Evangelism

OK. I’m trying to be honest. But it’s hard. I don’t like being wrong.

God has called me to preach and pastor a church. One major responsibility is to lead the church in sharing the gospel with the lost people around us. I can do that in a sermon when a lost person wanders in. I like doing it. I am comfortable doing it.

But going out and finding them and meeting them and sharing the gospel with them is hard. I’ve never been good at it except for about a year and a half under the mentoring of David McLemore. (I wish David was still alive; I need his encouragement.)

It’s not an option though. Not if I want to be a pastor. Really, not even if I want to be a Christian.

OK. So I’m praying really hard for the Spirit to change me. That sounded like I’m blaming the Spirit. I didn’t mean that. It is the Spirit’s desire and responsibility to change me, but I have to be changeable, moldable, teachable.

“Lord, I give you my fear and pride and inadequacies. I want to make you known everywhere I go.”

A few days after Easter

I wonder what you are doing today. Most of us have gone back to our routine of work or school or whatever. We stopped long enough to enjoy Easter and perhaps celebrate Jesus resurrection.

But what about the disciples? The build-up to Easter was horrible for them but the days following were amazing. If we could couple our enthusiastic build-up with their awesome follow-up I think we might get Easter right.

We look forward to Easter because we know Jesus is alive even though we was arrested, beaten, and crucified. They lived forward from Easter because Jesus was alive and with them again.

Let’s remember to bring the meaning of Easter forward into our routine lives and then life won’t be so routine.

Despair

Imaging the silence. And the short glances across the room. Boiling within each one were accusations toward the others but kept silenced only by their own feelings of guilt. No one dared talk about what might have been or what will be.

Jesus was dead. He was in the tomb. Their three-year-old expectations were shattered. Hope was gone. Despair was reality.

But Sunday morning will be so different!

Despair

Imaging the silence. And the short glances across the room. Boiling within each one were accusations toward the others but kept silenced only by their own feelings of guilt. No one dared talk about what might have been or what will be.

Jesus was dead. He was in the tomb. Their three-year-old expectations were shattered. Hope was gone. Despair was reality.

But Sunday morning will be so different!

It's All Good

One of my friends rarely complains. “It’s all good” must be his favorite saying. Sometimes I know he’s not being truthful, though.

Today is Good Friday. For some people, it’s good because they get a day off from school or work. Others like it because they head out of town for a long weekend. There are a few who might use the day to get some extra work done around the house or begin spring cleaning.

I’m not opposed to any of these things, but I think we miss the point when we focus on how we will spend the time rather than on why we get the day off in the first place.

Today is Good Friday because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for us. He is God. He is perfect. He did not deserve to die; we did. But God’s demand for a sacrifice for sin required the perfect, spotless lamb. In Jewish history, this sacrifice of atonement happened once each year to atone for the sins the people had committed since last year. Each family was responsible for its own sacrifice.

But that was just a temporary placeholder until Jesus did the real thing on the cross. The Bible says that his sacrifice was done once and for all. We are not required to make an animal sacrifice anymore because Jesus, the Lamb of God, already did it. It happened on a Friday. Now we celebrate Good Friday because all is good with God if we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.

You are still required to make a sacrifice – just not an annual animal sacrifice of atonement. You are required to sacrifice yourself daily to God’s plan and purpose. It’s all good.

Maundy Thursday

It’s now Thursday of Holy Week. This is the day when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet, shared a final meal with them, initiated communion, gave words of comfort about the Comforter, taught about the branches’ dependence upon the vine, prayed in the garden while his friends slept, and was arrested by the Roman guard.

Busy day.

But it was what he came to do. He came to model and teach a servant’s heart. He came to let us know we need him or we die. He came to die for us even though the thought crossed his mind that maybe there was another way to reconcile sinners to God.

He came for you. He knew and knows the wrongs you have done. Everything from selfishness to telling lies to looking at dirty pictures to taking money from your employer’s till to pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger. I know, you didn’t do all that. Maybe you didn’t do any of that. But still there’s something in your past, maybe in your present, that the Bible calls “sin.” And sin separates you from God.

He came because of your sin. And he died because of your sin. He came into your world so that you could enter his heaven.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was arrested by people who thought they had just cause. They didn’t but they were used by God to fulfill his plan to deal with your sin. You should have died for your sin; but Jesus did so you don’t have to. He didn’t die for blasphemy or treason or inciting a riot. He died for you.

If you think the Friday after Thanksgiving is a busy day for retailers, you need to understand that the Thursday before Easter was a busy day for Jesus.

Maundy. It means “command.” Jesus commanded us to serve and to love and to trust and to obey and to remember and to believe.

Busy day.

Yes, Jesus is real!

Every year around this time you can read articles in national news magazines and watch documentaries on broadcast and cable TV channels about the validity of the Bible’s claim that Jesus died on the cross. This year is no exception.

Honestly, I’m surprised the media outlets even bother anymore. As recently as a few decades ago, the popular thought among Americans was that Jesus did in fact die on the cross, that he is the Son of God, and that eternal life is gained only through a faith relationship with him. So few Americans believe all that anymore that it hardly makes sense to publish or air the story. I wonder what the readership or viewership is for those pieces.

I’m surprised to see it but I’m glad they still do it. At least those who read the headline or the TV guide are faced with the suggestion that Jesus is who the Bible claims him to be. While that’s not exactly “God’s Word” it is still enough truth for the Spirit to work with it and draw a seeking heart to Jesus.

Christians must realize that just the suggestion of the truth is enough – when all too often we shy away from the truth because of the possible negative responses we may get. God can use anything we give him. But don’t you want to give him your best effort?

Facebook

I’m a FB junkie. No need to deny it or try to minimize it. I spend lots of time looking at what others are doing and saying. I spend a little time doing a saying things myself. I don’t accept many of the applications that people send; that seems a little silly to me. But I do like leaving birthday messages and posting notes and making one-liner comments about stuff and updating my status.

I’m an introvert. I don’t mind speaking to people but I’m not real good at starting conversations and keeping them going. I’m OK with speaking to a crowd, though. FB helps me get through that, on-line at least. I hope I get better with conversation in person, too.

Not enough practice

Everyone remembers Allen Iverson’s rant on “practice?” What a jerk. The best got on top and stay on top with practice. If anyone thinks they can remain at the pinnacle of their game without practice, well, they are mistaken.

Our kids are not pros. Nor are they even going to be the best in their league. We need practice but the weather is not cooperating. The field is too soggy…again. It’s not the coach’s fault; he’s doing everything he can to get in enough practice. I can see improvement in Riley’s abilities, but more importantly I can seen him learning to make better decisions on the field.

Every sport I’ve played required physical ability and mental concentration. The only reason I was ever any good was because I understood the game and could make good decisions that overcame my limited physical ability. I think coaching an 8-9 yr old team in baseball is about developing both the physical and mental capabilities of the players. Steve and Jeff are doing a good job of this. They just need a little help from the weather.

Darfur

Honestly, I don’t know much about the problems in the Sudan region of Darfur. I have read headlines from secular and Christian media condemning the actions of President Omar al-Bashir that have resulted in the killing of 300,000 people and the displacement of almost 3 million more. Sudan, of course, denies the allegations and says the figures are elevated. Doesn’t an argument about the validity of the numbers imply that at least the allegations are true?

So I pledge to know more about this issue, but based on what I do know, all people deserve to be treated fairly. Fair treatment for a criminal is punishment for his crime. Fair treatment for citizens is protection from unwarranted harassment by the government. If the allegations are true to any degree, al-Bashir should be arrested and put on trial. An international warrant is out for his arrest.

Fox News reports online this morning that al-Bashir is given all outside relief agencies one year to leave the country. He thinks the agencies are also spying to gain information to incriminate him. Sounds like he’s trying to hide something. He welcomes the relief agencies to drop off their supplies at airports and seaports so his own agencies can distribute the goods. Do we really believe the goods will arrive at the intended destination and be available for FREE to the people? You can read the story here.

January 20, 2009

President Obama misread the 2008 election. He claims he won based on ideology so he marches through these first 100 days with a  swagger or arrogance issuing executive orders and pushing his agenda through Congress. He asks for bipartisan support but in no way is willing to craft legislation that goes against his goals. His definition of “bipartisan” is for those who disagree with him to give up their beliefs and go along with him.

So we have a spending bill that so hurt the American (and possibly the world) economy that most Americans alive today will not reach a level of comfort in their personal finances. Future generations will feel the affects of Obama’s ideology, too. Rather than trying to prop up bad businesses, we should let them go out of business. This is an everyday occurrence on Main Street; Wall Street should be no different.

And now we have an executive order that rescinds the Bush Administrations order limiting stem cell research. Obama’s order commits federal tax dollars to the research and allows researchers to expand the use of embryonic stem cells. We now have a federal government further involved in infanticide.

January 20, 2009 was an historic day. But not for the reasons the press and the public have lauded. It is a day on which the winds of change began to blow. It is a day on which the ideology of respecting and preserving life took a devastating hit. It was a day on which your tax dollars became available to further promote abortion.

The ideology America supports was represented in the 2008 election by a man who was not as charismatic as his opponent. So charisma beat ideology. We should never choose style over substance, else we end up where we are today.

White Noise

You've heard the term "white noise," haven't you? It's the soundtrack of everyday living. For those living in the city it is the constant sound of traffic outside the office window or the whirr of a copy machine just down the hallway. Country-dwellers have white noise, too. It's the sounds of the birds chirping and dogs barking and log trucks driving too fast down the country road.

White noise is the sound of rain or surf or wind. Beautiful sounds that have become so commonplace that we miss it. Sounds have become distractions - good or bad - that keep us from hearing much of anything with clarity...even the white noise.

Let's slow down a little and sift through the noise so we can hear the sounds. You'll hear someone compliment you. You'll hear someone ask for help. You'll hear God's creation going about life. You'll hear your kids laugh. You might even hear yourself think!

The soundtrack to everyday living is really a beautiful sound...if we'll just listen rather than try to drown it out with more sounds.

Obama's Stimulus Package

Hooray for the House Republicans! Not one of them voted for Obama’s $790B stimulus package. I’m glad they had the strength to do it and I hope their constituents realize what heroes they are.

Boo for all but seven House Democrats! Only seven had the courage to stand against the administration. Two hundred forty-six Democrats voted in lock-step with Obama’s “bipartisan” coalition.

Unfortunately, political maneuvering was more popular among the elected than economic strategy. But in the end, economy will suffer because of this and the politicians will be rewarded/punished by the voters according to today’s vote. So we can be hopeful that the politics that divide (i.e., liberalism) will once again go into hibernation. We can only hope it occurs soon – say, the 2010 mid-term Congressional election and the 2012 Presidential election.

The only hope that the stimulus package will not pass is in the hands of the Senate, which votes later today. Not much hope, huh? But the Democrats will need help from three Republicans for it to pass. Come on, Senate Republicans, vote no!

Obama's Stimulus Package

My undergraduate degree is in Economics and Finance. That does not make me an expert but it does give me a level of understanding and historical context. The Keynesian economic model is the one being pursued by the new administration. The idea is for the government to spend more money as a way to grow the economy. History has shown that this results in inflation, a devaluing currency, and little else. On the flip side, the economy can thrive when businesses are given the incentive to expand. Tax relief to corporations of all sizes, shapes, and colors will result in more jobs, more people working, working people making more money, more money being spent in the economic cycle.

The well-used proverb is correct: give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime. Adapted to our current "stimulating" situation: give a person money he did not earn and he needs another one tomorrow. That is also a cycle; one of dependence upon the government. A friend of mine was describing a recent disaster out of which people were “forced” to steal diapers and baby formula. The friend’s answer to the problem was the government: “If you can’t trust your government to take care of you, who can you trust?”

The Lord?

Peter wrote in his first letter to struggling believers: “Cast all your anxiety upon Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5: 7) Jesus said that he would be able to identify believers by their benevolence toward those in need – not the government’s benevolence but the individual’s benevolence. The Bible also tells us that a motive of love is the mark of Christ-followers.

The answer to the needs of people around us is for believers to faithfully tithe and for churches to use those funds in local and global ministry. The government can help by greasing the wheels of the economic engine by enticing businesses to expand. The free market economy will right itself; there’s no need to panic. Just be faithful to the Lord and his church.

Doing What We Ought To Do

Motivation is getting people to do what they ought to be doing. Nobody has to motivate me to eat the second piece of pie. Nobody has to be motivated to do anything they want to do or find easy to do. Motivation, however, moves people toward what they ought to do.

Why are people reluctant to do what they should but don’t want to do? I’ve only lived 44 years so I can’t speak with certainty, but it sure seems like just in my lifetime people in America have turned more and more selfish. Decisions are based upon selfish desires rather than upon what ought to be. If a person can benefit from doing something that might hurt others or by not doing something that would benefit others, then that’s the choice many will make.

How many times have you found that what is good for the individual actually harms the group. We have to start looking at what is best for others. Listen to the words Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4 NIV). Two important issues come out of these words. First, don’t be selfish. It is proper to think about what affect your actions may have on someone else. Second, you must still think about yourself but in balance with your concern for others.

So, in order for one to do what he ought to do, he must be motivated. Motivation can come from within; it’s just knowing what is right and doing it. Motivation can come from the beneficiary. The person in need acts to compel you to do what you ought to do. Motivation can also come from a third party. A pastor sees a need and wants to mobilize his church to meet the need. Leadership is the key to motivating like this. Hopefully, our spirits connect with the Spirit of God and we are internally motivated to do what we ought to do. Hopefully, we act mercifully toward those in need having been motivated by their plea. Hopefully, churches have leaders who, like Jesus, can move them to do what ought to be done.

Factors such as selfishness, greed, envy, or guilt are not valid. But such things as love, goodness, kindness, and mercy are valid. The Golden Rule especially applies here: “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7:12 NIV).

Words

Riley got in trouble today. He said a little rhyme that makes fun of people. He may not even realize it, but the words are hurtful.

He's just trying to be cute but he has to realize that he can't say just anything he wants. There are consequences to our words and actions.

Some things are just wrong. Nothing can justify it. I try to excuse it when I say or do something wrong; I guess it's human nature. But it's still wrong.

We can all do better. Today is a good day because we've learned something.

Winners and Losers

In a game of winners and losers, there really are no winners. To gain at the expense of another is selfish. To brag of it is arrogance. To celebrate it is childish.

According to msnbc.com, as the video screens projected the image of President George W. Bush, boos could be heard among the masses in Washington today. When the helicopter taking now-former President Bush to Andrews Air Force Base for his flight home to Texas, the crowds cheered his exit and some sang, “Na-na-na-nah, na-na-na-nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye."

What Americans should celebrate today is the great freedom this country affords each citizen. The election of Barack Obama illustrates this feature of our country. His inauguration demonstrates to the world how a country can peacefully transition power from one leader to another.

The family of five (Why weren’t the kids in school?) at IHOP this morning was rushing the waitress and eating at a frantic pace. At 11:00 they jumped up and headed for the door. The mother looked at me and said, “We have to get home and get in front of the TV!” I hated to tell her that it would be too late to see the swearing in of the forty-fourth president and to hear his inaugural address. So I just smiled and nodded. I really don’t think they cared; they had won.

Does the non-white community think they have lost every other election? If white people are supposed to accept Obama as the president of all the people, why haven’t they been able to accept the forty-three white presidents as the presidents of all the people?

What was once in a melting pot is now being strained and separated. Instead of being one people and one culture, we are a country of separate identities; President Obama called us a “patchwork.” And the truth is that each segment sees itself as a minority in some way and is fighting to be heard. Seems like if we were all one people and one culture there would be no minority; there would be one voice, one need, one solution.

Conservative politics and economic policy is concerned with (and in the past has proven effective at) helping every American obtain a better way of life by extending opportunity and creating an atmosphere of optimism. Liberal politics and economic policy is about advantage: winners and losers.

I believe the greatest problem facing the USA is spiritual. President Obama said in his address today that “we are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers.” No wonder there is conflict! Of the five groups, Christians are the only ones who want everyone to be winners – by placing faith in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament book of Galatians, a letter to Christians living in Asia Minor in the mid-first century, Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Christianity does not discriminate. People who claim to be Christians may discriminate, and that is wrong. But Jesus embraces all who will come.

The reason the greatest problem we face is spiritual is because our country is not a Christian nation. Maybe it never was. At least in recent generations the commitment to and expansion of Christianity has been such that religions with other answers to spiritual questions have gained a foothold. So instead of being one in Christ, we are separate. And separation begets winners and losers.

America needs another Great Awakening. It is time for Christian – true Christians – to pray and to take the message to the streets.

In politics it is easy to create a false sense of “winning.” But it is always at the expense of the losers. And in such cases, the country loses. Fiscal budgets and legislative bills can no more bring us together than can bombing our enemies or building bridges to tomorrow (all of these are important in a nation’s life). But the Bible can bring us together so that we are winners.

Just in Time

 

I just returned from a mad dash to the bank. The deposit has to be in by 2:00 to count as today’s business. We have car payments drafting today so it was mandatory I make it in time.

Today is one of my favorite kinds of days. A wintry mix is falling from the sky! Mostly freezing rain. The air temp must be well below zero because the ice on the pine trees is beautiful. The roads were just wet; that was good! I did not have time to drive slow. I stayed with the speed limit, but I had to get there on time. A minute late would really cost us!

That reminds me of God’s call to each of us to come to Christ. We have time now to respond and accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord. But that time will come to an end – and we don’t know when! But when Jesus returns with those who have gone on before us, when he gathers those who are still alive, when he establishes his millennial reign…then it will be too late. (Those of you who do not agree with my historical premillennial sequence, please forgive me.)

The point is, no matter which view of the end times you adhere to, time ends and along with it, the opportunity to come to Christ. It’s like getting the deposit to the bank at 2:01. It’s too late!

There are so many people around us who are not Christ followers. They are still lost in their sin. They are on the clock. It’s up to me and you to share the truth of scripture with them so that they may come to Christ – even at the last minute – and escape perishing eternally.

By the way, my deposit receipt is stamped “1:58.”

Snowing in Ekaterinburg

I checked weather.com and saw that it is 12 degrees F in Ekaterinburg, Russia. When I shared the news with Riley, he said, “It’s always snowing there.” That’s not always true but I’m thrilled he thinks so naturally of Ekat. Our family will probably spend lots of time there during his school years. He can’t wait ‘til he can go.

Deana and I are going with a few others from church in April. This will be an exploratory trip to establish a plan for long-term missions there to plant a church. Not a good trip for an 8-year old. (Yes, Riley is now 8!) But we’ll try to plan future trips so that Riley (and other kids) can go.

We’ll go in the spring when the snow cover has melted and the beauty is beginning to come through. We’ll go in the summer when we can enjoy the wonderful green mountain scenery. We’ll go in the fall to see the beautiful birch trees with golden leaves. We’ll go in the winter when the temperature hovers near zero. And it’s always snowing there!

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Jesus

The Love Dare

I asked for the book “The Love Dare” for Christmas. Deana and I have a good marriage but it can be better and I don’t want it to go bad; that’s why I asked for the book. I know that some people think that couples who are not having trouble don’t need the book, but from the first 2 days, I think it will be good to strengthen marriages that are doing OK. Having blown it once before, I think anything someone can do to make sure marriage lasts is a good thing.
So far, “love is patient” and “love is kind” have been the basis of my assignments. I’m fairly patient but not very kind. I’m pushed into new territory already! What will the next 38 days hold in store? I’m guessing I’ll be a different man by Valentine’s Day.