Perspective for a New Year

2018 IS HERE!!! The long anticipated New Year is upon us (whether we are ready for it or not). It is my hope and prayer that each of us will experience all the goodness that this year will allow. What follows are some thoughts and hopefully a positive perspective for a new year.

This picture holds one of my favorite Brennan Manning quotes. A reminder to have a proper perspective about myself before I can truly perceive anyone or anything else. Before I dive into thoughts and perspectives allow me to throw out a disclaimer: I'm still working on all of these.

1) ROOT OUT INSECURITY
Honestly, if we can start here then a lot of the hard work is behind us. I cannot tell you the root of your insecurities anymore than I can identify my own at times. However, the reality is that it's there and we have to deal with it.
The longer we allow ourselves to be wrapped up in our own insecurities, the more warped our perception becomes of the things around us. NOTHING IS SAFE! Relationships, self-care, faith, and whatever else that may come our way are all susceptible. See insecurity for what it is. It's not a good defense mechanism. It's not the true self. It's a hindrance to the abundant life of Christ flowing through you.

2) KILL FEAR
Insecurity has a partner in crime and it is fear. Fear is the soil that when cultivated allows our insecurities to grow beyond our imagination. The antidote for fear is love. Read the Scriptures. "There is no fear in love..." The reality is that the more we are able to define ourselves as one who is radically loved by God, part of the beloved, the more we will be able to snuff out fear completely. The Bible also says in 1 John that the "one who fears has not been made perfect in love." Why would we ever allow fear to live and roam freely in our lives. Let's kill it.

3) CHANGE YOUR LENS
It may go without saying, but this is important. Scripture reminds us that WE ARE TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF OUR MIND. The more we allow our thought life to be dominated by the false self (the self that is created outside of relationship with the Father) the more difficult it becomes to live from the true self in Christ.
Take the time to equip yourself with verses and phrases from the Bible that speak to your identity as a son/daughter of God. Confess (say the same thing) about yourself that the Father has spoken through the men who penned the words of Scripture. See yourself through this lens.

4) LIVE FROM INSTEAD
I hear people often describe themselves from these feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, fear, and the like. Always negative about themselves. Always choosing to see and feel the worst. What if you lived from the instead? You know...Instead of that you are really this? In other words, rather than live from the negative you choose INSTEAD to live from the positive? That you allow yourself the freedom to let go of the negativity that tends to dominate the way we see life. Choosing, instead, to use the proper lens along with the proper vocabulary to describe yourself. So many have quotes Romans 3 "we are all sinners" INSTEAD of quoting "we are all justified" which follows. See the difference? You have a choice.

5) ENJOY THE JOURNEY
I know you were waiting for it. This has become my hashtag, my own way of seeing things, my choice to find the joy in life.
To enjoy something means to "take delight or pleasure in..." It also means to "possess and benefit from."
Can you imagine that? Imagine possessing and benefiting from life. Allowing every turn in the road, every mountain we cross, every struggle we go through to sow something good in us.
While everything we experience isn't joyful, what we get from these experiences can be. Discipline isn't enjoyable (Scripture teaches this), but what it creates in us is something valuable.

Do yourself a favor in 2018:
Be wrapped up in the love of God.
Allow the peace of God to surpass all understanding.
Never give insecurity authority in the way you think and/or speak.
#enjoythejourney

Happy Thanksgiving

Recapturing Hope

Romans 15:13, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." NLT

This blessing prayed by the Apostle Paul over the church of Rome is incredibly valuable to us today. A reminder that even in the darkest of days that we have inexhaustible hope from our Heavenly Father who is the source. The greater our ability to trust in Him, the greater our ability to walk in hope. Then, according to Paul, we will overflow with confident hope through the power of Holy Spirit. It is my prayer that this hope return to each and every one of us.

I've given this topic a lot of thought over the last few days. To the point where I wonder if we are to blame in some way for the lack of hope that so many people experience. I mean, should we not be the carriers of hope? The ones who believe in spite of everything? I'm not implying that we are perfect in our resolve to believe. I'm simply saying that there should be something inside of us that refuses to quit. If the Early Church could carry hope for the world in the midst of the tribulation they experienced, then why would the church of today not carry at least the same amount?

Here's why I believe that we are to blame. At least in part:
The distant disapproving deity that has been espoused by much of Christendom is a far cry from the Father embodied in Jesus. Much of what we have proclaimed and defended is not even close to the "Good Tidings of Great Joy" that was meant to be for all people. Jesus' revelation of His Father was one of incredible love for this world. A message about the goodness of God that sounds an awful lot like a Father who runs to us in our shame and welcomes us home. A God who is not far from us at all. When you take this understanding and place it against much of what we have preached and taught it's easy to understand why people get confused. Why there are more people filled with fear and dread rather than joy and peace. Why I have had countless conversations where God was a source of pain rather than the source of hope.

You may not agree with me in this assessment but I ask that you at least hear me out. For many people in this world the story of God's love has been drowned out by messages of wrath. Rather than coming to believe in a God who has done everything to reconcile the world, they are afraid of a God who cannot wait to get even. Pronouncements of future judgement, misunderstandings about history and the future, and misinterpretations of what we discover in the Scriptures have not only kept people skeptical but has also robbed them of all hope. How can they hope in a God that they cannot trust? How can they find peace when it seems like all they hear is judgement? How can they be assured of goodness when all they feel is condemnation?

We have done a poor job carrying the message of hope that the Apostles entrusted to us. The fact is that there are so many people IN the church who don't seem to have hope much less those who are outside of our walls of fellowship. A hope that we need to recapture and recapitulate to the world and one another. Hope is not a commodity to be bought and sold but a crucial element to abundant life. A key ingredient to a life well lived. A foundational element to our faith. Without hope, what do we hope for?

Look around you. See how many people struggle in darkness, depression, and despair. There is so much loneliness in our world. More and more people whose only hope is found in a prescription, a drug, the bottle, or a failing relationship. The number of people who have been prescribed anti-depressants has sky rocketed over the last few years. So many people who are trapped in a fog trying to get a handle on life. With nowhere (it seems) left to turn. We tell them that faith in Jesus can help, but these numbers are also reflective of those of us in the church. Something must be done. Hope has to be restored.

I'm not saying that I have the answer. What I am saying is that when we talk about our Heavenly Father, HOPE should be present. HOPE should fill each and every heart. Why? Because He is the source of all HOPE.

I know for myself that when my understanding of the Father changed so did my level of hope. I was no longer afraid. His love pushes all fear aside and helps us to become grounded in who He is. The more I grew in this understanding the more hope I carried. Becoming exactly as the Apostle Paul stated: Overflowing with Confident Hope through the Power of the Holy Spirit. It didn't happen overnight. It took a lot of deconstructing. However, I'm here to say that there is hope. There is a way to believe in God that brings incredible hope. A way to read and understand the Bible that doesn't leave us fearful or questioning His character. An experience of the Father that makes you feel like a son. A confidence that cannot be shaken. While I may not understand everything in life, I do believe that God loves us more than we can possibly imagine. That His love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out. A love that is full of new mercies every day.

You may think that this is foolish but I ask you to look into your own life. Can you speak of the Father's love over your own life with certainty? Do you know His peace through each and every situation of life or do you believe He creates the chaos that you often feel? Have you been able to fully surrender to the love of God or do you still do everything out of fear? Are you doing everything out of a sense of obligation or because you know that it's a part of your sonship? Is your hope in Him or in your performance? Still think it's foolish?

All I know is that the Early Church carried this amazing hope. A product of the Good News and the abiding faith of Jesus in them. An inheritance that they would not squander. May we be found as faithful to this hope. It's who we are.

Something Has to Give

Below you will find an image of one of my most favorite quotes. It comes from North Carolina native Vance Havner (1901-1986). I often revisit this quote as it comes up in many of my conversations.

I wish that more and more Christians thought like this. I wish that we would stop thinking that the loudest person wins the argument. That our constant need to be right would stop trumping the need for humility. That we would discover in the Gospels that self giving love speaks more volumes than our need to dominate. Criticism changes nothing. Conforming changes us. Combustion...well that is another story isn't it? I think about the Apostles being seen as those who turned the world upside down. Sharing the good news, creating community, and demonstrating the love of the Father. An approach that is much different than the Crusades mentality that we tend to carry. Something has to give.

This morning I was thinking about the differences between Religion and Relationship. A subject that we have shared countless times in this blog. I want to express some thoughts with you that might help you understand where I'm coming from today.

Religion, in and of itself, is not a bad thing. At least not if you take the first definition. Religion is the belief in God (or gods). I don't know of anyone within the Christian community that wants to argue that belief in God is a bad thing. However, it is the second part of the definition that creates the problems. Religion is also viewed as an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship God. And it is here that we discover the issues. We actually believe that our beliefs, our ceremonies, and our rules worship God.

Relationship, on the other hand, is the way in which two or more people, groups, etc. talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other. The way in which two or more people or things are connected. Think about it. We can relate to one another based upon our belief in God. In fact, we do this quite often. It's not about the belief system, the ceremonies, or the rules. Just two people who share a belief in the Divine. In the case of most Christians this is the belief about God as revealed in Jesus Christ. This is how we talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other. You are a child of God and so am I. The problem that comes into relationships is when we believe the only way to relate towards, deal with, and talk to one another is in the system. Where that which we have organized and believe is the only proper way to worship God.

Does this make sense to you?

If the way in which we relate to one another is based upon the system, then we can stop relating to one another every time someone goes against the system. In other words, if you believe that the only proper way to have religion is to believe a certain thing about God then all I have to do is disagree with you. When I disagree with you then you can choose to stop having relationship with me. Which falls right in line with a proper system of religious belief. What happens when more and more people disagree with you? Then your circle of family and friends gets smaller. Placing you in a remnant of those who are right, in line with the truth, and possibly the only saved bunch in the whole lot. Sound familiar? It sounds familiar because you have either experienced this or been a part of it. You may be a part of it right now. The sad part is that this is not how relationships or religion were meant to be played out.

Jesus said it quite simply: "THIS IS HOW ALL MEN WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES. IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER."
Your status as a disciple of Jesus is not measured by your belief system.
It's not measured by your ceremonies.
It's not measured by your ability to keep the rules.
NO. To say it as simply as Jesus did, the way in which you prove that you are in right relationship with the Lord is through your love for your brother.

What does this have to do with Vance Havner's quote? It has everything to do with it. At least in my thinking. We are trying to move the world through criticism and/or conformity. Why? Because that it exactly the way we have learned to do it in the Church. We either criticize those who think differently, worship differently, or have a different set of rules; or we conform to them. We do what they do in order to get along and be accepted. We take this same approach with the world. We don't want to be seen as accepting of the word's system so we constantly criticize. Or we decide that we can simply conform to the world in many areas to become acceptable among them. Neither of which changes anything. The only answer, according to Havner and witnessed within the Scriptures, are lives ignited by the Spirit of God. Men and women who explode on the scenes with great love and a demonstration of power. People who bear witness to the self giving love of the Savior. Those who are proven over and over again by their love for one another.

Do we think the world really takes notice because many Christians are boycotting another Disney production?
Do we think that we are going to change the world by refusing services to people who are not like us?
Do we really believe that God is honored because we speak condemnation over certain portions of the Earth's population?
Not only that, but many of the fights that we tend to engage in are just pure nonsense. Wasteful. Inadequate to produce the results we want.

We do not have to conform to the world to prove we love people.
We don't have to criticize people to prove that we love God.
We can learn what it means to be Salt and Light in the Earth. Setting a fire in the hearts of people. Demonstrating that there is a greater way of life, of religion, and of relationship. Something has to give. It should start with us.

A More Excellent Way

"Let me show you a more excellent way. LOVE..." This is what I heard when thinking about Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Something, that quite honestly, is easy to forget.

I've been accused of sounding like a hippie, but I assure you that this type of LOVE IS NOT the "free love" of the 60's. Neither am I advocating some type of marshmallow type of love that cannot handle the difficult things. No, what I'm referring to is the type of LOVE that doesn't mind getting its hands dirty. The kind of LOVE that can withstand even the greatest of tragedies and circumstances. A LOVE that is not rooted in our ability but does require our participation. The AGAPE (LOVE) of God. That which is unconditional, unmerited, and unrestrained. A LOVE that goes beyond all of our preconceived notions. The very same LOVE that was demonstrated at the Cross of the Christ.

I'm amazed at how quickly we forget that the love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13 is the greatest power in Heaven and on Earth. That we often assume that it is much greater to speak in the tongues of men and angels, to have the faith to move mountains, and to possess the ability to understand all mysteries. All of these, according to the Apostle, pale in comparison to LOVE. Which, translated into our lives, is the grace to walk in the very essence of God.

Paul had been dealing with some great schisms among the believers. It seems as though it didn't take long for the church to begin to divide into various groups. Some of them devoted to one teacher or another. Others using their spiritual gifts as a way to climb the ecclesiastical ladder. Paul, explaining the way in which the Spirit of God graces each and every one of us with various gifts, moves the conversation through a powerful transition. While all of these gifts are great, there is a more excellent way. L-O-V-E.

I realize that this poses many problems for us. While many of us affirm the need for LOVE, and even the command to LOVE one another, the reality is that we tend to give a nod in LOVE'S direction but continue to pursue the other things. For the Apostle, LOVE was the greatest of things to be named among us. The one thing that had great eternal value. The benchmark with which all other gifts and abilities would be measured. We may be able to prophecy the paint off the wall but without LOVE we are nothing. What a huge contrast to how we perceive God's activity among us.

What if the greatest among us are not the ones who can preach like no other?
What if our effectiveness in the world is not tied to what we know or do not know?
What if the Father is after something more lasting among us than our ability to communicate a gospel message?
What if LOVE is more than the foundation but also the culmination of all that we do?

LOVE is patient and kind. Therefore, it points to a greater reality of the nature of God.

LOVE doesn't get tied up in all of the junk that we do. So there isn't a need to envy, boast, or become arrogant and rude.

The fact that LOVE does not insist on its own way tells us that we have far to go in seeing this perfect LOVE embodied in us. Since even the greatest among us can become irritable or resentful when we don't get what we want.

Paul seemed to really drive the point home about LOVE not rejoicing at wrongdoing since the Corinthians had been propping up people who were living immoral lifestyles. No, says Paul, LOVE rejoices when the truth wins out in our lives.

This morning I was struck with the way in which one of our English translations stated that LOVE does not take into account a wrong suffered. I wonder how many hours I've given to this type of wrong thinking?

LOVE bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. How many of the other gifts can make this claim?

LOVE NEVER ENDS.

Shouldn't those last three words clue us in to the greatest need among us? Should not this enduring quality of LOVE move us toward a greater pursuit? Rather than chasing after the gifts of the Spirit, jockeying for position among the believers, or seeking to justify our spirituality among one another; what if we decided that LOVE would be the greatest among us? Determine in our hearts that LOVE is the more excellent way.

Personally, un-apologetically, I would rather be remembered for the LOVE that I demonstrated than for the gifts that operated within me. I would rather be honored for LOVE than for preaching, for compassion rather than success, and for mercy rather than ministry. While I love sharing in the prophetic, seeing the mountains move, and speaking through the enablement of the Spirit; the reality is that those things don't mean as much to me as they once did. LOVE means the most because I have discovered that it is here that we experience the reality of God. Is this not the reality that the Apostle John was pointing towards when he said, "So we have come to know and to believe the LOVE that GOD has for us. GOD is LOVE, and whoever abides in LOVE abides in GOD, and GOD abides in him."?

I do believe the Spirit is speaking to the church today. "Come. Let me show you a more excellent way. LOVE!"

FINALLY!!!

Greetings friends. I know that it has been a while. I have been to Ukraine since we last spoke, baseball season is upon us, and life continues to roll on. It's great to share with you again. I hope that you will be encouraged.

I jumped on here today to talk about one thing and one thing only. THIS IS US. The new series that airs on NBC every Tuesday evening. Have you watched it? It really is quite the phenomenon. Seems as though everyone I know is watching it, recording it, or catching up to it. My wife and I began watching this show from the very beginning. It's been quite a while since we had a TV show. You know, the kind that you just cannot miss. Each episode is set to record just in case. And all I know to say at this point is: FINALLY!!! There is finally a show on television worth investing in. A show that speaks to family (regardless of what that family looks like). A show that has done something that hasn't been done in a long time. It presents a father that is engaged with his family. Quite refreshing.

I realize that I'm a little late with this post. I'm sure that others have already shared some of the same sentiments that I want to express. However, this needs to be said. All of the networks need to understand that there is a hunger among so many in America to view programs such as this one. They also need to know that it's not just the middle class, white, conservative Christian, Americans that want to see it. There's people from all walks of life, all types of backgrounds and cultures, who have found this show to be intriguing, inspiring, and absolutely invigorating.

Recently I read a blog post from someone who was talking about Jack Pearson (the father) and how people have waited decades to see a dad portrayed in this light. Which is one of the many reasons I love the show. Here is a man, a husband, a father of three, doing everything in his power to create a home, raise a family, and truly invest his life into the people he loves. He's not stupid. He's not disengaged. He's in the middle of it all. So involved that he's often referred to as a superhero. It's almost too good to be true. In fact, many have wondered if the writers have set us up. If they are just waiting to pull away the curtain and reveal someone other than this amazing father. It remains to be seen. Until then...I'm believing that they purposefully intended for us to love this character as much as the other people within the show.

Which brings me to why I'm writing about a television series. An important statement in and of itself. This isn't a movie. This is a show that people are intentionally watching every week. They are taking the time to watch this drama unfold every Tuesday evening (or whatever time they have set aside to watch). Of course, it has its nuances. Actually dealing with real life issues. Things that we see play out for us every day and in every generation. All the while doing it in a way that doesn't seem to make a polarizing statement. I appreciate that. Especially considering that you can't even watch ESPN without hearing something political anymore. This show has captured the hearts of millions of viewers and at least has us thinking about family in whatever context we understand it.

Maybe that is why I love the show. There is something rather wholesome about it. A purity of heart that seems to be expressed by the writers and actors. All of the struggles seem real. All of the problems are real problems. We see the difficulty of marriage, of raising kids, of sibling rivalry, of dealing with death, and of how to properly embrace life. There is something genuine here and it has grabbed the attention of our population. That is a good thing.

I asked my wife the other night: "I wonder how many people look at Jack Pearson and wish there husbands were like him?" I wonder inside myself how many men look at him and wonder if that is really possible? Can a dad be that engaged? Can a husband be that selfless? Can any of us really overcome the inner struggles that would love to ruin every good thing in our life? I believe, in the end, we will hear of stories of men and women who were inspired by this portrayal of the American family. It's not sanitized. It's not portrayed in the awkward Christian bubble of how married people are supposed to behave. No, instead it is gritty, passionate, gut-wrenching, and honest. And for that, those of us who have watched it are extremely thankful.

So...why is a pastor blogging about the merits of a TV show from a national network. Honestly? It's because we need shows that are family positive. We need the substance. We need to move out of the fake "reality TV" junk and move into this type of creativity. People have grown tired of shows that pretend to focus on real life. This fact is seen in the knee jerk reaction of many producers thinking that they have to take greater risks. Show more sex. Push everything to the limit of what can be said or shown on television. Instead, the greater population is watching "This Is Us." Which reminds me of the time that the Waltons became so popular. There is an audience for this kind of programming. A large audience. An audience that will watch a show on their station, see the commercials that are sponsoring the show, and generate the revenue they are hoping to generate. I hope they are paying attention to what seems to be so obvious to me. Americans still care about family. They believe in it with all of its flaws. They hope for better. They strive for better. They believe in better. Shows like "This Is Us" has tapped into the hope that we all carry.

Maybe this isn't what you expected after my little sabbatical. I don't know. I just simply like sharing what I see happening in the world that gives me great encouragement. I see a shift in our thinking. I hear the heart cry of so many people. And I see the arts giving a voice to what is going on inside of us. That, my friend, is a beautiful thing. Family has taken center stage. Let's celebrate it.

Grace Still Amazes Me

It's 2017...And for the life of me I cannot figure out why the Grace of God is still considered such a controversial subject. While many of the self proclaimed gatekeepers of orthodoxy (right thinking) would have you think that you need to be careful of a "Hyper Grace Gospel", I'm here to remind you that what you should be looking out for is a hyper sin "gospel" that dominates much of the western world.

What is the hyper sin "gospel"? To put it quite simply, the hyper sin "gospel" puts all of its emphasis on the Fall of Adam rather than the finished work of Christ. Filled with the notion that there is still something that you need to do. Centered upon you, the fallen human, and your need to make something happen. Totally misrepresenting the New Creation that Jesus Inaugurated. Missing out on the abundant life that has been granted to us through the grace of God. That's why I put the word gospel in quotation marks. The word Gospel literally means Good News. I ask you: Which one sounds Good? and Which one sounds like News?
"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people." - Titus 2:11

Somewhere along the way the message changed. What most people consider to be a Hyper Grace teaching is really just a return to the biblical writers. The Apostle Paul, John, Peter, and even Jesus Himself carried and preached a grace that has been lacking in the western world. You can follow this historically as many of our teachings changed after the so called Enlightenment Period. While much of the modern world was advancing the Church was fighting for legitimacy. You may not want to hear this, but what followed was some teaching that became very much man centered. The Gospel itself is God centered. I continue to be amazed at how many people don't even understand the difference between the two covenants. The Old Covenant being an agreement between God and Israel. The New Covenant being an agreement between God and His Son. The emphasis upon grace that is needed in the Church brings the Gospel back to its true center: Jesus Christ.

In describing grace Paul used three Greek words: huper-ballō, huper-perisseuō, and huper-pleonazō. Recognize the common element in these words? It’s the prefix huper or hyper which means exactly what you think it means. God’s grace is over, above, and beyond your wildest expectations.
Romans 5:20 speaks of a Grace that MUCH MORE ABOUNDS
2 Corinthians 9:14, a Grace that EXCEEDS
1 Timothy 1:14, EXCEEDING ABUNDANT Grace
Folks, you can't get much more hyper than that!!! And frankly, I'm glad. Gone is the life of trying to become acceptable to God. Gone is this need to perform, to execute, and to create a holy life. Come is the life that is founded upon the finished work of Christ. A life that learns to be empowered by the grace of God rather than through self effort. These are the days that were spoken of by the prophets. When God writes His Law upon our hearts. Where His Spirit guides and our lives begin to thrive. Salvation itself has become more of an awakening to the reality of the grace of God rather than an event. An entry into the life that the Father has promised. Revealing all that was within His heart already for humanity.

Now I'm not here to tell you what you need to believe. Do I wish to persuade you to give everything up for a life of grace? Absolutely! However, what I would encourage you to do is try it out for yourself. Take God at His word and see what happens in your life. This grace that He has lavished upon each and every one of us is so much greater that we have understood. So much more amazing than what we have previously sung. So much deeper than we have experienced. We are talking about a God whose mercies are new everyday. A Creator who loved His creation so much that He was willing to give of Himself so fully. A Father who desperately yearned for His children to come into the freedom that He had promised. That's why I can honestly say after all of these years, GRACE STILL AMAZES ME!

I pray that you are encouraged, but more importantly I pray that this life will be fully realized in you. That you would not dismiss the grace of God as something that should be carefully monitored. Cautiously considered. But rather that you will fully embrace the EXCEEDING ABUNDANT GRACE that He has given. Your life will never be the same. Each and every day is a new opportunity to experience His grace. Each and every day being conformed more and more into the image of the Son. Realizing and rejoicing in the fullness of life. This is your journey. Enjoy it!

Thoughts About Church

I grew up in a small town in Carroll County VA. We had a Post Office, an Elementary School, 4 Churches, and NO Stoplights. Wouldn't change it for anything. I remember going back and forth between the Baptists and the Disciples of Christ in my early childhood. Eventually settling into the Disciples of Christ for the majority of my teenage years. It was your typical small town church. A gravel driveway that made a horseshoe around the building. Almost everyone parked in the grass, and it seems as though I was related to everyone there. Probably because I was (either through blood or marriage). We shared a Pastor with a church in Mount Airy. The only changes we experienced was doing Sunday School at 10:00am one year and 11:00am the next. Switching the times up to accommodate the other church. We took Communion EVERY Sunday, had our annual Christmas Pageant which would pack out the sanctuary, and only held services one day a week. It was simple. Which is something that I miss about Church. When was the last time it was simple?

Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of things that I love about being involved in a more modern Church. I like our Praise and Worship. I like the more casual way of dressing. I like preaching out of the English Standard Version of the Bible. Don't worry, I cut my teeth on the King James and served my time preaching/teaching from the "only authorized" version. I prefer the chairs in our sanctuary over the pews. All of this to say that I don't necessarily want to go backwards, but I do miss the simplicity of it all. Maybe it's because I was a kid that I never heard about the power struggles, or I wasn't as aware of the division that was created over the new Sunday School material. In fact, I was probably oblivious to all of the adult problems. Which leads to this question: Why All the Problems?

Living in rural, small town, America, finding a Church isn't difficult. I probably drive by 10 different ones on my way to Pioneer every Sunday. And for the most part all of them are different denominations. Something that I believe each of us have grown accustomed to experiencing. If you drive just a few minutes down I-81 into Wytheville you can find just about every kind of Church. All the denominations. Just about every flavor under the sun. You want your die hard traditionalists? We've got 'em. Looking for extremely contemporary? Yep, they live here too. That's right ladies and gentlemen, in a county of about 30,000 people we have just about everything you could want. With new ones coming and going all the time. The crazy part in all of this: Some people still drive outside of the county to attend Church. Maybe we don't have everything you could want after all.

There are some problems with rural, small town, America Churches. A problem that could be prevalent within the cities as well. Things that we don't like to talk about very often. Issues that we have been unwilling to address. The kind of stuff that I could write about for hours without every really solving the problem. Because the problem isn't with the Church itself. The problem is with us. Her people. We find some of the most petty things to disagree over. Rarely is it a big theological divide that separates us, although they do take place. But so many of them started out of a felt need to separate. Which bring us to this mindset that seems to be prevalent among the Churches in our area. The belief that we are in competition with one another.

There. I said it. Somebody had to do it. There is an unhealthy competition between Churches. Where we rarely celebrate the growth of one because we believe that it came at the expense of another. Which, being honest, is probably true. We tend to trade members like young boys used to trade baseball cards. Which tends to bolster this attitude of competition. We rarely share in ministry opportunities, we definitely don't cross denominational lines, and we don't fellowship with other pastors. At least not the ones that are different than us. Some of this trickles down among the members. Every now and then you may find someone who openly criticizes that "OTHER" Church, but most of the leaders aren't quite that bold. No...it's just a slight undercurrent that flows underneath it all. Preventing us from seeing the bigger picture that when one Church succeeds we all succeed.

I've talked about some of this before, but I still believe it needs to be addressed. Maybe growing up the way I did allows me to see Church a little bit different. I remember going to Vacation Bible School to two different Churches. I remember seeing all the believers on one level playing field. Sure there were differences but I never saw a reason to disdain one while upholding the other. They all felt like family. Mainly because so many of them were. Mom's side being the Baptist. Dad's side being the Disciples of Christ. I even had an Uncle (my Mom's brother) who attended the Disciples of Christ Church with us because of marriage. I never had issue looking past the label. I never felt like it was wrong for the Baptists to do well even though our Church didn't grow that much. I never saw one as being better than the other, or believed that one group was more righteous or more orthodox. It was what it was. It was people of the same faith gathering at different places worshiping the same God. Of course, as I got older I became aware of the doctrinal differences. I even sided more with Baptists than any others. However, even in my most zealous stages of believing everyone needed to believe just like me, I honored people in both places. They were, and continue to be, my family.

I continue to hear the words of Jesus and feel His heart in the matter: "This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." How incredible would it be to stand before the Lord and know that you did everything in your heart to love one another? How wonderful would it be to be known as one who unifies rather than a divides? How fitting would it be to hear that your kindness towards others, your honor of other believers, and that you love for the brotherhood is what convinced someone towards faith in Christ? I can tell you this: the world sees our competition and it is not impressed. Unity, the one thing that should be named among us, is glaringly absent and they know it. Imagine what would happen if we changed all of that? Imagine the reaction of our communities if they knew that we, the Church, stood together. With one another. Hand in hand, heart in heart. Think it would make a difference?

These are just some of my thoughts. A part of my journey. Maybe it sounds too simple. Maybe it's simplicity that we need.

There Is Always Hope

1 Corinthians 15:19, "And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world." NLT

I have often heard this verse from 1 Corinthians quoted in such a way as to assume that this life isn't meant for much. That the best we can do is hope for a future day where there is no pain, no death, no disease, no difficulties. A way of thinking that has permeated the minds of so many within the church. Living for Heaven seems to be the only goal. Focusing solely upon the finality of life upon Earth, and looking forward to a new life in Heaven. While there is this blessed hope within the life of the believer, I don't believe the Apostle Paul was urging a resignation of hope in this life. I think he was simply encouraging the church during a difficult time. Working through some difficult thought processes.

If the Christian only possessed hope in Christ for this life, he/she will be let down. One could simply look at the state of the church in the 1st Century and understand why this would prove problematic. So many of the followers of the Way were persecuted, imprisoned, outcasts, separated from friends and family, and made to feel like strangers in the Earth. Is it any wonder that Paul said if this life was our only hope then we would be the most pitied people on the entire planet. We do have hope for a new day. If this life isn't working out the way you had hoped, then you should be moved to faith. Believing that there is life in the resurrection.

I don't believe this should be an either/or scenario. It is my belief that we should possess hope for both this life and the next. There should be hope for this life. Hope for the Good News of the Gospel to have its perfect work in the world and in our lives. Hope that the love of God will not only change us, but that we would see genuine change within the world. Hope that we do not pray in vain. Hope in the finished work of Christ. Hope in the work of the Holy Spirit among us. Hope that we will see the glory of the Lord fill the Earth. While at the same time there is the undeniable Hope that one day we will be joined with our Creator. Where we will rest in His love for all eternity.

Paul wrote in another letter that we do not mourn as those without hope. I believe that his other writings prove that we do not live without hope either. Love believes all things and Hopes all things. The Christian faith should be filled with hope. Instead, we hear so much negativity. Many of our preachers/teachers have a fatalistic mindset. Rather than looking for the best in humanity, experiencing the best of the faith that we all share, and Hoping for something better; we hear so many espouse the belief that it's only going to get worse before it gets better. And it is this type of thinking that has so many people looking upward and outward rather than doing what they can do to make the world a better place. This blue and green ball that we all live on is a gift from our Creator. It is this Earth that we are meant to rule and reign. To fill with the glory of God. Our Heavenly Father has not resigned the Earth to failure. In fact, I believe that He has so much hope for this Creation. Which is why we see Him doing so much to redeem and restore humanity. His original design for the Earth is still being realized. We may not see it, but the Kingdom of God is among us. It is part of our design to see it to fulfillment.

Paul simply did not want his children (the members of the Body of Christ in Corinth) to put their faith completely in this life. If they did then they would be disappointed. Have we not seen this in the life of believers today? Which is one of the horrible byproducts of Health & Wealth preaching. We don't know how to handle sickness, poverty, or the struggles of daily life. We have come to believe that abundant life in Christ means that everything about life is perfect. That we will never have wants or needs. That life is just one mountain top experience after another. And when those things don't come to fruition then we lose hope in the power of the Gospel. Our faith is then focused solely upon making the situation better rather than experiencing faith as a way of sustaining us during the difficulties of life. If my faith in Jesus was meant to bring about a better life in every situation then I have been considerably let down. This life is not without struggle. It's not without loss. There are millions of things that I do not understand and I cannot explain. However, God is still faithful. Learning to experience Him in these circumstances are vital to the hHpe that we carry. We dare not miss out.

God is a God of Hope. Even in the darkest of times there is a light that shines incredibly bright. The song on your heart. The prayer on your tongue. The trust that wells up inside of you when it doesn't seem possible. We've all been there haven't we? Experiencing something of the Father that tells us not to give up on this life, but reassuring us that even if we never see the full outcome of our faith in this life there is Hope. Remember that Jesus even instructed His disciples that we would face some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable but to never give up Hope. Recalling the words, "I will NEVER leave you NOR forsake you." There may even be times where all we know is His presence or at least the promise of His presence. The point is that we never lose Hope.

If you are looking for permission to resign from this life in the Scriptures then you will be disappointed. It's just not there. What you will find over and over again is a call to faith. An encouragement to remain steadfast. A command to Hope in the most trying times. With the reassurance that there is a resurrection in our future. We may have had to say goodbye to some of those we love. We may have had to watch some of our dreams come crashing to the ground. We may not see everything that we believe we have been promised in this life, but there is always Hope. Always remember that when you read through the list of names in the faith chapter of Hebrews 11 that in the end there is mention of those who were commended for their faith even though they did not receive what was promised. All of them labeled as those of whom the world was not worthy.

The choices are clear:
1) You can have hope in Christ in this life only.
2) You can have hope in Christ in the afterlife only.
3) You can have hope in Christ for both.
I ask you, which seems to be the way of the Spirit? The abundant life of Christ is meant to be experienced in both. Proving time and time again that there is always hope.

Enjoy the journey.

2017 - A New Year

I wanted to take some time to wish each and everyone a Happy New Year. 2017, I believe, is a year of promise and hope.

Be intentional.
As the Proverb states: "A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied."

#enjoythejourney

Christ - Our Advent

John 1:9, "There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man."

...Born to Raise the Sons of Earth
Born to Give Them Second Birth...

As we draw near the end of the Advent Season, I'm particularly mindful of why Jesus came. God truly loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son. Born to fulfill the Law of Moses. Given to end the curse of Adam. Revealed to enlighten every man. It is in the coming of Jesus that we discover the truth about our Heavenly Father, as well as, the value of every human being. It is there within the stable that we see the new beginning of humanity. Jesus - who will save His people from their sins. Emmanuel - God with us. The Light that shines in the darkness. It is my prayer for each of us as we celebrate His coming that we do not miss out on the beauty of our own becoming in Him. Jesus Christ is our advent.

One cannot read the Scriptures without discovering that God was up to something. That there was coming a day when the Fall of Adam would no longer define humanity. When the Old Covenant would be done away with and a New Covenant would take its place. All throughout the Old Testament we read of a new day, a new beginning, and an event that would transform the way in which God and humanity would relate to one another. That day began in Jesus.

We read that in the fullness of time that God sent His Son into the world. Wrapped up in human flesh, this Son of God would walk in relationship with the Father. He would overcome the temptations of the enemy, fulfill all of the Law and the Prophets, give His life as a ransom for each and every one of us, die, resurrect, and ascend to the Father. Why? So that He would bring many sons into glory [see Hebrews 2]. Jesus, the Pioneer of faith, has gone behind the veil and bid us come. We can all enter boldly to the throne of grace. We each have access to the Heavenly Father. Adopted. Chosen. Loved. Jesus' coming calls us to become all that the Father intended. We are the ones that the Earth groans to see revealed. The descendants that would outnumber the stars of the sky and grains of sand promised to Abraham. The glory of God that would fill the Earth. Jesus is our advent. It is in His coming that we begin our own becoming. Where we understand our place in relationship to the Godhead. Where we are finally able to rest in the goodness and grace of the Almighty.

In Jesus we finally see what authentic faith is all about. We being to understand that all the Law and Prophets were actually put in place that we might love God and one another. That we would live with compassion for one another, show love, grant forgiveness, and be generous givers of mercy. That we would put away any and all things that keep us from being fully human (i.e. things that keep us from living as those created in the image and likeness of God). It is in Him that religion is exposed for what it is, and is replaced with a deeper awareness of God. Where we can finally lay down all of the things that keep us weary and burdened, finding true rest for our souls.

Celebrate His coming. By all means enjoy this season. But remember that He came for you, for us, that we would become what the Father envisioned in His heart all along.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:3-6

Merry Christmas!

Something to Ponder this Wednesday

Luke 9:50, "But Jesus said to him, 'Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.'"
I'm just going to leave this right here. No! Wait a minute. I'm actually going to say something.

I just read a wonderful article from Relevant Magazine. The title was "6 Heretics Who Should Be Banned From Evangelicalism." Now before I start to delve into some of the meat of this article, it is clear that the writer does not believe that any of these so called heretics are heretics at all. In fact, he goes on to talk about these great men of the faith in great detail. The point he is trying to drive home is a point that I have made in this blog several times. Not everyone we consider a false teacher is a false teacher, and not everyone we call a heretic is a heretic. The reality is that some people have a different interpretation of things, see things in a different light, or simply have a different upbringing in the faith than Western Christianity. I'm going to share some things directly from the article that are meant to cause us to think about how we look at people. Given much of their history within the church you may be shocked to hear what some of these people have said, believe, and/or teach. Everything within the (*) is a direct quote from the writer.

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1. C.S. Lewis
Perhaps the most celebrated Christian writer of the last century, C.S. Lewis is respected by most Christians, no matter what theological corner they occupy. And that’s what confuses me. Lewis was no evangelical by the standards of modern evangelical spokespersons. Lewis’ seven-volume, fictional masterpiece, The Chronicles of Narnia, reveals his belief that it is possible for people in other religions to inherit the Kingdom of God without knowing it.

Lewis also rejects the Penal Substitutionary theory of the atonement, which states that Christ “diverted” God’s wrath toward us and took it upon Himself. Instead, in part three of Chronicles, Lewis describes what is called the “Christus Victor” view of the atonement, which holds that the Cross is not an image of God’s wrath against us, diverted to His son, but it was the defeat of evil through an act of selfless love.


2. Martin Luther:
Where would evangelicalism be without Martin Luther? He is the father of the Reformation and the champion of Sola Scriptura.

But to the dismay of every evangelical Calvinist, I fear I must be the bearer of bad news that Martin Luther apparently didn’t believe the Bible is fully inspired, true or trustworthy.

Speaking of inaccuracies in the books of Chronicles, he states, “When one often reads that great numbers of people were slain—for example, eighty thousand—I believe that hardly one thousand were actually killed.”


3. St. Augustine:
In his work The Literal Meaning of Genesis, Augustine (to put it bluntly) thought Christians who took the Creation Story literally were a laughingstock and looked like idiots among non-Christians because they denied science and reason. This is Augustine, the one to whom we can give credit for the doctrines of original sin and Hell as eternal conscious torment (which are at the core of reformed theology).

Here is his statement:

“It not infrequently happens that something about the earth…may be known with the greatest certainty by reasoning or by experience, even by one who is not a Christian. It is too disgraceful and ruinous, though, and greatly to be avoided, that he [the non-Christian] should hear a Christian speaking so idiotically on these matters, and as if in accord with Christian writings, that he might say that he could scarcely keep from laughing when he saw how totally in error they are. In view of this and in keeping it in mind constantly while dealing with the book of Genesis, I have, insofar as I was able, explained in detail and set forth for consideration the meanings of obscure passages, taking care not to affirm rashly some one meaning to the prejudice of another and perhaps better explanation.”

4. William Barclay:
William Barclay’s iconic little blue commentaries are on the shelves of many pastors. So it's odd that Rob Bell has been so roundly rejected for holding essentially the same belief as this celebrated theologian.

Barclay writes, “I am a convinced universalist. I believe that in the end all men will be gathered into the love of God…the choice is whether we accept God’s offer and invitation willingly, or take the long and terrible way round through ages of purification.”

In that work, Barclay also lists early church fathers, Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, as two other Christian Universalists.


5. John Stott:
John Stott is one of the great evangelical Christian thinkers of the last generation. Stott rejected the view that Hell is eternal conscious torment of the wicked and suggested, instead, that the unrepentant cease to exist after enduring the penalty for their sins.

He wrote, “I believe that the ultimate annihilation of the wicked should at least be accepted as a legitimate, biblically founded alternative to their eternal conscious torment.”


6. Billy Graham:
Billy Graham is, perhaps, the epitome of the evangelical identity.

Or, so we thought…

Like C.S. Lewis, Graham believes that those who do not hear of Christ may, indeed, be saved without explicitly confessing Him as Lord.

In a 1997 interview with Robert Schuller, Graham said:

“[God] is calling people out of the world for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ because they have been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don’t have, and they turn to the only light they have, and I think that they are saved and they are going to be with us in heaven.”
**************************************************

At this point I want to agree with the author. "I'm sure you, as well as I, find it ridiculous to reject these great and godly people." Who hasn't read C.S. Lewis? Who hasn't heard quotes from Luther and Augustine? I wonder how many pastors I know actually have Barclay's commentaries, or had to read (as I did) John Stott's "Basic Christianity"? And who doesn't love Billy Graham and the incredible work he has done for the Kingdom? The writer went on to cite George Whitefield’s lobbying for slavery, Martin Luther’s hatred of Jews, John Calvin’s approval of burning heretics at the stake. These are real issues. Many of which have been overlooked, minimized, or even accepted.

Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, much of our great history is filled with people who don't believe everything modern evangelicalism teaches. However, we continue to celebrate their work, recommend their writings, and consider many of them heroes of the faith. With that being said, if some of these things were preached/taught from the pulpits of our churches there would be cries of heresy. Or would there? Not everyone in the Church considers themselves to be the gatekeepers of truth. Not everyone knows fully what they believe. There are, however, many who think they have the right to call out someone with whom they disagree. We saw and heard a lot of those people when "The Shack" came out and gained worldwide notoriety. I'm sure we will hear and see more when the movie hits the theaters in March. All the while forgetting the instruction that Jesus gave to His disciples in Luke 9:50 (I told you I was going to say something). Jesus is responding to John's report of trying to stop a man from casting out demons in the name of Jesus because he didn't walk with them. Jesus said (and I quote), "...the one who is not against you is for you." Just take that statement in for a moment. Think about the ramifications. What would the modern church look like and sound like if we didn't call out everyone with whom we did not agree?

Matthew Henry stated in his commentary of the Bible that "If ever any society of Christians in this world, had reason to silence those not of their own communion, the twelve disciples at this time had; yet Christ warned them not to do the like again. Those may be found faithful followers of Christ, and may be accepted of him, who do not follow with us."

Say what?
That's right!
There are actually people outside of our evangelical bubble who are walking with Christ, doing His work in the Earth, and yet they are not a part of our particular way of thinking. In fact, many of those who have had to wear the label of heretic or false teacher are neither. They just think differently. They, like you, love the Lord and seek to walk in truth each and every day. They want people to know and understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They believe a lot of the same things as you, just not everything. While you may believe that they bring much harm to the Church, they very well could have the same belief about you. Then it becomes a question of who is right? Both side will give a biblical justification for what they believe. Which brings us right back to our dilemma. Are they heretics? Or worse...ARE WE?

I don't share any of this so that you will agree with the statements that are posted above. I also don't share so that you can discredit these great men of the faith. I share so that we understand, once again, that there are many thoughts under the umbrella of evangelical thinking. The article I cited articulates this so beautifully. What I hope, in the end, is that we will be more cautious about our knee-jerk reactions. That we will actually think through this need to call out those with whom we disagree. And maybe, just maybe, consider that these people are our brothers/sisters in Christ. If anything, maybe I gave you something to ponder this Wednesday.

Have a blessed day!

'Tis the Season to be Thankful

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
A verse that seems challenging at times. However, when one considers the environment from which these words were penned, we are reminded that there are no circumstances that should keep us from being truly thankful.

I type these words as I think of the individual who has PTSD and trying to manage life. Who still has a smile on his face even though relationships have been extremely strained.
I think of the widow and widower who are learning how to navigate the holidays without that special someone. Who still gathers with family and continue to discover many reasons to be grateful.
I think of the person who has been rejected, left alone, and is trying to make sense of love and forgiveness. Who still opens his/her heart to people, understanding the risk they are taking.
I could continue to list people in much more difficult circumstances. All whom have learned that Thanksgiving is more than a holiday stuck on a Thursday towards the end of November. Men and women who have discovered that being thankful has to be a way of life.

Thankful - Adjective
1) Pleased and Relieved
2) Expressing Gratitude and Relief

I honestly don't know how the world does it without the assurance of Christ. I'm sure that there is something deep inside the human spirit that finds a place of thankfulness. However, for those of us who know Jesus personally, thankfulness should come naturally. In Christ we should be pleased and relieved. We should be able to express gratitude and relief. All one has to do is consider all that the Father has done to give us eternal and abundant life. To consider how gracious our Creator has been to us. To dwell on the fact that He chose to come into our darkness, to take our sin and shame upon Himself, and be willing to go through the agony and pain of redemption should create a swell of gratitude in each of our hearts. Maybe even more amazing is that He chose to speak to our hearts when He did; to awaken us to the reality of life in Christ.

There is so much that we take for granted:
Family, friends, relationships, and health.
Security, provision, jobs, and a roof over our heads.
Love, grace, and mercy that knows no end.
When you consider all of the things that we are willing to risk, willing to walk away from, and the things which we allow to create division; can we not stop for a moment and think of all that we have to be grateful for?

This is a season to be thankful. Regardless of what your season looks like. Regardless of how it feels. Regardless of what you have had to endure. Learn to give thanks. Learn to be pleased in all that the Lord has done in your life. Discover what it means to be pleased in Him. Express your gratitude and relief. Watch how thankfulness releases a joy and a peace that you can never explain.

Once again I'm reminded of the hymn written by Horatio G. Spafford - "IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL" - and how the Lord was able to minister peace and gratefulness to his heart during on of the most difficult times of life. A song that would stand the test of time and continue to bring others to a place of peace and rest. If he can sing, if he can be reminded of the goodness of the Lord, then surely we can find a thread of thankfulness in our own hearts.

I want to encourage you this Thanksgiving (and every other day of life) to draw your friends and family close to your heart. Capture every moment of joy. Feel the warmth of hugs and kisses. Be grateful for the time that you have and cherish the looks of contentment on every face. Be Thankful. Very Very Thankful for these moments. Feast on them. Drink from them. Life is too short to miss out on these opportunities. Then allow thankfulness to be a part of your journey. And while you are at it, be sure to give thanks to the Lord. Remembering that EVERY good and perfect gift flows down from Him.

May this Thanksgiving be the greatest thanksgiving you can remember. Blessings to you and your family during this season.

What Unites Us Is Greater Than What Divides Us

I am a thinker. Does this surprise you? I think that most people believe that I'm a talker since I'm a pastor, but the reality is that I am often content to keep my thoughts to myself. Some would argue that since I like to blog that I must be a writer. However, I don't always write what I'm thinking about. The reason is quite simple: If my thoughts are not well formulated I don't like to share them. I am quite content to allow those thoughts to stir for days and weeks on end. This is especially true when it comes to matters of faith. I like to think through things that most people don't want to think through. I like to ask questions about long held beliefs. I don't mind wrestling with things that the church doesn't want to wrestle with anymore. At times this has created disagreements. At other times it has allowed others to feel safe to join me in such a journey. The thing that I'm thinking about this morning is: WHY ARE WE CHRISTIANS SO DIVISIVE?

Psalm 133 gives us beautiful insight into what it looks like when God's people dwell together in unity and yet we continue to struggle. We seem to be more concerned with our group identity rather than being able to appreciate the whole of the church. Denominational pride, fear of losing members to other churches, and disagreements over various doctrinal positions seems to dominate among us. When did our unity become so fixed upon dogma or agreement in all matters? Is there not a unity that transcends this type of thinking?

I came across a statement this morning that quite possibly points to the root of our problem. One writer said this, "The Christian faith, more than any other, is based on doctrine." A statement that I find mind-boggling. Doctrine? That is the basis of our faith? I thought the basis of what we believe was found in a person NOT is some theological argument. I thought it was the very person of Jesus Christ that was the foundation of all that we believed. Doctrine is important, but to say that the Christian faith is based upon doctrine proves how far we have removed ourselves from the very prayer of Jesus. That we would be one as He and His Father are one. The problem with making doctrine the basis of the Christian faith is that it is way too easy to become divided. All you have to do is disagree in one point or another and the brethren no longer dwell in unity.

Please hear me out. I know that the Early Church Fathers took great pride in defending the doctrines of the Early Church. The Nicene Creed continues to be such a powerful statement of what we believe. However, what they agreed upon back then is often considered too simplistic. In other words, they did not go far enough in their statement of faith. Just take the Creed and place it along side of most churches statements of faith and you will understand what I am saying. The Creed was a response to attacks on what was considered foundational understanding for the church, but there were things that they chose not to address. Why? Probably because there wasn't a consensus in some areas or they felt that these areas could remain unverified. For whatever reason, the one thing the council did choose to put into the Creed was the belief in One Holy Catholic Church. Catholic meaning Universal. A belief that many of us need to revisit.

Paul made a statement to the Church at Rome that I think we need to understand. He encouraged the Body to "Be of the same mind toward one another..." Live in harmony together. Think of, regard, or seek after the same thing for each other. That is, whatever we regard or seek for ourselves we should seek for the brethren. He encouraged the Body of Christ to this place of unity. Where we see one another for who we are and that we contend for harmony. Recognizing this vital truth: the world will know that we belong to Christ because of our love for one another.

This is a practical side of our faith that we rarely explore. We often fail to emphasize this need in the world. That a United Church could bring so much healing, so much understanding, and so much genuineness to our faith. That we would have to do less convincing of people if they were to see the unity that we are meant to live in. Rather than having to convince someone of why we are right and others are wrong, we could simply invite them to know Jesus as we do and to join the community of faith. Does it sound too simple? Then it must be God.

The point of all of this is that WHAT UNITES US IS GREATER THAN WHAT DIVIDES US. I get it. You and I may have different views on soteriology. We may not agree on eschatology. Our beliefs about atonement, the nature of man, the finished work of Jesus, and many other things may not be in agreement. But can we not all agree on the fact that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of all? Can we not accept the fact that Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren and that we are brothers? Can we not appreciate our distinctive groups and trust that God is working in each and everyone of us to reach out to a hurting world? Jesus Christ is the Great Unifier. He alone stands as the Mediator between God and man. He is the source of our salvation, our faith, and our unity. For us to place emphasis upon anything else is to set ourselves up for failure.

How beautiful and pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity. In Christ this is possible. Consider this an invitation. By all means have your beliefs. Be willing to hold fast to your convictions. But somewhere along the way we have to see that our family is much bigger than our denomination, our proclamation of doctrinal purity, and our particular brand of Christianity. In the same way that our Father has chosen to bring together every tribe, tongue, and nation in Christ; He will also bring every denomination, every doctrinal difference, and every division together in Christ. At least...that's what I think.

Enjoy the journey!

For the Journey Ahead

Good morning my friends. A lot has happened since I last shared my thoughts with you. America has elected a new president, Tom Brady threw his first interception of the season, and the temperature outside finally feels like Fall. And none of these things have to do with what I want to share with you today.

I was thinking this morning about Abram and God's call upon his life, how he emerged out of a polytheistic religion, and what that means for us today. I mean...doesn't everyone think about these things? Honestly, have you ever considered just how difficult it must have been for Abram. Imagine that you are the one walking away from family, from your home land, and all because the One True God has asked you to go to a country that He would show you. This takes guts. But what is even more revealing in this whole scenario is how gentle the Lord was in revealing His true nature. We owe so much to the man whose name was later changed to Abraham. The father of nations. The one in whom all of the nations of the world would be blessed. This one man risked everything because he heard a voice.

In my opinion, the greatest revelation that Abraham received came during a literal mountain top experience. It was there where he took his firstborn son, a length of rope, some firewood, and a knife. Why? Because the Lord had instructed him to do so. A difficult journey to say the least. A burden that he seemed all too comfortable to carry. Has anyone ever asked why? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be in Abraham's shoes? Most of us did not grow up in this kind of environment. The thought of sacrificing our firstborn and only child seems so inhumane. But in Abraham's defense this was common to his culture. What is uncommon is what would transpire on the mountain top.

Abraham was dutiful. He carried out the instructions down to every last detail. With knife in hand and both arms stretched above his head the Lord intervened. And it's here where we discover one of the greatest attributes of God's nature. Another second and we would call this mountain the place where Isaac died. Instead it became known as the Lord will provide. Too often we miss the significance of this revelation. 9 times out of 10 our focus has been on the God of Provision. We talk about the God who meets our needs. And while this is true of His nature it misses out of the full scope of what the Lord was teaching Abraham. In this moment we discover a God who does not need sacrifice. A God who provides for Himself.

So often I believe we have held to a belief about God that is more BC than AD. We see Him as one in need of sacrifices and burnt offerings. Even our worship has been described as a sacrifice of praise. Choosing to believe that our offerings of prayers, fasting, self-debasement, and the like will somehow gain His favor. Completely missing out on the reality of what we already possess in Christ. Please hear me in all of this. I'm not saying that we should not pray. I'm not calling for an end of fasting. I don't believe in self-debasement simply because there is a difference between humility and humiliation. What I am saying is that we should be fully enveloped in what Jesus has accomplished on our behalf. To fully recognize what He has done in providing Himself for us. That all of our worship, our service, and all the details of our lives flow from this place.

Jesus told us to go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."
Have you ever considered the shift in thinking that this creates in a religion that was bound up in blood sacrifices? Can you imagine the anger and confusion that a statement like this would incite? Jesus stepped up the game just a little bit. He moved from a ram being caught in a thicket to being the one caught in the crossfire. God would provide Himself. As He always had. Not only that, but Jesus proves once and for all that how we treat one another matters. That mercy far outweighs any sacrifices that we could bring. That God is more concerned with how we treat others than how we approach Him.

Before we think this is something new, we have to see that this is actually an Old Testament reference. Hosea 6:6 puts it this way: "I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." (NLT)
What a statement! Imagine what this must have done to the priests. What would happen to them if we removed a sacrificial system? More importantly, what would happen in the hearts of the people if they learned this all important lesson? Imagine a world where we actually were more concerned with showing love to one another. Handling mercy so graciously. Wanting to know God above our service towards Him. Think it would make a difference?

The God Who Provides needs nothing from us. What He invites us to enjoy is a relationship with Himself and our fellow man. He asks us to delight in the things that He delights in. The God who delights in mercy invites us to join in the same. Micah said it so wonderfully:
Do Justly
Love Mercy
Walk Humbly with your God.

Somewhere along the way we have been so consumed with the afterlife that we have forgotten to make much out of this one. We didn't do the math when Jesus said the first and greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God...and the second was like it, to love you neighbor as yourself. He placed them on an equal playing field. Where we would see them side by side not one on top of the other. So we would understand that to love God with all that we have is to love our neighbor as ourselves and vice versa. And that all of the Law and the Prophets are summed up in these two things. The very same God who led Abraham so patiently has continued to be patient with us. He continues to love while we are trying to pull ourselves out of our wrong thinking. Mercifully bringing us to a place where our altars aren't so significant. Where maybe we will stop trying to kill everything and rest in the provision that He is in Himself, i.e. the Lord our Righteousness, the Lord our Salvation, the Lord our Peace, and the like.

The best that we can do is to do what is right, to love the mercy of our Lord so much that we readily give it, and to walk humbly with our Heavenly Father. For the journey ahead I ask that you consider that this is a life well lived. That these things actually matter. And that your life, along with the lives of others, can be dramatically changed. I think it's time that we learned what the Lord meant when He said "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

Enjoy the Journey!

The Voters are Coming...

I went out early this morning with my daughter to vote in the presidential election. This was her first time voting. A special occasion that we were able to share together.

Turnout this morning looked to be poised for a record breaking day. I saw people that I normally don't see heading to the ballot box. A reminder of how fortunate we are to live in a country where "We The People" get to decide who governs us. WE get to decide the direction of our nation. WE choose who represents us. WE - in order to form a more perfect union - MATTER. I never like to think of an election as one group cancelling out the voice of another group. I choose to view every election as an opportunity for each individual to voice their opinion. To vote their conscience. To take part in a representative republic.

In such a divisive political climate I choose to believe that what I saw this morning was a group of people who are fed up with the direction of this nation. Even if our little dot on the map is just a small percentage of this nation's population. Every vote matters...Right? I don't care which side of aisle you choose to stand on or if you are more of a middle of the aisle person, this election has allowed us to see the corruption in each party. It has shown us that the powers that be don't like the idea of losing that power. I can honestly say that since I have been able to be a part of this process that this election season has proven to be the most chaotic. The most divisive. The most shocking. And in many ways it has shown that there is much work still needed to be done for us to be the UNITED States of America.

The voters are coming! Those who have voted for decades and those who are voting for the first time. Hopefully, by the end of this day we will have an answer to what the voice of the American people has spoken. And in the end, regardless of how this election goes, the real work begins.

Personally...I voted for three things that I believe are needed for the security and prosperity of any nation.
BORDERS
LANGUAGE
CULTURE
We The People need secure and definite borders.
We The People have the right to a common language.
We The People have the right to a culture that reflects American Values and Ideals.

In closing, allow me to say this to each and every person who will hear. This election will not hinder the Kingdom of God. He is still at work among us and will continue to be. Each and every time His children respond to His voice we see more and more of this Kingdom manifesting itself. May God continue to bless America - Continue to shed His Grace upon us - Continue to grant peace and protection to her people.

Do You See What I See?

Acts 10:15, "But the voice spoke again: "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean." NLT
Do you ever read something in Scripture and say: "We are going to have some explaining to do."?

The story of Peter's vision on the roof is one that is told to countless children in Sunday School, children sermons, and the like. For the most part, we have raised a generation to view others through a different lens. A lens that does not discriminate by color of skin, national origin, culture, etc. With all of that being said, the Church should be the most anti-discriminatory group in the whole world. We should have overcome all prejudice with the realization that Father has made us all ONE in Christ. A truth that is found all throughout the Bible. However, I believe we have failed miserably to apply this same revelation in other areas of life. An issue that I will gladly tackle this morning.

Before I jump into the meat of this argument, I must acknowledge the fact that there are plenty of racist people who call themselves Christians and are members of some of our churches. That may go without saying, but I felt that it needed to be said. We still tend to fellowship with those who are like us. At least this is true in our rural areas that are full of smaller congregations. We still gather with our own race, our own culture, and sometimes even our own kin. I'm not saying that this is wrong. It's just a culture fact. But what I'm talking about goes much deeper than our comfort zones. We have discovered a way to divide that goes deeper to the heart. A division that is more of a choice than an ignorant bias.

The division that I'm referring to has to do with whom we choose to exclude. Which rarely, if ever, has to do with genetics. Instead, it has to do with belonging to a particular way of thinking. Believing the same thing on every issue. Where our churches are full of the same political leanings, agreements on every social issues, and could even come down to sharing the same family values. Where is the intellectual diversity in our churches? How often do we hear of varying opinions on theology? When did we become so scared of those who think differently, or have a different interpretation of certain biblical passages? And God forbid that there may actually be a democrat among us! We have lost the ability to be challenged in a healthy manner. We have excluded so many people who think differently than we do. To the point that we sound like Peter when he first received the vision on the rooftop. We have believed that we are more righteous because we will not accept that which is unclean.

The unclean could be anything. It could be those who do not hold to our views. It could be those who don't approach Christianity the same way. The unclean may be those who just sin differently than we do. I mean...we don't want to admit it but our churches have chosen to overlook some things over others. Don't believe me? Just dare to have a different stance on marriage. Dare to think differently about homosexuality. Dare to voice an opinion that differs on people living together before marriage, having children out of wedlock, drinking, or using profanity. I'm always amazed by what causes us to turn our backs on brothers and sisters in Christ. Or how we come down so hard on the alcoholic but not the glutton. How we openly criticize the one who doesn't tithe but don't say anything about the one who brings in money from an underhanded deal in the business world. We pick and choose our battles based upon our own ideals. The things that we believe are important.

Let me give you a few scenarios. You have a choice. You have to choose who regularly attends you church.
*The heterosexual couple who lives together as if they are married OR the homosexual couple that is abstinent but dating?
*The single mom who has 3 children from 3 different fathers OR the married couple who has been divorced and remarried 3 times?
*Would you rather have a drunk addict, a drug addict, OR a porn addict?
*The person who has a prior conviction of rape, indecent liberties with a minor, OR murder?
*A gang member, a member of KKK, OR a member of an LGBT group?
We could do this all day. In fact, we do. There are certain people that we have labeled UNCLEAN without ever seeing them through the eyes of revelation. We have forgotten that God doesn't see us differently because we sin differently.

Let's take the discussion to a different level. Same scenario. You have to choose.
*The one who believes it is God's will to heal everyone OR the one who believes all disease/sickness is from God?
*The one who believes that God loves everyone OR the one who believes that God hates everyone?
*The one who believes everyone is going to Heaven OR the one who believes everyone is going to hell?
*The one who believes everything in the Bible is literal OR the one who believes that everything is metaphorical?
*The one who believes in a literal heaven/metaphorical hell OR the one who believes in a literal hell/metaphorical heaven?
Did you make your choice? Was it difficult? Which one would you include in your group? Or better yet, which one would you exclude?

I am not here to tell you what to think. I'm not here to lift up one group over the other. To be honest with you, when I look at these choices what I see so clearly is my own prejudice. I see my own convictions being brought to the forefront of my thinking. And in some cases I don't like it. But we make these choices every day. We choose which "sinner" we are most comfortable with and we choose which person thinks more like we think. Even more important to our discussion is whether or not we could choose one and still love the other? Could we choose one and still call the other clean? Who are the unclean among us? Who are we choosing not to receive because we dare not associate ourselves with such people? Ever wonder why Paul felt that he needed to say that he was not ashamed of the Gospel? Personally I believe it's because the Gospel is very offensive. It's not offensive because of who it excludes. The Gospel is offensive because of who it INCLUDES!

Hear the words of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:11, "In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us." I think it's high time we stopped calling unclean what the Father has called clean. There is nothing and no one common in the Lord's economy. If we will step our of our Pharisaical ways of thinking, we still stop calling out the unclean among us. We will stop dividing over so many issues. We can enlarge our family. We can begin to walk in love with one another. Something that the world desperately needs to see from us.

Enjoy the journey!