The NBA playoffs are in full swing right now and quite frankly, "I really don't care." A friend of mine asked me the other day if I'd seen the Celtics game and I said, "I didn't even know they were playing." When it comes to the NBA I'm indifferent at best and antagonistic at worst. I just don't see the point and I'm very much opposed to much of the antics. I liken my attitude towards the NBA to what I'm perceiving the attitude of many in the church is towards serious outreach into our communities--our inactivity reveals our apathy. In the church I happen to serve we are at least giving lip service to our desire to become more intentional in outreach and yet as we talk about the opportunities and possible involvement in outreach activities those who listen repeatedly have that "deer in the headlights" look. I've been thinking and praying about why this is and I wonder if the folks in church just don't see a real reason to sacrifice what is safe, comfortable, and routine for the mess of entering into people's lives in an attempt to rescue them from the Kingdom of darkness. So I want to share at least three significant reasons why I believe that each of us should be willing to "take up our cross daily" and make some sacrifices to bring the gospel to people not only around the world, but in our own neighborhoods. First of all, we are COMMANDED to make disciples--"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Mt.28:19). Last time I checked obedience was a litmus test of our love for Christ--see John 14:21. The one who loves Christ will keep His commands and making disciples is certainly at the top of the list. I want to be careful not to become judgmental of people who are not involved in the ministries of disciple making that I deem most important. I think making disciples begins with communicating the gospel through our words and works. Therefore, I think that at some level every true believer should be involved in sharing the Gospel in these ways. We do not all need to be involved in the evangelism process through the same means/methods. In fact, I would argue that uniformity in our approach is not what pleases the Lord. The question isn't what method we use, but whether we are using any method? Can someone truly be a believer in Christ and never take any steps to reach out to the lost around him/her with the Gospel of Christ? As we review our list of activities for the summer are we using any time for sharing Christ? This doesn't have to be joining an "Evangelism Explosion" initiative in our church although that would be a good thing. But it could be an intentional effort to make our "bleacher ministry" redemptive--to intentionally engage those we sit next to at ball games in spiritual conversations. Or it could be that we are praying for the opportunity to share Christ with those we find our camper parked next to at the RV park while on vacation. I believe it should certainly include some participation in the ministries of our local church directed at reaching the lost locally, regionally, and/or internationally. Secondly, we are to be CONTROLLED by the love of Christ--2Cor. 5:14-15. Paul's words in this section are certainly instructive. As the great apostle pondered what Christ had done for Him he was compelled out of gratitude to "live for the one who died and rose again on our behalf." I'm doubtful that most of us have given prolonged and serious contemplation to the Cross of Christ and what that means for us. It would require a realization of our abject destitute condition, that we were subject to the unrelenting and unraveling wrath of God, and that by Christ's glorious substitutionary death our sentence of destruction has been averted and we are forgiven. For all who by grace through faith embrace Christ's death in their place new life, reconciliation with God has been accomplished. There is no greater news. Those gripped by God's mercy are compelled to live for Him fully. Certainly that means sacrifice personally so others can be exposed to this marvelous message. But I see our schedules filling up with ball games, NASCAR races to watch, golf games to be played, video games, TV, movies, boating, countless weekends of camping, every spare moment touring on our new motorcycle, traveling incessantly to see our children and our grandchildren. Don't get me wrong, these things all have their place--Except maybe watching NASCAR--just kidding :). What concerns me is that increasingly I see professing believers so driven by their schedules that there is no margin for ministry, no place for professing Christ. If we are using each of the aforementioned activities as a platform for sharing then my assessment is faulty. What I fear is that we are neither using our plethora of activities for ministry nor are we cutting back enough to find time for sharing Christ and showing Christ personally. I know a couple who are grandparents who have left their family behind to share Christ in one of the spiritually darkest places on the planet. They are not living their retirement years worshipping their children or grandchildren, chasing around to their countless activities deluded into thinking that doing so is the best way to leave a legacy. I'm not saying that everyone should move to a different country to engage in ministry and leave their family behind. What I am saying is that when the love of Christ controls us we will make decisions that put serving the Lord, engaging in ministry above our interests, preference, and desires will be done out of love for Christ. I think that far too much of what we are chasing in America smacks of idolatry that is sanitized under the guise of Christian duty (i.e. God wants me to take care of my family). I'd suggest that our children will learn a great deal about faith, courage, the goodness and greatness of God when they see us and join us in ministry that doesn't always cater to their whims and fancies. When we miss a few ball games to go out into the community or travel overseas to share Christ in a foreign country it points them to a purpose eternal and a God who is glorious. And is He not worth it. What can we sacrifice for Him more than what He has sacrificed for us? Finally, Our CONCERN for God's glory serves as a constraining influence to sacrifice for the sake of bringing the Gospel to the lost around us. Revelation 5 pictures the LAMB who is worthy taking the scroll out of God's hand and to break the seals (5:5). The Lamb is Jesus who was "slain,and did purchase for God with Your blood men from every tribe, and tongue and people and nation" (5:9).God is at work to bring men from all over the world to Himself and as we partner in that work He receives glory. We are gloriously enabled to be a part of God's grand plan to redeem lost mankind. He doesn't need us, but chooses to use us in His Sovereign plan to reconcile lost men to Himself. I want to be part of that grand effort to bring Him glory. So as we have various opportunities--VBS, Community Parade, Sharing in Our Communities, Block Parties,etc., I hope we will not dismiss them as I would an NBA playoff game. I pray that the COMMAND of Christ, being CONTROLLED by the love of Christ, and our CONCERN for the glory of God will encourage us to make some tough choices, to sacrifice our preferences and to take the gospel to those around us.

You can't drive anywhere or listen to the radio or watch T.V. in the U.S. without realizing that there are elections coming up. Some state and local elections are being held in June with the national elections coming up in November. As I read 2Chronicles 7:14 again the other day "and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" it made me think about what is happening in our country. The verse comes after Solomon had dedicated the temple and the Lord appeared to him and assured him that the Lord had heard his prayer. Additionally, God told Solomon that if there was drought, disaster, or disease which came upon the nation (Israel) due to their wickedness (i.e. God's punishment for their sin) and the people of God humbled themselves, then God would hear, forgive, and heal. Since the promise is given to God's people I believe the application can be made to God's people today as well. If believers across America will humble themselves, and pray, and seek God's face and turn from THEIR wicked ways, then the Lord will hear, forgive and heal. So maybe we should take some time during this critical election cycle to stop each day, to pray, to confess our own sins and those of our country, to humble ourselves before God and seek His face. Steadily the influence of Christianity is waning in America. Greed, deception, dishonesty, corruption, immorality, and perversity dominate our culture. Only as believers pray, and participate in the process can we shine the light of truth into the dark world in which we live. Take some time each day to pray for our country, for the upcoming elections, for believers to actually vote according to Biblical convictions and priorities, for us to turn from self-indulgence, and yield in obedience to God's Word. God is still in control. He desires that we humble ourselves and recognize our dependence upon Him. He also wants us to exercise our influence in the culture, to speak up for truth, to speak out against wickedness, to live with integrity, and to obey God's Word. We are called upon in 2Chronicles 7:14 to pray and in 1Timothy 2. May we commit each day to spend even 1 minute in prayer for our country, for our sins to be evident, to confess, and repent, for evil to be exposed and punished, for truth to prevail and for God to heal our land.

Trust His Heart

I sat down in the chair in my office this morning feeling overwhelmed with all that was running through my mind. Preparations to do, people to contact, plans for the future to implement, places to go, personal needs of those in the congregation that are numerous, the challenges faced by my own children, my utter sense of inadequacy in dealing with any of what faces me. It struck me that I should be constantly in a state of utter dependence, because the fact is that I am totally inadequate to do anything apart from the Lord's grace.

Psalm 135:5-6 caught my eye, "For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, He does. In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps." The first question I asked myself is, "Do I really believe this?" As I consider all that is going on in my life and in the world...the chaos, conflict, confusion, and corruption, do I truly believe that the Lord is Sovereign doing as He pleases? The second question I asked is, "Am I okay with what the Lord pleases to do?" My frail and fallen humanity questions God when I deal with people going in for cancer surgery, dealing with marital strife, losing loved ones at an early age. But the truth of Psalm 135:5-6 is the anchor that holds me firm in these storms of life--God is in Control--and I am called upon to trust Him. As the song writer states, "When I don't understand, when I can't trace His hand, trust His heart." And I only need to look to the Cross of Calvary to understand the Father's deep deep love and know that whatever "the Lord Pleases" and therefore does what seems other than "good" in my book is merely a problem that I have. For God is in control and He is truly at work to do what is best for His people even when what happens seems so utterly far from what we would call good. When I'm overwhelmed I am brought face to face with the reality of my humanity and need for dependence upon a Good and Gracious and Sovereign God. I can't and don't have to understand His ways, I only need to trust His heart.

Father, I do believe, I only ask that you would help me in my unbelief.

A Heart Like Hezekiah

Yesterday I was convicted of my own struggles to remain completely focused on the Lord in every aspect of my life, to yield absolute control to the Lord, to turn away from any and every form of Idolatry. I saw in the Kings of Israel complete rebellion and in some of the Kings of Judah commitment to the Lord that was less than absolute. As I read 2Kings 18 a "diamond in the rough" appears in the person of Hezekiah. His father was one of the worst Kings of Judah (Ahaz) and yet we read that Hezekiah "did right in the sight of the Lord...He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars..." (2Kings 18:3-4). He was a King who trusted fully in the Lord, "so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor month those who were before him" (2Kings 18:5). The next verse is the crown jewel description of Hezekiah and serves as a prize that every child of God would want to possess. "For he clung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses" (vs.6).

All I can say is, "Lord give me a heart like Hezekiah, a heat that is totally sold out for you. Lord, please reveal anything that rivals you in my life so that I can repent and remain true to you.

Divided Loyalty

For many who read the Bible the only sections more difficult to trudge through than the genealogies are those that contain the records of the rise and fall of the various kings in Israel and Judah. I've been reading through 1 and 2 Kings recently and there is no shortage of Kings who reigned in Israel and Judah for a certain number of years. Many are sons of the former King, some took their throne by force, others were forced into the throne. What we do know is that NONE of the Kings of Israel--Northern Tribes--was good. In fact, most of them "did evil in the sight of the Lord;" and "did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat..." (2King 13:11). Jeroboam promoted idolatry in Israel making two golden calves declaring, "behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt" (1Kings 12:28). He placed one of the calves at Dan and the other at Bethel so that the people would not go down to Jerusalem to worship. He instituted blatant idolatry which his successors continued. But there were some good Kings in Judah (the southern tribes). Recently I was struck by the fact that within the span of four chapters (2Kings 12-15) there were three of these Kings about which it is written that they "did right in the sight of the Lord...Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places" (2Kings 12:2-3; 14:3-4; 15:34-35). While this repetition can seem like just another instance of God's people living in rebellion (and it is that for sure), it caught my attention because I saw that these were very good kings, but they were divided in their loyalty. They meant well, they were seeking to please God, they were to be commended for their steadfastness. Yet they had a serious flaw--a divided heart. For some reason they just couldn't bring the people to cut all ties with idolatry, with pagan rituals, and serve the true God wholeheartedly.

As I was on my morning walk mulling this around in my brain, it struck me that I have behaved just like these kings. I have been seeking the Lord, trying to live for Him, serving Him for many years and yet, there have been various idols/idolatrous practices that I have been slow to eradicate from my life. I began to think about my life and the "high places" that I have "sacrificed to and burned incense on." There was my penchant for collecting farm toys, my love of sports (participating and watching) and the effort put into seeing that my children succeeded (at least in part it was a quest for me to gain approval vicariously through them--yeah, I know it is not pretty), a desire to own property (I went to a farm auction once, but the bidding quickly went beyond my resources) that for a while preoccupied my thoughts, and other things that stood/stand in the way of whole-hearted devotion to the Lord.

It was a sobering walk as I saw in my heart idols that I had/have not fully eliminated. So it was time to confess my sin and rejoice in God's gracious forgiveness and mercy. I know the battle still rages for unswerving devotion to the Lord and I'm thankful for the message of 2Kings in these verses that remind me that it's possible to do what is right in the sight of the Lord and still have strongholds of sin that need to be eradicated.

Converting Terrorists

I was challenged recently by a message I heard from 1Timothy chapter one. Listen to the apostle Paul's own self analysis from verse 15. "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." By all standards Paul was as hostile towards Christianity as any modern day terrorist. He gave hearty approval when Stephen was stoned (Acts 8:1). From that time on a great persecution of the church took place. Acts 8:3 says, "But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison." It is this violent persecutor of the church to whom God extended His mercy. God did this so that Paul would be a prime example of God's great grace. Paul's conversion to Christianity is an amazing testimony to the power of the Gospel to save. Our underestimation of the power of the Gospel keeps us from sharing it boldly, freely, simply. We either believe we must alter it to make it more palatable and acceptable or we simply do not share it at all. I'm convicted that i am not more bold to interject the truth of the Gospel into my everyday conversations with greater frequency. I was challenged to think about the person I believed to be most unlikely to become a believer. Is the Gospel powerful enough to reach that person? Of course. The Gospel is powerful enough to reach the most vile of sinners. Dare I forget how rebellious I am at the core and God saved me? So I'm thinking about the power of the Gospel (Romans 1;16-17) and the need I have to share the Gospel more freely and more simply. I cannot reach people for Christ. I can only bring Christ to people and God will do His work in them. So I'm asking what I can do to get close to the people in my sphere of influence who are hostile to the Gospel. What steps will I take personally to get close to those who so desperately need God's mercy. I'm praying for boldness, open doors, open hearts of those who hear, and for me to open my mouth with the powerful Gospel.

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" Phil.2:13. This reminder comes just after Paul's admonition for us to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (2:12). Here we have both sides of the salvation coin. There is our work and God's work. Of course God works to draw us to Himself, to bring us to the point of conversion--Jn.6:44; 2Cor.4:4. But then there is the work we are suppose to do, the hard work of obedience, of "letting this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil.2:5). Paul doesn't want any of us to just think that since we "prayed a prayer" we "have our ticket." No we are to work "in fear and trembling" knowing that a tree is known by it's fruit. Our actions are the evidence of our attitude, our conduct reveals our convictions, our behavior reveals our beliefs. So I need to examine my life and ask God to reveal where it is that I'm falling short of living out the full implications of my faith. Paul gives some practical advice in saying that we are to do everything without grumbling. That's a tall order. But as we do our part we are to be confident that God is doing His part. I'm so comforted and encouraged to know that God is at work in me, because I don't always feel that this is true. Be encouraged brothers and sisters, God is at work to accomplish His purposes in us.
Hope you all have a wonderful fourth of July.