Leaving 2018

When I look at an old photograph of myself, I can often see how far I’ve come, or how far I’ve slipped. Photos reveal diet choices, age, hairstyle, attitude, financial status, joy and grief. Once in a while the Spirit will show us a spiritual picture. Hopefully, as we leave 2018, we can look back on the year and see how far we’ve come in spiritually. Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor 3:6-9 NIV).

Body Sculpting

For a few years I lived with my grandma in rural southeastern Colorado. Neighbors traveled on dirt roads to the community church, which met in the one room schoolhouse. Unlike today’s churches, there was never any thought given to who we wanted to attract to our service. With an average attendance of seven we welcomed anyone who walked in the door. Paul speaks to today’s church leaders who tailor their worship service to attract categories of people — families, young adults, youth and teens. Paul said, “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body” (1 Cor 12:14-20 NIV).

The Ministry of Hymns

In today’s churches praise songs on video screens replace hymns in the hymnal. Many older folks continue to grieve the loss of beloved hymns and feel their need is overlooked by church leadership. I see a similarity in the early church, “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:1-4 NIV). Today the ministry of hymns is neglected.

What Does God Think

I’ve listened to hundreds of sermons and meditations where the speaker says, “I think…” In Scripture Jesus never prefaced his remarks with “I think,” and only on rare occasions did Paul use the disclaimer. Christian speakers today fail to realize that by constantly saying “I think” they elevate themselves, devalue the message and weaken the power of the Gospel. Paul said, “I am obligated both to Greeks and non–Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith” (Ro 1:14-17 NIV).

The Greatest Gift of All

When we buy Christmas gifts with credit cards, we are often spending money we do not yet have. A man crippled from birth was put at the temple gate called Beautiful every day to beg. Peter and John were about to enter the temple when the man asked for money. Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong” (Acts 3:6-7 NIV). This Christmas we can give others what we ourselves have, we can give them our hope and faith in Jesus Christ.

Christmas Message

Writers and preachers have something in common as we approach Christmas…it’s hard to be creative and come up with something new to say. Our sense is that everything that could be said about the birth of Christ has already been said. King Solomon wrote, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was already, long ago; it was here before our time” (Ecc 1:9-10 NIV).

He Leads Me Beside Quiet Waters

My friend is considering leaving his church simply because he hates the time of greeting every Sunday morning. He said, “A few years ago my wife left me. We’ve reconciled, but when I came to church I was embarrassed. I didn’t want to tell people we were separated and everyone kept asking where she was. I want to go to church for quiet worship, not to greet people.” I’ve visited a number of churches where worshipers enter the sanctuary and sit quietly as they prepare themselves for worship and it’s only after the service that they greet one another and have fellowship. I now wonder if orchestrated quiet time with the Lord isn’t yet another element of worship that we, and others, manipulate. David wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:1-3 NIV).

The Latest and Greatest

In Athens Paul was taken to a meeting of the Areopagus where they said, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)” (Acts 17:19b-21 NIV). There are times when some churches resemble the Athenians as they talk about and listen to the latest ideas on church growth. In 1995 The Purpose Driven Church, written by Rick Warren, took church leadership by storm. Churches across America positioned themselves to become the next mega Saddleback Church. Now, more than 20 years later, The Purpose Driven Church is merely a book on a bookshelf.

Enough Faith

I generally think of faith as something that is internal. However, I know there are times when my faith is seen by others. “In Lystra there sat a man crippled in his feet, who was lame from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk” (Acts 14:8-10 NIV). I wonder how many of us have faith enough to accomplish the desires of our heart — Faith to start a business, write a book, become a missionary, or plant a church.

Keeping the Good News New

The newspaper industry is losing subscribers and suffering financially because of social media, cable television and online news. More often than not my local paper relies on words to sell their product, rather than current news. For instance, updating the status of a two-year-old crime story is presented as news, and old file photos are used rather than the photo journalist getting new pictures. In the church those who preach, teach and give meditations can fall into a similar situation when, rather than keeping the message new and fresh, the rely on old material they have presented before. The writer of Hebrews said, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double–edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb 4:12 NIV).

Judged For Not Getting up

During a Fox TV News segment Richard Grenell, US Ambassador to Germany, was asked if he was angry with a liberal news reporter for her caustic comments. The reporter later bowed to peer pressure and publicly apologized. Grenell accepted the apology as sincere noting we all make mistakes. He said, “I don’t judge people for falling; but I do judge them for not getting up.” I see a spiritual application to Grenell’s thought. We all sin, but rather than being judged for the sin, God gives us an opportunity to get up   — to repent, confess, ask for forgiveness and apologize. The prophet Nathan went to David after David committed adultery with Bathsheba. Psalm 51 is David’s prayer for forgiveness and cleansing, “For I know transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge” (Psalm 51:3-4 NIV).

Spiritual Language

At Pentecost the disciples were together when the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God–fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language” (Acts 2:5-8 NIV)? I know this passage refers to different spoken languages, but I’m considering that it could also include spiritual language. It’s not unusual for people to listen to the same sermon, read the same Scripture, or quote the same prayer and come away with hearing a different message. In essence, the Spirit speaks to each of us in our own spiritual language.

Scripture Fulfilled

Often when we start to read our Bible it seems to automatically open to familiar and well-loved passages of Scripture — John 3:16, Psalms 23 and the Lord’s Prayer. On the Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue, as was his custom, and he stood up to read. Jesus didn’t request a specific passage of Scripture to read, but rather, “The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:16-21 NIV).

One Hundred and Fifty-Three Large Fish

Some pastors measure their success by the weekly church attendance; likewise, a fisherman measures success by his catch of fish. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn” (John 21:10-11 NIV). Leave it to a fisherman, or a preacher, to count the exact number of fish they catch.

Know Your Flock

During one church visit my interaction with 300 fellow worshipers was limited to a time of Passing the Peace. Following the service I went through the pastor’s receiving line. We made eye contact and shook hands, but he had absolutely no idea if I was a member of his flock…nor did he ask. He simply said, “Have a good day.”  Although the writer of Proverbs was reflecting on an agricultural economy, I believe a spiritual application can be made. “Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations” (Proverbs 27:23-24 NIV).

Envy

It’s not something we like to admit, but churches can be envious of one another. We get jealous when our church membership dwindles while another church thrives. John’s disciples had a similar experience when they watched people leaving John and going to Jesus and his disciples to be baptized. To this John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him’” (John 3:27-28 NIV). Whether as a church, or as an individual, we each receive what God gives us.  

Appraisal

We had an appraisal done on our house and in order to come up with a value the appraiser will compare our home to others that are similar. Praise the Lord that our value to God is not based on an appraisal. Jesus said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7 NIV).

Fertilizers

We all know people who, beyond accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior, never seem to bear any fruit as a Christian. Jesus told this parable, “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down’” (Luke 13:6-9 NIV). I’m now considering the man who cares for the vineyard. He sounds remarkable similar to my grandma and my great aunt, two pillars of faith, who tirelessly dug around and fertilized those in the family who weren’t walking their Christian walk.    

Still in the Race

I’m surprised by the number of senior citizens who routinely work out at the gym. They set their own pace, even those who need a walker to walk from one piece of equipment to another. These folks are not in strict training for competition, but you have to admire them because they are still in the race. Paul said, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor 9:25-27 NIV).

The Price of Keeping Your Wealth

My aunt and uncle, who are in their early 90’s, are faced with whether to move into an assisted living facility, or hire a daily health care provider. The decision is made even more difficult because their home and outbuildings are packed with their life’s work and treasures, which they are not ready to completely get rid of. They are not rich by anyone’s standards; however, their treasures are their wealth. For them, disposing of their property causes the same grief that is found in the Parable of the Rich Young Man. Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Matt 19:21-24 NIV).

Career Christians

My tour of duty in the Navy was three-years and we referred to career sailors, those who were enlisted for many years, as “salty,” or an “old salt.” Jesus said, “Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:49-50).