks, months or years - worrying about the outcome of certain events? Have you frantically made decisions in the last hour weren't sure how God would come through? I have!

At the end of each of those thoughts is the issue of faith and root question: are Jesus' words true or are they not? And if they are true then it is contrary to faith to also be afraid. Faith and worry are related: the more faith grows, the more fear and worry recede. Find yourself worrying? Cultivate faith.

Two people can stand on a cliff and one can be afraid and the other not, though both are equally safe. Likewise, two people can trust in God, and one will worry and the other will not.

So consider, how often have you recognized God's provision in your life? Sure, you've "fallen" - sometimes due to your own decisions, sometimes because of circumstances out of your control. We all have experienced that. The common thread in the one who is less afraid, less worried, is that they have recognized and given credit to God for "catching" them. They have experienced falling and seen that God still provides. The more times God provides, the more their faith grows.

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith." Luke 12:27-28

If God's words are true, then he takes care of us. And if he takes care of us, then we have no reason to worry or be afraid. If you believe that, then cultivate faith in the midst of worry.

New Series on the Gospel of John

2010-07-21T18:30:00.001-06:00

Life House Family Church is in the middle of a series on the Gospel of John.

Listen online at Podbean or in iTunes.

Not Our Ways - Bad News

2010-05-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

A very good friend recently told me, "Sometimes God's best plans are disguised by bad news."

It must have been thrilling to be an Israelite and hear that God was going to make a way out of Egypt. I can't imagine what it was like to live in slavery and experience the joy of knowing that God was going to lead the exodus. I also can't imagine what it must have really been like to have left Egypt and then find out that God's "good news" included an "impassable" Red Sea.

It must have been really bad news to see the Red Sea. They said, “is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?" (Exodus 14:11)

But the best plan was the they were going to be free - and that, in the land promised to them - a land of their own! That was still the God's plan - despite the "bad" news. And the best plan came to fruition, too! Israel did get a land of their own - the one that God promised.

But the plan was disguised by bad news. Just past the bad news was the best news: God's best plan.

Not Our Ways - The Scenic Route

2010-05-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

The most direct path from point A to point B is... well, the fastest. But that's about it. I can't think of another attribute for that path. As we all know there are other paths between two points other than the fastest. There's also the infamous "scenic route."

More often than not, God doesn't take us down the fastest path. No, God takes us down the scenic route. And He must have planned it that way because the Lord directs our steps (Psalm 37:23).

When I feel like I'm on the scenic route and I'd rather take the faster path, I have to remember that though it may feel like God should work faster, He's really not in a hurry. No, the view is better from the scenic route. The pace is slower on the scenic route. He's taking time to show me wonders that I would otherwise have missed.

The Grand Canyon from a plane is big. But standing next to it - that's altogether different.

What wonders is God showing you through the scenic route?

Futility

2010-05-14T21:00:00.010-06:00

"For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God." - Romans 8:20

Futile. That's what our days feel like many times. Doing the same thing day in and day out. Work, toil, strain, stress. To get where, to do what? Sometimes it seems like the daily struggles will never end. And that, when we who are Christians have eternal hope in God! I can't imagine what must it be like for a person who does not have hope.

I watch and see that many people live their lives in an effort to escape this futility. I even heard it vocalized, "when I move to such-and-such a place, I'll be happy." As if the next thing attained will finally be what brings ultimate happiness, calm, peace. Yet "happiness" is always one step ahead, one foot out of reach.

It is so perfect that God would ordain this broken world to bring about such deep longing in our souls. The longing to know that this world is not all there is - there must be something more, something greater, someone greater than this. The futility is in believing that the something greater, the someone greater can found within the creation.

It is futile to be able to grasp what will one day be gone, and once grasped, to have the insatiable longing for rest still unquenched. And it is merciful that God would cause this to be so. This longing is there to push us to continue the search until we simply can't believe that this world is the end, until we are convinced that there must be something greater, someone greater who can fill the void.

It is a gift from God that He gives everyone a reason to search for Him. He is the someone greater.

Picture of Mercy - Parking Garage

2010-05-12T22:00:00.001-06:00

I was leaving a parking garage the other day. I pulled up to the attendant with my ticket and debit card. I passed the card to her as I noticed a sign that stated "no credit or debit cards." I asked her how she recommended that I pay the $2.25 I owed, to which she recommended cash - which I didn't have.

I was going to have to back up my car, re-park, walk two blocks to an ATM and come back to give her cash. She could have let me through by having mercy on me. But she didn't.

What got me more irked was that I clearly saw her pause, think and waive on the guy ahead of me when he handed her his ticket and credit card. I had been with him not 10 minutes prior. I was sure he owed the same amount, but she let him through.

And so it is with God's mercy. Though we all owe the same debt, He pardons some and makes others pay. The reason for this mercy is given in scripture: that some know Jesus, God's son and others don't. Jesus pays the debt that we owe when we pass through the "gate" at the end of this life.

It's not hard to believe that the parking attendant may have let the other guy through because she knew him. He couldn't pay his debt any more than me, but he received favor - maybe because of a relationship previously established.

I'm thankful for the relationship that I have with Jesus Christ. Some day I will die, I will bring my ticket and will not be able to pay the debt I owe. I won't have to ask God, "how do you recommend I pay this?" He will just waive me through.

Do you know He will do the same for you?

Pray
God, we owe an impossible debt that we can never pay back to you. But you freely offer to pay it for us through your son, Jesus. We thank you for that promise and we look forward to the day when we will see you face to face.

P.S. If it be your will, would you please pay for the guy behind me, too...

Brothers, Preach to One Another

2009-12-05T22:06:00.000-06:00

I received a phone call from a close friend the other day. He told me of his life. I told him of mine. We talked for a while and then he began to preach to me. Not in the bad way - out of pride or loneliness, but out of recognition of what God was doing in his life. He shared with me what God was doing through his circumstances. It was clear that through events in his life, God was changing his heart and mind, bringing him in to right thinking and feeling about God. How gracious that God would ordain that we have friends like that to encourage us in our faith. And O, how much I need that.

When we love someone dearly, we want to speak with them, we want to share with them and they with us. It's a bond that grows, and as we share that bond grows stronger. All people were created with a desire for love and companionship with others. While it doesn't take love for God to want to talk on the phone to another person, it does, however, take love for God to talk about God. It is the unique work of the Holy Spirit in us that causes us to not want to be an island, but to share the love of God with other believers. We want to be amazed, and we want to share our amazement.

It was the love of God and each other that motivated the believers in Acts to devote themselves to the Apostles' teaching, to fellowship, breaking of bread and to prayer (Acts 2:42). I believe they met in the temple courts every day (vs. 46) because they loved to share among themselves the Word of God and the experience of being a child of God. The Bible tells us that it was with sincere hearts that they met, praising God (vs. 47).

They met out of love for God and because of that, love for one another. The new experience of the power of the Holy Spirit must have been so fresh for them that they couldn't help but meet together and share. The strength of the Apostles' faith sparked something great in each of their lives. We read about it in Acts, but the truth is that the evidence of God's work in our own lives should bring out the same sort of spark today.

We appreciate phone calls that encourage us, and we should love to give phone calls like that. We should be thrilled to hear about God's work and a friend's growing faith. So I encourage you - if God is at work in your life (and God is always at work), open your mouth and tell someone. Your faith will encourage someone else to grow in theirs. And if another person doesn't see God at work in their own lives, your perspective can change that.

Sunday Excerpts - The Bible is Not Self-Help

2009-11-29T20:20:00.002-06:00

If we view the Bible as a "self-help" book, able to give us pointers in how to deal better with ourselves and our lives, we will see Jesus as our psychiatrist or bank or buddy.

If instead, we view the Bible as the source of life and salvation for sinful, dead souls, then we will see Jesus set apart as redeemer and truth-giver and God.

The original self-help book said "you can't. You need God."

Do people run to you or away from you in times of trouble?

2009-11-18T20:00:00.000-06:00

I was speaking with someone the other day who I was looking to hire for some work. In my discussion with her, I asked her if there was any problem with my running a background check on her. She stated quickly, "no".

She called me today and said, "I just want to tell you that I have done something that you'll see on the background check. I wanted to tell you in person but I was really ashamed. It was months ago and I don't want it to affect your view of my suitability for the job. But you'll see it and I wanted you to know that."

I felt that the job wouldn't put her in a situation that would be of temptation to her, so I wouldn't cause her to be in a compromising situation. I told her that it was "okay," and that she's not the first person to get herself in to trouble. I stated that her honesty was most important and that if she ever got in to trouble again, my wife and I would help her out in the best way we could.

As I was doing personal inventory regarding my reaction in this and other situations that came to mind, I thought of this phrase: "Do people run to you or away from you in times of trouble?" I was concerned that I didn't fully know the meaning of John 3:17, namely that Jesus didn't "come in to the world to condemn the world."

Too many times, our worldly tendency is to claim superiority over those who stumble and fall. Is it ignorance - that we've been taught something wrong about grace? Perhaps. Is it laziness - that we've not taken the time to search out the scriptures? Perhaps. Is it pride - that we supposedly haven't done something so heinous, when in fact, we just simply haven't been caught? Perhaps. I would suppose that it's a collection of things, something more prominent in each of us, and not as complex as we like to make it sound.

Contrary to our sinful nature, at the core of John 3:17 is something marvelous about God's grace. I'm sure we'll never have the opportunity to live it all out in one lifetime. I'm certain that we'll never know as much as we will want. But we will have countless opportunities every day to demonstrate the grace of God freely given to all mankind in Jesus.

God's grace that is poured out on us so lavishly that were we to fully recognize it, we should live and die differently. Just think of the scriptures. Jesus did not condemn Jerusalem - he wept over her. Nor did he condemn those who gathered at the foot of his own cross - he asked that they be forgiven. How he could have condemned!

Does God's justice stand firm? Will we see it undeniably upon Christ's return? Yes. And yet, we have a brief moment in time that God's grace is offered for all who will believe. How unsearchable are His ways!

If our lives radiate the joy of Christ and the fullness of His grace, we magnify Christ and we serve as "pointers" to Him. If that is true, when people get themselves in trouble, when they deeply see their need for grace, they will run to us and not from us. They will ask for the reason for our hope. They will ask for the reason for our joy, and we will be afforded the opportunity to tell them. The Word of God will go forth, they will hear and they will be saved.

For God so loved the world

that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him

shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him.

(John 3:16,17 NIV)

Oh, that we would dwell on this truth.

Pray

God, thank you for your truth. Thank you that you did not send your Son into the world to condemn us. Thank you that you faithfully and lovingly offer your salvation. Thank you that your grace has gone into all the world through your Son, Jesus, through whom we are saved for all eternity. Amen.

Sunday Excerpts: "Grace magnifies the grace-giver."

2009-10-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

Grace does not magnify the one to whom grace is given. Grace magnifies, or makes greater, the one who gave the grace. No one thanks the prisoner - they thank the one who gave the pardon. No one honors the guilty - they honor the one who had mercy.

Sunday Excerpts: "God crafts our dependence on Him."

2009-10-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

Jeremiah 29:11 - 14

For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you; to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. "I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." (ESV)

God says, "I know the plans I have for you..."

The plan: God carried them into exile. God brought them back.

The Blessing of Conviction

2009-03-26T23:40:00.000-06:00

I have to admit when I heard that phrase in my heart, "the blessing of conviction," I was simultaneously happy and sad. I probably chuckled... Who wants to feel convicted, anyhow? But not so fast - just dwell for a moment on this.

Coming before God in his holiness, his unmatched greatness as his child is both exciting and humbling. We stand and sing, we cry out to him, but if we never feel humbled as unworthy beings in his presence, I fear that maybe we haven't really been close to him. Maybe we've just sung about him instead of to him?

Some would say, "unworthy? What do you mean - Jesus makes us worthy..." I've heard it - and I get all that - and while I won't expound here, that's true. Yes, yes, we can come with boldness before God! Yet I look in the mirror each day. I scrutinize my motivations, and I come up so short of God's desire for me.

In worship - whether in my living room, in my car, or in my church, I long to be so close to him that I feel the burning off of my "old self". I want his presence to make it clear. And I believe that He must. One of the great effects of truly worshipping God is that it results in us seeing the truth: the holiness of God and the unworthiness of man. How awesome.

The conviction of sin is one of the great blessings of God - that he would send his Holy Spirit to us to lovingly but pointedly, show us ourselves. And once we've seen ourselves, how much more do we long for God to reach down and save us again, and again.

Yes, I'm afraid that if we have "worship" with no conviction in ourselves, then we've not gone far enough into the "Holy of Holies". Maybe we've not entered into the "courts of praise". Instead, are we just hanging out at the gate looking in from the outside? And why stay there? The real joy is on the inside. The price of admission? Honesty about who we are, and who He is...

Some parting thoughts:

* Worship results in seeing truth - the holiness of God, the unworthiness of man
* Conviction of sin - sin that must be dealt with; it cannot remain

Pray:

God, teach us to worship you. Teach us to draw near to you and to listen when we worship. Teach us to listen to the Holy Spirit that you have sent as our counselor. Give us wisdom and strength to make right choices. And forgive us when we fall short. Thank you that you know our hearts. Change us, oh Lord, this day - by the power of the Spirit that you have caused to live in us. For your honor and your glory.

Saturated in the Word

2008-09-29T20:50:00.003-06:00

Life is increasingly filled with more to do, so to help out more I've taken on the task doing the dishes at our home. It's a solitary task and provides me an opportunity to think.

During a recent cleaning episode I was thinking about the stressful situations that had been building and I was looking to hear from God something encouraging, something that would refocusing my thoughts. I was laying my thoughts out before Him and asking for His perspective. That's when He brought the sponge to my mind.

"The sponge." you ask?

Yes - consider the sponge.

A sponge spends it's life absorbing and getting squeezed, and when squeezed, pouring what it has absorbed over something else. It's one of the central figures in my dishwashing adventures.

It was funny to think about at the time and It's still funny to consider the parallels between the sponge and life, especially the life of a Christian. Sometimes it feels that we go through alternating periods of getting squeezed. Yeah, it feels like we do...

But, have you ever considered what comes out of your life when you're "squeezed?" Have you thought about how what pours out of your life is directly related to what you've absorbed - what you have allowed in? I did as I washed my dishes. I was intrigued. I asked, "God, show me."

He brought to my mind the scriptures that speak of Himself being like water to our thirsty souls (1). He gave to me the words "be filled" which is referenced so many times throughout scripture (2). He reminded me that the mouth speaks out of the abundance of [what us in] the heart (3). It is unmistakable to me that what we are filled with is what will pour out of our lives - especially, and perhaps most importantly, when we are "pressed" - during those times when we feel as though we are being squeezed.

Some would say that the appropriate response of a Christian is to pray pressure away - "get thee behind me Satan!" I'm certaintly not a fan of feeling like I'm being pressed too hard, but God help us to see the opportunity to begin pouring out the surplus of the life-giving Spirit the God has desired that we be filled with. Moreover, he has invited us to ask him to fill us!

Even Christ, as he was headed the cross was unmistakenly fixated on His Sovereign purpose of being "crushed and bruised" for us, for having His life be "poured out" for us. Or consider Paul as He looked forward to completing the purposes that God intended for his life and be penned these words: "...my life is being poured out as a drink offering..." (4)

We have the responsibility to fill our minds and hearts with the Word of God, to seek that He would fill us with His wisdom and His Spirit (5). But let us not stop there. Let us continue on and ask God that what He has poured into us would flow freely from us as we are presented with opportunity.

Don't shrink back. Christ didn't and Paul said the same. In us dwells the same Spirit that longs to reach out of us. That's what we were created for!

Today, take inventory of what your heart and mind are filled with. What you find is what will pour out of you when the time comes. Ask yourself: will it bring life to someone? Will it be seen by another as the evidence of Christ in your life? Will they see the unmistakable fingerprint of a good and loving God?

So, consider the sponge. It's purpose is to absorb and be poured out.

Is yours so different?

Pray

This is your day, God. I am your child. Let me be filled with your Spirit and use me to bring honor and glory to your name.

Handy references:

1. John 7:37,38

2. Ephesians 3:19 (and much more...)

3. Luke 6:45

4. 2 Timothy 4:6

5. James 1:5, John 16:24, Matthew 7:7

Make the Most of Every Opportunity

2008-05-30T05:00:00.001-06:00

I picked up a rental car the other day. I had traveled with my family through a car ride and two airports, looking forward to another three-hour car ride which would bring the day to about 12 hours of travel time. I was tired. I just wanted to get in my rental car and get on the road. I was ready for the day to be done.

I had purposefully worn my "Athletes for Christ" shirt that day. I figured it would be a good opportunity to make conversation as I met people in the airport, sat next to them on the plane. I thought that it might be an "in" to reach out to someone and share the gospel, perhaps.

After 9 hours of travel I was tired by the time I got to the rental car. I didn't want to stand in line. I didn't want to be asked "do you want extended coverage with that?" I just wanted to leave.

"What Christian organization do you work for?" the man across the counter happily asked. He was typing into his computer looking up my reservation, smiling.

"Oh, I don't work for this organization. I got the shirt from a friend who made them."

"That's cool. I have a friend who does the shirts for our church" he said.

"Oh yeah? That's cool."

...

"Do you want basic coverage or extended coverage?"

"Huh? I don't get it? What's the difference?"

The conversation moved into a funk of mundane rental car contract details ... I was way too tired to understand them and had my wife step in for a minute to make sense of it all.

...

The clerk and I went out to the car and he asked, "what kind of church do you go to?"

"Oh, a non-denominational church..." and we exchanged some more "surface" discussion.

"Well, great to meet you - just pull your car up to that guy there and give him the yellow copy."

...

I was so glad to be done: we were going to be on the road!

A lingering thought of a missed opportunity nagged at me. I was tired, mind you - I'm sure you know that tired - having traveled all day with three kids, 8, 7, 2 with the end finally in sight. It's a great excuse, really. But geez, I even wore my shirt for the very purpose that the clerk tried to engage me in! What was I doing?? I missed my opportunity - the one I set myself up for. There was more that could have been said, more I could have done. I could have jolted my mind out of my sleepy stupor and woken up to engage this man.

I had lost focus.

Like a speeding car, our days pass by quickly with flashes of people, places and things, and then we stop and suddenly the day is done. In the blink of an eye, people and events go by unnoticed as our cars, our allotted time presses on.

It's one thing to "miss" opportunities intentionally. It's a different thing to miss opportunities because we're not being intentional enough. While I pray I find myself in the latter more often than the former, I also pray that I may be more intentional in my life, with each opportunity. I pray that my eyes will remain open to see the people and events that I will miss if I close them.

Maybe you feel like your life keeps moving on and you never "arrive." Maybe your days feel like they have no purpose - you never think of "opportunities." It's true: life keeps moving on, but your life as a Christian should be the fullest of anyone's. It should stand out in a positive way. It should be filled with purposeful opportunities. If yours doesn't stand out, if it isn't filled with opportunity, think of this famous quotation: "If you don't know where you're going, you'll never know when you've arrived." Maybe you don't live intentionally, with purpose because you don't know you have one - you don't know where you're going? If that's true, pick up your Bible and begin with the book of John.

Read the how God sent his son Jesus to give you hope, and then to give you power to spread that hope to others. Read how Jesus spoke of living life without fear, but with faith. Read more and discover how you and I should have a "peace that passes understanding" - especially in the midst of our problems.

Read and feel the Spirit of God stir within you a desire to make the most of every day, of every opportunity to reach out to another. Read on, and know the grace of God that is present when we've missed the opportunities.

Today's your day - the only one you've got. Don't sleep through it, don't speed through it. Wake up and make the most of it.

Dear Jesus

2008-04-16T23:04:00.002-06:00

My two-year-old says prayers before bed at night.

She says,

Dear Jesus.
Thank you Jesus.
I love you Jesus.

Too simple?

I don't think so.

If, someday, you need to talk to Jesus but don't know where to start, try "dear Jesus" and the rest will follow.

If, someday, you find that you're overwhelmed by the days as they relentlessly keep marching on, take a deep breath, slowly exhale and say "thank you Jesus." He can calm a storm.

If, someday, you reflect on all the blessings that you have been given but feel you could have done more along the way, just quiet your thoughts and simply say, "I love you Jesus." He knows the rest.

The simplicity of our relationship with Christ is sometimes covered up by our ability to think things through. Faith like a child? I see it growing in mine. Lord, let it grow in me.

Mid-day Lasagna, Faith and the Mustard Seed

2008-04-16T21:29:00.005-06:00

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you...
Luke 17:5,6 (NIV)

It's always been a rather confusing parable to read, and can come across a bit disheartening as well. After all, I haven't seen any physical mountains move out of the way, so I suppose that my faith must not be as big as a mustard seed! Geez, that's sort of a downer...

But let's take a look at the life of mustard:

The mustard seed is small. It needs rain, sun and fertile soil to grow in. When it grows up, depending on the amount of rain, the amount of sun, the fertility of the soil and lots of other things, it will grow to be 5 or perhaps 6 feet tall. It will become a relatively large shrub. It will then produce lots more tiny mustard seeds and the cycle will continue again.

Inquisitive as I am, I want to look deeper into the complex life of mustard. The mustard seed, as it starts, does not concern itself with the future. It does not ask: "will I grow into a large bush? A small bush? A bush at all? How will this all come to pass? Will other mustards like me? Can we have pizza tonight?" and other such questions.

See, I've seen a mustard seed, and while I didn't think to ask at the time, I'm quite sure it didn't ask these sorts of questions of itself. Nevertheless, devoid of people-like questions, the mustard seed indeed grows into a bush - a large bush - with no worries at all.

As I was considering this parable one Sunday morning, the Holy Spirit brought these other verses to mind and presented it all together in a nice package. An "aha!" moment.

Consider this:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith, however small it may be, is not based on today. Faith lives in the future. Faith believes in and hopes so much for what God will do in the future that it can touch it now. Faith is so sure of the future promises of God that they become tangible today - that which is unseen becomes clearly visible right now. How good will my future be? As good as the promises of God!

How is possible to be so sure of that which has not yet happened? The beginning of Philippians (1:4-6) reads:

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Paul states that he always prays with joy because of his confidence that the "good work" that was begun will be brought to completion. His today-confidence in future-completion is so sure that he's joyful "now."

Mmm... Lasaaagna!
Have you ever thought about mid-way through the day that you'd really like to have lasagna for dinner? That kind of thought can become so real that you can taste the lasagna. You can smell it. Right then and there, hours before eating, you're having lasagna. It's a cruel trick to be sure, but it can be quite real. I believe that Paul must have had a similar picture in his mind of what the future would look like for the Philippians as they grew in faith.

To scope this out more fully, it's critically important to note that the evidence that Paul was using for his today-joy regarding the future-completion was based on the person doing the work - the "he" in "he who began!"

"He who began the good work in you is faithful to complete it" (Philippians 1:6)

Paul's faith in the completion of the good work that was started was based on the faithfulness of the "he" in verse 6. How was Paul so confident about the future that he was joyful "today"? Because God was faithful. How can you be so sure that the lasagna will taste like you love it? Because of the cook, of course!

See, Paul knew that the heartbeat of God for the Philippians was that the seed that was planted was going to grow and would be brought to completion. Paul knew that God had planted a seed there with the intention of caring for it until it was fully grown - completed.

Concerning the analogy of the mustard seed, faith is the confidence that the bush will be there when the seed grows up. When through the growing season there has been rain, sun, fertile soil and regular weeding, the seed will someday be a large bush. When? Dunno. How? Dunno. Will it happen? For sure. For me, today my mustard seed-sized faith is full of mustard bush-sized hope.

Mustard Seed Growing Guide
Is your faith the size of a mustard seed? No matter - it'll be a bush someday. Quit focusing on the seed. How can you be sure of the bush? God gave you that seed so that it would be a bush. Feel the sun today? Smell the rain in the air? Don't worry so much - you can't control the sun or the rain. They'll come and go whether you worry or not! Those are simply there to grow your seed of faith. Maybe you need to weed a bit in your spiritual garden? By all means, it'll help that seed grow, and if you don't, those weeds may choke your seed out.

Today, have hope. Your faith may be small by someone's standards, but it's as big as the God who gave it to you. How big will your faith be? As big as God is faithful to grow it up. That's where your hope lies - in the faithfulness of God. Follow God and your faith will grow too.

Power of Imagination - The Battle of Good and Evil

2008-04-06T21:26:00.004-06:00

I just watched the third movie in the Lord of Rings trilogy as it appeared on cable television. I own the trilogy and really enjoy it but I haven't seen it in a while. One of the things I enjoy is that I am reminded of the power of the imagination - particularly when imagining the great struggle of good and evil.

Ephesians 6:12 (NIV) states:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

As true as it is, this truth sometimes gets drowned out in the monotony of day-to-day life. Going to work, buying groceries - it's all so uneventful. But movies, songs, writings make dream worlds almost tangible. They transport us to new places in our minds. The imagery of written words can become palpable through movies designed in imaginations of the producers. There's something very powerful about seeing it!

While viewing this particular movie I find that I can't help but think about the ongoing battle with sin in this world. Sin that cannot be seen by the eyes sometimes lacks ugliness, but viewing the reality of what sin is through imagery is compelling. The truth is that sin is on orders of magnitude more destructive than the epic T.V. battles that can be created. Sometimes reality just can't be seen with the naked eye.

For us, we look forward to the day when Christ will return and destroy forever the power of the "spiritual forces of evil" that Paul speaks of in Ephesians. We battle with those forces every day, with an enemy that comes to destroy us. We take heart, however, because God himself states that "the battle is the Lord's" and the war is already won.

Sin is ugly. For us as Christians, however, it is merely reason to fight more fervently.

Ask?
Do you know someone overcome with sin? Your co-worker? Your family member? Yourself? There's no need to be captive to sin: Jesus has overcome the world and we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.

Hope In Christ

2008-02-13T22:46:00.005-06:00

Hello—I am Dan Hernandez. Please don’t forget to roll the “r,” and the “e” at the end is not a long “e”.

I know, you are probably thinking, this guy has issues. You’re right, but don’t worry, I have some in my congregation who will point these things out again and again, and that’s always fun.

I have been a pastor for over 25 years, and absolutely love it! Ministering to people and watching them grow as I myself mature in the Lord is my greatest blessing. Over the years I have walked with many who have found themselves in valleys too dark and difficult to describe. I have wept with mothers who have had to bury their children. I have caught the salty tears of teenagers who through no fault of their own lost a mom and dad, and were forced to walk on totally unfamiliar and lonely paths. I personally lay in ICU fighting for my own life, listening to doctors and nurses scrambling to keep me here. I clearly remember lying there now on the 9th floor out of imminent danger, watching the second hand on the bold face of the clock in my room. I found myself measuring time by minutes. Life is crazy like that at times. We might not find ourselves in a hospital ER, but life sure throws at us things that warrant ICU attention.

This is written to those of you, especially men and women in ministry, who find themselves not on top of the world, but rather under one. Your question isn’t “why?” but, “does anyone even care?” In the most difficult times in my life I have discovered the most wonderful significance of HOPE. We preach on faith, and we have series on love, but hope seems to fall off the radar screen when we think of Christian virtues.

I am convinced that strength, and I mean God sized strength, is unleashed within us when we are convinced our lives have a purpose yet to be fulfilled. This reality is magnified when we choose a purpose beyond ourselves. It is not only essential to keep hope alive; it is hope that keeps us alive. The most tragic reality is that to give up on hope is to become paralyzed in the present, and to begin to live in the past. Oh, to be filled with a passionate urgency fueled by a real sense of destiny!

One of the most quoted proverbs of Solomon is that "without vision the people will perish." He also said, "hope deferred makes a heart sick." He seems to be telling us that we need to have a dream we are pursuing, and at the same time experience enough of that dream to keep us inspired. We need to both aspire and accomplish. Without a vision for your life, without a sense of purpose, you will begin to die a slow death.

At the same time, if hope seems only an illusion, if you give up on hope, your heart and soul will become sick. Remember, it is not only essential to keep hope alive; it is hope that keeps us alive. Hope is the fuel through which we create the future. The apostle Peter writes that he was injected, given a lively HOPE! If you are not looking toward the future, you do not have one.

Please don’t mistake my words as making small the valley or situation you face today, all I ask is that you look up. Look within. Sometimes our crises are solved by moving from success to significance, or from failure to significance. One should outgrow success and must press through failure. Isn’t the real issue not “success" or "failures," but rather making a real difference, living a life that counts? And a life that counts is one not measured by successes or failures, but rather by a HOPE that goes beyond all that life throws our way.

OUR HOPE IS IN CHRIST

By Pastor Dan Hernandez
Water of Life Ministries
Rockford, IL.

Bible Study Helps

2008-02-06T15:40:00.000-06:00

ChristianityToday.com has a great resource for studying the Bible. You can find it at BibleandReference.com.

There you'll find references tools including Bible translations, concordances, lexicons and commentaries.

In addition, you'll find history lessons, sermon helps, devotional materials, quizzes and a lot more.

Look into this great resource for personal or group Bible study.

God, I Don't Want to Throw Up

2008-01-01T01:51:00.000-06:00

Did you ever pray the "God, I don't want to throw up" prayer? Well, I did. Many times... And my guess is that you did as well. When I was in grade school it went something like this:

Self-talk: "Oh no. It hurts... Errr.... I hate this."
Self-talk: "My brother said that he just thinks himself out of not throwing up... I'll try that and just relax."
Self-talk: "There we go... Calm, deep breaths. It'll be alright. It'll pass."
(moments later)

Self-talk: "Ugh. It's getting worse. Quick, think of something!"

Prayer: "God, I think I might throw up. But you see, I don't
want to. You don't want to see me like his either! I hate throwing up. It's painful, it's smelly and it gets up my nose. I would rather die. But I'm young, so you know I don't really mean that. You get my point, right?

God, it's just that... I don't want to throw up. I know you can do it, so if you
get me out of this (just his once), I'll never do a bad thing ever
again. Ohhhhh.... (groan)"

(moments later)
Self-talk: "Breathe... It's working... Oh, there we go... It's going away. It's going to be ok. I'll just sit here a bit."
(pause)
The deed was done... The evening's dinner was everywhere.
Prayer: "God, I just threw up. What's up with that? What more could I have done to get out of this? I promised that I wouldn't do a bad thing again..."
And naturally, the night would continue until my illness its course... Crazy kid.

I didn't really feel that I had done anything wrong to warrant my plight - I did know that it was just the flu, but I did feel that I had to bargain with God so that He might be moved to supernaturally heal me and I would be sparred my most-hated wintertime drama. I thought that because there was no apparent action on His part by my simply asking, I needed to pull out the cards and see which ones He was willing to trade.

Despite that humorous childhood example, I really did believe, as I do more-so now, that God really can heal sickness and that even if He chooses not to, that it's only for good. But especially, though He may not heal, His peace will be our strength through it all. I really do believe that He wants good for us more than we can realize - and that His good is usually not the "simple fix" that we crave so much. After all, He is the "Prince of Peace" and we are His children.

I suppose what we learn as we grow up and experience events far greater than the winter flu, is that the the peace of God really is beyond our understanding. We find that His peace is less about our circumstances and more about our trust in Him. It is more about what we don't see, than what we can. We learn that His peace, as with all His attributes is complete, unchanging, irrevocably steadfast because it is bound to Himself and to us if we would simply trust His unchanging Word.

Christ's example is for us as He prays in Luke 22:42: "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Who desires greater things for a son than his father? Surely our Father will bring about the best in, for and through us and we can't bargain to gain more favor or more love. Though the wind sometimes rages, He can calm the storm, and in the times when He doesn't, His grace will be sufficient.

Jesus calls Himself, "The Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Today, be encouraged.

Dayenu - It Would Have Been Enough

2008-01-01T01:03:00.000-06:00

It's the beginning of a new year and I'm not sure where the last one went! I remember some highs and some lows, some great times and some struggles. But looking back we're able to reflect on how God has taken care of us.

I sometimes get caught in the "have I done enough?", "am I doing enough?" struggle of Christian life. I reflect on what I have (or have not) accomplished and begin self-comparing, picking apart, measuring, assessing.... But I'm certain that no matter how much I have done or can do I have never done and can never do "enough" to afford the riches of God's mercy. And really, it's rather comforting that my God always "outdoes" me. He always does more. He always has, and I'm certain that He always will.

Times of reflection draw to mind the Hebrew song, "Dayenu" - closely translated, "it would have been enough." What I love most about that song is that it so clearly speaks of God's over-abundance of mercy and grace - sung about a people who consistently turned away from Him. Perhaps reflecting on the past year is a good time to recite a few stanzas of that song. You can then read a full explanation here.

"If He had brought us out of Egypt
and had not carried out judgments against them
- It would have been enough

If He had carried out judgments against them
and not against their idols
- It would have been enough

If He had destroyed their idols
and had not smitten their first-born
- It would have been enough

If He had smitten their first born
and not given us their wealth
- It would have been enough

If He had given us their wealth
and not split the sea for us
- It would have been enough

...
...

If He had brought us in to the land of Israel
and not given us the Holy Temple
- It would have been enough "

Looking back over one short year versus thousands of God's faithful care described in the Bible has a way of instilling hope for the coming years and humble appreciation for the past. If God had just given us the basic things of life over this past year and not blessed us with abundance, it would have been enough - and more than deserved!

It's amazing. God's faithfulness and care is always more than enough, always beyond what we need, always beyond what we can ask or think and so much more than we could ever earn. I don't know what's in store for 2008, but I'm sure of this: I have no idea what God can and wants to do. So I'm strapping in: I think I'm in for an awesome ride!

Happy New Year!

I Tithe Enough ...or... Why I'm Glad God Isn't Frugal

2007-10-02T09:52:00.001-06:00

I remember receiving my yearly tithing statement from my church. I recall opening it up anticipating confirmation of our family's faithfulness. Funny, huh? Why do we play such games? Regardless, I opened it up and did a quick calculation in my head of the obligatory 10% and then looked to have it come in more than that. Then I thought about the untraceable funds that my wife and I give and other things that we buy that we might consider to be "offering" and supporting the ministry that we believe so much in.

My next thought was justification of why I didn't give more, coupled with a strange satisfaction that I had probably given enough. Right on the heels of that thought, however, was a sinking feeling that God just doesn't do that with me, does he? It was as if the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, "you're so fortunate that I don't measure out to you in the same way!"

God doesn't look at us and say, "well, I think that's about enough blessing." He gives and gives, and then gives some more. Not only did God send Jesus to suffer and die to redeem us from certain death, he waits patiently for the fullness of his people to come in to the kingdom, and while waiting, makes a God-like promise that he will pour out blessings so great that we will not be able to contain them!

I'm glad that God doesn't keep the same strange balance with me and play mind games with himself. I would never want to hear from God, "I've given enough mercy. I've given enough grace. I've given enough comfort. I've given enough joy." I'm glad that he pours out of himself goodness, mercy, comfort, joy, hope and so much more that fills our lives with unspeakable blessings. I'm thankful that he gives out of the greatness and abundance of himself and in so doing, calls us and makes us able to pour out of the abundance of his Spirit in us into the lives of those around us.

Where would we be if God were frugal? I don't know, but I'm glad he's not!

Pray
God, thank you for your abundance. Thank you for the many blessings that we don't deserve, but you so quickly provide us. Thank you for using your standards of measurement and not ours. We trust that you have provided us these blessings for the growth of your kingdom and the fame of your name - not merely for ourselves. Teach us to be faithful in our giving - not only to our churches but to those around us. As we do so, confirm in our lives and the lives of those around us that our giving matters to you and your kingdom. Amen.

Faith Like a Child

2007-09-22T08:02:00.000-06:00

"Don't worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" Matthew 6:25-27

I see the simple trust and faith that my children have in my wife and me. They don't concern themselves with the details of how we continue to pay for day-to-day life, how their dinner is provided for, how they have clothing to wear or how we can go to the store to buy school supplies or an afternoon snack. They implicitly trust and are never worried about the stability of their lives and our family. Instead of being consumed with anxiety they spend their days playing, learning, growing.

The passage in Matthew ends with a great promise. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Oh, that we would seek after things of the kingdom rather than worrying about trivial things. Oh, that we would spend our time growing in the ways of God instead of seeking after the clothing that will make us look good or the myriad of food choices that we have. Eternally, without laying hold of the kingdom of God it really won't matter much what we ate or what we wore. And as we seek his kingdom, God has promised to provide for our needs so that we will bear much fruit for his honor and glory. As Jesus suggests, isn't that life more important than food or clothing?

Pray
God help us to put our trust in you for the things of this life. Do not let us be filled with faithless worry. Consume us with your greatness that we will abandon ourselves for the sake of your kingdom.

Unity in Differing Worship "Styles"

2007-09-19T08:11:00.001-06:00

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." - John 4:22-24

I was reminded by reading the archives of Touchstone Magazine's blog entries on worship that there are dramatic conflicts that exist among many Christians in regard to the "style" of our worship services. I am blessed to not have dissatisfaction working its way through our church, but we know of other churches with terrible struggles. Should music be fast or slow or a mix of both? Should everyone wear suits and ties or are jeans and a t-shirt acceptable? Is it necessary to say "thee" and "thine" or will "you" and "yours" suffice? I'm certain that you've heard or experienced many more points of disagreement than these.

The scripture does not directly teach us what clothing we should wear or style of music we should play when going to church. In fact, looking back into scripture sometimes creates cultural disconnects that cannot be reconciled: no one suggests that following the cultural norms of King David by playing the harp and lyre at a service would really cut it in mainstream North American services. Instead, church services are mostly based on cultural norms from (in many cases) hundreds of years of church tradition.

What should be at issue first and foremost is not the style of music or the dress. What should be our first priority is whether our worship services focus on the majesty of God through Jesus Christ. Do we speak the truths found in the Bible or do we gloss over them to serve the people instead of God? Do we prefer one another in our services more-so than our own interests? Do we spend our energies serving each other so as to build each other up in the Lord? Do we speak of and encourage faithfulness to God? Do we speak of his greatness, his holiness, his righteousness, his power, his sovereignty?

At stake here is not the style of our music. At stake is whether we, as a church, will be fully submitted to God as servants of the gospel. As the hymn recites, "look full in His wonderful face... and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace..." When we see Jesus our desires for our own tradition should fall silent at his feet. If our passion is to worship at the feet of Jesus and our wholehearted desire is to see him glorified in our services, then first and foremost we will strive for unity in the Spirit: are we all seeking the same thing? Are we all seeking that God would be glorified?

We should desire to be transparent to the light of Jesus so that we may become instruments by which the song of grace is sung. Then we, who through prayer and personal inventory know that we seek to honor God, should encourage others to honor God in their culture and traditions. After all, part of what makes the gospel so powerful is that Jesus is honored across cultural boundaries - he draws all men unto him - not just those who sing a particular style of music.

We get into all sorts of trouble when we use music styles as the benchmark for the glorification of God in our churches. Instead, let us use reverence, awe, the fear of the Lord, repentance, thirst for the Word of God, or love, joy, peace, patience... These are measurements that the Bible itself teaches unequivocally. Without those foundations built on the truth of God, any song - hymn, contemporary chorus, rock, harp or lyre - will mean little to God and anyone seeking him.