Echurch Blog Posts

Beware of snakes

Stephan Joubert — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:30:36 +0000

“Don’t worry, it’s not a poisonous snake,” my friend called out when his wife spotted a snake in the house. “I don’t care what make it is, just get it out of the house.” Sometimes the “make” or manufacture doesn’t count for much when a dangerous creature makes its appearance. The average person doesn’t need to be a snake expert when one appears on the scene. Yet, we have become domesticated and tame when the snake of Revelation 12 makes its appearance.

No, we don’t have to be full-time experts of everything that is wrong. Or about all the latest sins on the market. Indeed, Paul teaches in Romans 16 that we should be ignorant about sin and experts about God. But that doesn’t mean that we can rest on our laurels about what is wrong. We are called to be holy, like Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 4. A life well lived for God is equal to a life that flees from that which is wrong. A life that stretches to the honor of God is a life that is not at the same place on the same time as sin. Scared of a snake? No, only careful. The Lord is our only shelter and stronghold!

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Three lines to transform us from worship warehouses to worshipping followers

Stephan Joubert — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:03:10 +0000

The third line in the call of Our Lord would be something like: “Bring in and send out.” But the very first line that you’ll always hear from Jesus would be just two words: “Follow Me!” This is the ABC and the XYZ of the call to discipleship. Just this. “Follow Me.” Not: “Build me a church.” Or: “Change the world.” Nope! “Follow Me!” That’s it. Only in line three of the call would you hear the words of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) where Jesus said: “Go into All the World and Make Disciples…” By the way, He did not say “Raise up professional religious personnel to fulfil this call on behalf of all those part-time followers (as many people interpret it today).” Neither did he say: “Make good church members; create loyal cell group attendees; host large youth gatherings; hold numerous religious meetings; etc.” Nothing of the sort. Only that we must follow Him out there on the road intentionally and purposefully so that others would gladly join our little band or tribe of Jesus followers.

What about the second line in the call of Jesus? Yes, that would be to love the Lord with all of our hearts and with all of our souls. And to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus did not say we should build big static memorials and monuments for worship, or turn our buildings into worship warehouses (thanks Len Sweet for the image from your new book: I am a Follower, 2012). His emphasis was and still is on calling people in to follow Him and then to immediately send them out into the world as disciples to serve and love Him in whatever ways He called them to do. Only by being sold out to Christ and through loving Him with every nerve cell, heartbeat, breath and wink of our eyes, can we become real worshipping followers on the roads of life. Otherwise, if we get the lines mixed up, we’ll live our lives according to our own preset courses and programs. Then we’ll only head to those worship warehouses that suit our own consumerist religious needs. Hear the call of Christ, all three lines… and follow Him!

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Hearing new music

Stephan Joubert — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:46:43 +0000

In his great book Summoned to Lead, Len Sweet tells the story of Yousouf Karsh a well-known portrait photographer, who took pictures of some of the most famous people on the planet during the 20th century. Only once did he take a picture of someone’s back. It was that of Pablo Casals. While Casals was practicing Bach on his cello in a small French abbey in 1954 Karsh was so moved that he instantly took a picture of Casals bent over his cello right against the old chapel wall.

Years later some of Karsh’s portraits were on exhibition in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. There the curator noticed an elderly man who came to see the exhibition day after day. Every time he stopped in front of the photograph of Casals and stood there for what seemed to be ages. One day the curator walked up to this gentleman and kindly tapped him on the shoulder to find out why he came to see this picture every single day. Irritated the man frowned at the curator and said: “Hush, young man! Can’t you see I’m listening to the music?”

Beautiful! It reminds me of John Keats who, in his well-known poem “Ode on a Grecian Urn” wrote the following words:

“Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard
Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on;
Not to the sensual ear, but, more endear’d
Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone.”

The secret of life is to dance to different drums and to hear music that no one else hears, or listens to. I think this is what the first verses of Revelation 14 convey to us. Followers of Jesus hear different music. They hear the sounds of heaven. The bandwidth of their lives is set to the victorious notes of the Lamb that was slain. They sing songs of praise and joy in sync with all the occupants of heaven. That’s why they also train their ears to hear this divine music more clearly day after day.

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Faith is not a menu

Stephan Joubert — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:26:57 +0000

Menus are wonderful things. They offer choices. Last week, when we were dining out with friends, I thought about this as my wife paged through a menu as thick as a magazine. Faith, however, doesn’t work like a menu. At least not the type of faith that Jesus promoted. He doesn’t offer a bunch of spiritual options from which you can choose. It’s not as if you can choose three items from the following list, and ignore the rest: prayer, commitment, self-control, love for fellow believers, plove for all people… Still, that’s exactly what many people do. We have a spiritual menu. We serve God on our terms and inside our comfort zones. We follow Him as long as we can determine the way, the direction and the sacrifices.

No, God is not a Funspoiler. He is not out to try and spoil your fun. The Lord’s route is really packed full with joy. He leads us on the route of happiness… but then it’s on his terms! On Christ’s route we are always followers. We don’t take the lead. That’s why we don’t have the “luxury” of deciding when we want to pray and when we don’t. Or when we want to care about others and when we want to be rude. We serve God full-time, like Jesus explains in Luke 17:7-10. We all have the same calling: to be his disciples! Take note, not his admirers, fans or supporters!

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Your walking is your preaching!

Stephan Joubert — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:49:49 +0000

Someone writes: “There is no use walking anywhere to preach, if your walking is not preaching.” True words. It’s easy to tell others how they should live, or to continually find fault with the behavior of those around us. Still, we all have clay feet. Wait, let me rather just talk for myself. Recently, when someone reminded me that I wrote about the control of our tongues and that it seemed to her that I spoke too easily in a specific situation, I tasted my clay tongue right there. I remembered that it’s easier to preach than to walk your preaching-route in everyday life.

However, there’s good news. Every one of us who belongs to the Lord is still under construction. We are life-long sculptures in progress in the hands of our heavenly Sculptor. We are under permanent construction of the Holy Spirit. He’s the Master Builder from heaven. He transforms human ruins into living temples who honor God. Sometimes we play owner-builder and chaos ensues. Thankfully God starts over with us on a daily basis. That gives me hope to keep walking every day.

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How not to get involved in every verbal street fight…

Stephan Joubert — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:04:58 +0000

Sometimes we’re forced by others to say whether we’re for or against something, someone or a certain cause or belief. Atheists who are on a crusade to spread their beliefs (of not believing in God), or religious fundamentalists who believe only their ‘superior’ views on God are correct, will often try to force you to answer right or wrong, yay or nay, when they confront you with their ‘correct’ perspectives. Most individuals, including myself, fall for their tricks. Their threats and challenges (of you going go hell, or being the joke of the week because of what you believe) are often so convincing that you give in and try to answer their aggressive questions. Afterwards you always want to kick yourself for being so naive, because they always end up as the victors who have the last say.

Far too many times I got involved in debates or discussions that left me with toxic feelings and thoughts afterwards. Perhaps it’s because I have a permanent sticker on my forehead that reads: ‘Sucker for punishment.’ Or perhaps it’s because of my eagerness not to let a good debate slip through my fingers. In any case, it’s not wise to get involved in verbal discussions with bullies, especially those religious or non-religious bullies who see you as their next human target to beat up through verbal abuses and one-sided rational arguments.

The solution — well, it’s as simple as staying away from bullies. Avoid them as far as possible. They’re everywhere — on the Internet, at the office, in church… Never get involved in their game. They only play according to their own rules and game plan. They have no plans to listen to you, or to be open to suggestions, ideas or any other viewpoints. Once you allow them to pose their questions and get into their ‘fighting stance,’ they’ll dictate the conversation. You’ll only end up as the accused who must always answer to them.

Secondly, choose your battles well. You can’t sidestep all conflicts. Sometimes you have to face people that disagree with you. But choose wisely how, where and when to respond. Remember that you don’t have to play on the same field as those who oppose, challenge or threaten you verbally. Choose some good questions of your own. Yes, and also learn from Proverbs 26:4-5 that sometimes silence is a far better answer than words. To answer a fool could change you into a fool as well.

Thirdly, walk away from any discussion that turns into a verbal skirmish. You don’t have to win all debates. It’s a sign of immaturity. Only school kids want to win all fights at all costs. Admit you’re too weak to play on the verbal battlegrounds of your superior competition and get away from there.

Lastly, always choose to bless and uplift others through your words and interactions. Sidestep toxic words. Choose words that create oxygen and safe spaces for others.

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Your route map for 2012

Stephan Joubert — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:26:08 +0000

According to tradition, tent-dwelling Bedouins in the desert asked three things of any strangers they encountered: “Who are you? Where are you coming from? How far have you progressed on your journey?” Good questions, right? How about another here at the start of 2012: “How do you feel about the stage of your life that you’re currently at?”

We’re all travelers, and that doesn’t only apply at the beginning of the year with all our plans and resolutions. All of life is a journey, one with a starting point, a direction and a final destination. The art of a well-lived life is to know who is your Traveling Companion and other fellow travelers, on which route you find yourself, and where you’ll encounter the end of the road. By the way, if your most important Traveling Companion this year is not God Himself, then you’re going to get lost along the way. Then you aren’t really traveling… No, then you’re merely wandering around from day to day. Ask Jesus to be your permanent Traveling Companion. Then He’s also the Way and the real Destination like He says in John 14:6.

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Good wishes are not enough in 2012

Stephan Joubert — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:10:59 +0000

Everyone is wishing each other merry Christmas and a happy new year. Even banks and clothing stores are doing it nowadays with a general text message. When your birthday arrives, good wishes abound as well. But has anyone ever followed up two weeks after their good wishes and asked whether they are becoming a reality? Have you discovered the true joy of the Child in the Manger like every text message wished you? Has anyone who wished you a happy new year send a message that they’re still praying for those wishes to come true in your life?

When parents tell their working or studying children something like: “Drive safe,” they phone later or send a message enquiring about their child’s safety. Meaning, they follow up their good wishes with good deeds. But this applies to almost no one who wishes each other things like: “May all your dreams come true in the new year.” Wait, I’m not saying that it’s hypocritical to share such wishes. It’s a really nice custom! What I’m saying is that we as followers of the Lord should take these wishes serious enough to follow up with further caring words and acts. Don’t wait for others to do it to you first. Follow Jesus’ Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12. Do first to others what you would like them do to you! Just think how you will take the wind from people’s sails if you give them a follow up call or message here in the second week of 2012 to see if the wishes you prayed down over them are starting to happen. Or if you repeat those very wishes and ensure them that you will regularly ask the Lord to make them a reality.

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Beware of those unwelcome visitors around this time in January

Stephan Joubert — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:22:26 +0000

Recently I read an interesting study which found that if your were depressed before your annual holiday, these symptoms will return within ten days after you start working again. Even if you do not suffer depression during your well-earned rest, if you were privileged enough to go away during the December holidays, would be over and done with within three weeks. Burnout, tiredness, anxiety, lack of energy, etc., will soon make an unwelcome return around this time. Beware! They will reappear. They will jump out of November 2011’s closets and haunt you all over again.

Is there a solution? YES! It begins with the realization that rest is not just about going away on a holiday. Holidays are important too. But regular sabbaths are what we all need. God created us as human beings. That’s why we get tired. We aren’t robots or machines that can, should or must work around the clock 365 days a year. That’s why God built in a weekly sabbath; a tools-down and time-out day of rest. Unfortunately the Sabbath all too soon turned into a day of “don’t” and “not allowed” restrictions in Israel. It became a superficial religious day filled to the brim with strict laws and commandments. That’s why Hebrews 4 tells us that Israel never really kept the Sabbath and that the true Sabbath rest still awaits God’s people.

Sabbath was created for man and not vice versa, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 12. We need rest on a weekly basis. We need to interrupt our hectic schedules to hear God’s voice properly. The only answer to burnout and fatigue is a Sabbath once a week. Turn off your cellphone and Internet on that day. Make time to enjoy the presence of your loved ones. Read a good book. Take long walks. Watch the sunrise and sunset. Go to church. It will really change your life in twenty twelve!

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The right kind of joy has your name and address

Stephan Joubert — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:43:45 +0000

New year’s resolutions are the order of the day. Everyone wants to lose… weight, I mean! Everyone wants to change and become better. Still, most new year’s resolutions last only three weeks. No wonder that Joey Adams says: “May all your troubles last as long as your new year resolutions.” Mark Twain puts it even stronger: “New Year’s Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”

What about joy as the main aim of 2012? “What’s new?” I can hear you asking. Joy normally lasts only as long as the Christmas season. Joy is gone with the 2011 December break as soon as “real life” resumes in 2012. Well, here’s a news flash. You don’t have to search for joy. It is as futile as trying to catch a handful of wind. Joy searches for you — The Lord’s kind I mean! All other forms of joy are man-made and temporary. Only joy that reads “Made in heaven” is lasting. It’s circumstance-proof. It doesn’t fade with age or lose value with use.

How does God’s joy find you? I don’t know. There’s no recipe or three easy steps. But what I do know is that Ecclesiastes 2:24 is true: “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” God shares his kind of joy freely with all his loved ones. You don’t acquire it. You only receive it in surprising, supernatural ways. What I know for sure is that God is today extending an invitation to you to receive his peace. Prepare yourself to be surprised and overcome by heavenly joy during 2012. Live in expectation!

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