In episode 17 of the The Glass Table, dubbed The Lamp Edition, Pastor Josh and Pastor Dave take questions about staying connected with Life Group during the summer break and how to get involved with Crash The Dash. For more info on Crash The Dash, check out our website. And if this is your first time tuning into the The Glass Table, check out previous episodes.

If we tend to listen, but not respond; or listen, but not seek God’s Word ourselves; we come away with a skewed perspective that Christianity concerns itself primarily with behavioral modification. To be sure, our behavior will change, but the difference between a transformed life and a good person is akin to the difference between a Navy Seal and a Boy Scout. We must personally reach for God’s Word because in its pages, God speaks.

God’s voice reverberates as a thunderclap, yet beckons as a whisper. God calls his people to draw close and hear promises, encouragement, commands, prohibitions, wisdom, caution, relationship counsel and so much more. Though God’s revelation is sealed, it remains a living document, breathed out from his original creative acts. The power that spoke matter into existence still speaks. As Amos 4:13 explains, equivalent with the miracle of creation, is the miracle of God translating his heavenly voice to our human mind. And we are to listen.

The Bible puts our desires into context because it puts us into context. It unleashes the essence of his nature and his sovereign design for the universe, and connects those attributes directly to our human situation. Our goodness quotient tries to mold God’s Word into a tidy theological handbook for living. But God is seeking communion and relationship, not the appearance of ritual. And when we attempt to control outcomes, Jesus fires back, “Which one of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” Good Person Syndrome is all about appearances, control and recognition. The transformed life is about responding to a God who speaks and interacts with us.

The Creator’s words announce, “I love you. Follow Me. Find acceptance and life in Me. Everyone else fails. My child, please listen.” Good Person Syndrome offers temporal affirmation, connection and communication through things and people. Why is it so compelling? Because we can see our friends, and quantify our good deeds. Faith requires action based upon the unseen. And so Jesus – knowing the cumulative weight self-righteousness straps on human shoulders – speaks to us lovingly, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Read God’s Word. Hear his voice. What does He say about you? What does he say to you? Rest assured it will be about His goodness, not ours. Don’t know where to start? Ask one of the pastors. You can also check out ESV Bible and search reading plans. God speaks to us through His Word. How do we speak to Him? In the next post, we’ll see how responding to our Lord in prayer helps us to combat our proclivity to seek others’ approval.

We often say, “I sponsor a child” without much thought of the impact. I know. It is hard. We get a photo, set up the bank draft, and sometimes, the child slips from our thoughts. We may send a Christmas card, but for the most part, we tend to forget about our sponsored child. I am here to say, to beg of you, do not let this happen.

When I journeyed to our CarePoint in Mpholi, I knew it would be a special moment when I finally got to meet our “special friend,” Lindokuhle. I was truly unprepared for just how special. The first two days, Lindo was not at the CarePoint. I was getting worried, due to the fragile nature of life itself in Swaziland. Finally, on the third day, one of the Go-Gos asked me if I was still looking for Lindokuhle Mlambo. She pointed and when that little girl turned around and saw me, she knew me. SHE KNEW ME! We sent letters (not enough) and photos (probably enough – I love photos!) and Lindo and I embraced as I wept with joy. My sweet girl was alive!

The rest of the week, I admit it, I struggled not to be overprotective. Did Lindo get her fruit? Did Lindo get her craft materials? Can I pick out Lindo’s dress? I was the epitome of mama bearin’ that girl, and she ate it up.

One of the most vivid memories of my time in Swazi is when I sat with Lindo, and some other kids as they opened their gift bags. (Sponsors had the chance to pack a ziplock bag with certain items and include a note and photo.) The kids who sat by me ALL went for the letter and photo first. Numelungelo took hers out and said proudly, “This, this is my special friend. My Judy. (Kessinger)”

If you think they aren’t reading your letters, you are mistaken. If you think they don’t love the photos, they do. If you are underestimating the impact that this part of your sponsorship makes, please, please, please, please don’t! We may not receive letters back. These kids are walking miles to visit the CarePoint in some cases, but don’t lose heart. Your written words are making an impact!

Set your phone reminder, write yourself a note, put a post-it on your bathroom mirror, and remember to write your sponsor child, believe me, it has an impact.

I’ve been in the church a LONG time. I grew up in church. My Dad was in occupational ministry. I went to Bible college. I’m on staff at church now. After many years of exposure to the Christian faith and Christians in general, I’ve come to conclude that the single greatest challenge the followers of Christ face is our overwhelming desire to be a good person. I call it Good Person Syndrome.

How on earth could being a good person be a bad thing? Glad you asked. Here’s how I define a “good person.” A good person wants to be well thought of, reliable, and maintain a solid reputation. A good person likes to be considered a “nice guy,” a “sweet girl,” or “pretty cool.” A good person is a straight arrow who maintains their job, pays their bills and is a hard worker. A good person has a positive attitude and has mastered the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. A good person loves their kids and doesn’t get in trouble with the law.

You may still ask, “Are you saying these are wrong?”  I’ll answer your question with a question. Of these characteristics, which requires Jesus? The answer is none. Most, if not every, friend I have who is not of the Christian faith would aspire to the characteristics on the above list. The point is that goodness is not godliness. The desire to be a good person is misplaced trust in ourselves and is, essentially, a version of works-based righteousness.

Look at it this way. Being nice is not the same as loving. Being dependable is not the same as faithfulness. Avoiding a night club is not the same as personal purity. Filing your taxes honestly is not the same as generosity. Being a good person is measured against the wind-driven standard of personal achievement. Compared to her, I’m pretty decent.

In short order we convert faith found in the risen Savior into little task list rule-based scenarios. The numeric ciphering of our faith creates a sort of goodness quotient. If I ask someone to describe their spiritual journey with Jesus, I’ll often receive a response like: “I need to work on it. I only read my Bible three times this week.” or “I’m not praying enough.” or “I should serve more.” Good Person Syndrome converts life into a metric, a system of comparison and quantification that measures our goodness against others.

Over a series of posts, we’ll address how to overcome Good Person Syndrome by strengthening our spiritual core. The faith that you have found in the grace of Jesus is the extension of a divine calling. It is not a call to be an above-average, positive influence on society. It is a call to spiritual transformation so radical your life will produce the energy of dueling tectonic plates. This spiritual development, found only in the sacrificial renewal of our minds and hearts, will metamorphosize your focus from a well-intentioned longing to be good, to an unrestrained grace-saturated desire to glorify our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

In Mark 10:17-22 we find Jesus having a discussion with a wealthy young man intent on earning his way into the Kingdom. Though this young man had a lot going for him and  had kept the law to the best of his ability, here’s how Jesus responds:

“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Mark 10:21 ESV

Jesus was trying to make a point: that all the young man needed for today, tomorrow, and eternity was Jesus. Instead of trusting in the temporary, Jesus was calling this young man to an eternal relationship with Him. Jesus is Greater.

At the end of March, the students of Salem Chapel and their friends got away from home for a week-end and gathered for Spring Retreat 2012 held at Merriwood Christian Camp. The weekend was filled with great times together, fun games, powerful worship and solid teaching based on that same principle that Jesus told the young man from Mark 10. Many of the students identified people, possessions, ambitions, or situations that they needed to acknowledge Jesus is great than. It is our prayer that the commitments and decisions made over the weekend will take root in their hearts and provoke them to respond, and truly find life by following Jesus.

Thank you Salem Chapel for your prayers for this weekend, they were heard. Please continue to lift up our students that they would truly believe Jesus is greater, and pray for our ministry staff and volunteers as we continue to try to teach and model this to them.

Maintenance guy, “Andrew,” not so terrified. It could have been the rifle slung around his shoulder, but in all honesty, rifle or no rifle, I had the sense Andrew knew a thing or two about bears. I did not. I asked Andrew in my most masculine prepubescent voice, “What do we do?” Andrew calmly and calculatedly gave me instructions to follow and I heeded each and every one with exacting obedience.

Oddly, even though the threat of the bear remained, I felt a tremendous measure of security knowing I was in the good hands of somebody who knew what they were doing. Sadly, Jesus offers a far greater level of security to those who would follow his instruction and yet, I find myself going my own way and disregarding his counsel. Thankfully, I am not the first person Jesus has encountered with a similar attitude and perhaps, is why he shared — appearing somewhat frustrated — the following in Luke 6:46-49,

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Truth is, if I really believed the threat was imminent, I would be far more obedient to the instruction of Christ. Jesus’ point however, is the moment of attack is too late to heed his instruction. When the storm comes upon us, we need to be ready. There is a great security that comes from obedience. It creates a confidence in me, that no matter what happens, I will be OK. If I desire that security, I need to become obedient now.

Do you hear the words of Christ and do them? If not, you should not expect to withstand the storm when it comes. Obviously, as the one writing this, I was not eaten by that bear. I listened and was obedient. Nights later Andrew “solved” our bear problem. He knew what to do.

Do you call Jesus “Lord”?  Trust him.  Do what he says as if your life depended on it.