The Journey

The Significance of Timing

I love reading the stories of the Old Testament, knowing the implications the past has on future events.  I love diving in the richness of Hebrew heritage, and comparing it to the way we can understand the world as we know it today.

One of the longest told stories of Hebrew culture is called Passover.

It stems from the time of Moses in Egypt.  Most of you know the story.

God told Moses to go and free the people of Israel from the Egyptian slave drivers.
Moses stood before Pharaoh and told him of the plagues to come.
Locusts, Nile to blood, boils on the skin of people, it all had poignant meaning as each plague picked on the Egyptian gods of the time showing Yahweh being the God of all Gods

In any event, the final plague was one where the first born of every household would die, unless the blood of a lamb was used over the doorway to the home.  The angel of death would pass by all homes without the blood, but the one's with blood would remain untouched by this lethal plague.

Can you imagine?

What an unbelievable day it must have been?

I can't even dream the horror I would feel.

But those who lived life the way God intended, were saved from experiencing this death.  

Pharaoh and the Egyptians were in such shock, they had little to do other than let The Israelites  go free, and the event of passover is celebrated even to this day. 

Isn't it interested that Jesus began His passion week just at this time of year.  

I was reading Matthew 26 this morning, "On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

 He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover." (Matthew 26:17-19)

It was the beginning of Celebration when Jesus began preparing His own death.
He knew the events unfolding were going to bring much pain.
But, He also knew there would be those set free because of His death.
He knew sin and disease were keeping humanity slaves, and it was going to be His responsibility to create a cornerstone of beginning. 

Jesus would set all things into motion.
He would begin the reconciliation from death to life.
He would set free the slaves of this world to know the life God intended.
He would come to give life, and life more abundant.
He would set captives free. 

And that's why we celebrate this time of year. 

It's not about presents, trees, Santa, lights, or any of the sort.  We are free!!!  And just as the Jewish people celebrate passover in light of their freedom from Egypt, we celebrate freedom from the chains and bondage of sin.  

May we celebrate freely, not for the next few days, but for a lifetime!

What's Your Price?

I remember when Jamie and I were working on naming our children.  We'd go back and forth for the Nine Months, often deciding right before one of our kids were born.  But one name that never made the list, JUDAS!!  You just don't meet any Judas' in the world today.  It's one of those blacklist names that just won't fly.

Everyone knows the story.  Jesus, the son of God, twelve disciples, one betrays him in the end, JUDAS!

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16)

Although I realize the historicity of this verse centralizes around Judas and his work with the chief priests, and ultimately Jesus, I think the lesson is pretty clear.  For sure,  I think at this time of the year, it's worth just sitting back and asking, What are you willing to sell Jesus for?  What's your price?

Christians are often concerned with Power.
Prestige.
Money.
The right to be popular and not embarrassed in front of peers. 
"Right" behavior.
"Right" worldview.
"Right" belief (which is often times more about tradition than true understanding.)

What's your price?

Can those of us who follow Jesus commit to the honest message He came to bring? 
Can we stay true to being disciples, as we follow to the end of the age?

Or, are we full of compromises reflecting the centrality of a culture that is so different than the one Jesus lived?

I'm committed to trying to figure out the truth of Jesus' message.
I want my life to be about the news He came to give us, mainly; I want to view the world like Jesus viewed the world. 

A world where the God of the Universe came to make all things new. 
A world where the creator of all things cared enough to interrupt the 'normal' course of sin and death to offer forgiveness through His son.
A world where hope is the central theme, rather than desperation and despair.  

I think if we are willing to see Jesus for what He came to do and who He came to be, there wouldn't be enough silver coins in the world for me to trade Him. For, if the creator of the Universe was willing to come and live WITH us, we must live it out, and watch the world spin a different direction.  

Are you willing to follow Him? Or, Do you have a Price?

An Honoring Gift from an Unlikely Source

This is one of my favorite stories a the end of Matthew.  Jesus is teaching in Bethany, probably reclining at a meal, when all of the sudden a woman bursts in.  She breaks an alabaster jar of perfume near His feet.  Well..just read it for yourself.

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Matthew 26:6-13)

The interesting part of this story is the woman's perfume was expensive!!  Some scholars have speculated it may have been worth almost a year's pay.  Can you believe that?  This woman understood the importance of who she was sitting with, and she was willing to give all she had. 

It's a common theme in Jesus' ministry.  The rich young ruler was required to give up all his possessions to follow Jesus.  The widow that gave her two mites, gave all she had.  Some of the disciples gave up their livelihoods to follow Him. 

It's almost like a continued requirement. 

If you are going to follow Jesus, you have to sacrifice the things of this world.  You have to look at the world and understand at the core of your worldview, it's going to cost.  It's going to cost you pride.  It's going to cost your significance.  It's going to cost something of you.

The days of pastors saying, "it's a free gift" are over.  Sure, salvation is free, and Jesus came to set you free from sin, death, and the ills of the world.  But it's imperative that we understand, there will be a cost. 

We need to tell people, and be honest, Following Jesus will cost you. So before you buy into this life, a life more abundant I might add, you need to count the cost.  Are you willing to follow Him and freely give up some things that impair your understanding of His Way?

I'm convinced, no matter the cost, it's worth it. 

To make Jesus name great.
To follow Jesus with all i have.
To implement His teachings to watch the world become a better place.
To see the ultimate greatness come to fruition.

I've counted the cost, and I can't wait to give all I have for beauty of Jesus to come. 

May you recognize those things that might cost you, and give.
May we see the value of Jesus in the world.
May we set aside all things that might hinder our following. 

May God bless you today!

From Birth To Death, Is This Really Christmas?

It's easy to forget the reason for Christmas isn't really about the manger, the wise men, the shepherds, or the star.  The real reason we celebrate this time of year is the fact that God is With us.  He isn't just AT us, rather; He came to earth to walk with us. 

I was reading Matthew 26 today, and found the beginning of the passion week. 

 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, "As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified."

 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. "But not during the Feast," they said, "or there may be a riot among the people." (Matthew 26:1-5)

Of course Jesus was on a mission to make it to the cross, but in real time, often we forget it was the religious leaders that plotted His death.

They wanted to take Him out.
He was stirring up too much controversy.
He was allowing the faith to be back in the hands of the people, and that threatened the religious rank and file.
He turned the law on its ear.
He made the truth known to the poor.
He took the prideful authority away from the priests, pharisees, and sadducees. 
He was giving the faith to all who would believe and be brave enough to accept the gift.

Jesus' faith isn't dangerous, except for those who hold power. 
The central theme of Jesus' message is to love the creator, and love those around you.

And...when we dilute the competition from one group over another, it's a controversial concept for those in power. 

God with us...I keep thinking...Emanuel.  How wonderful He is!!

A Timely Christmas Message

We're coming to the end of our eschatology section in Matthew 25.  And once again, It's the part where Fear, has become the lexicon of spiritual advisors in our western culture.  You see, I've heard so many sermons talk about the separation of the sheep and the goats as it relates to those who are "in the club" and those who are "out."  But is this really what Jesus refers to in Matthew?

It's written, "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:34-40)

Can you see it?
Do you see the way this can be interpreted to those who are "in" versus those who are "out?"
We may read this and identify ourselves with the ones who are "in" but take a closer look.  Who are the one's the king invites to the Kingdom?   

You see, when Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) He was saying to the 1st century Jew, 'you have ways, but you must come and follow my way.'  And this is why the first century Jew referred to Jesus' movement as "THE WAY."

When He tells the disciples, "Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19) He wasn't necessarily asking the disciples to recruit men, but rather; if you come and follow me, people will come to this way, just like the fish just came to the boat in Peter's first encounter with Jesus. (Luke 5:4-11)

And...then idea where the two greatest commandments are "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it, 'To Love your neighbor as yourself.'"  (Matthew 22:37-40)

If we begin to add all these commands in a logical conclusion, isn't it interesting when Jesus says, "If you've done this to the least of these my brothers, you've also done it to me" AND, there's a welcoming to the kingdom for the care for others? 

What a timely Christmas message, If you reach out to take care of others, you can enter in the kingdom of heaven.  The king will welcome you for your thoughtfulness for other people.  Much like the King of the Universe came to give us an example through the birth of a son, we can embody that kind of self sacrifice for others, and thus be a part of the inheritance, the kingdom that was built before the creation of the world.  

May we be a people who Love God with all that is within us.
May we see the beauty of the Christmas season as we give ourselves to others.
May the world see that we are a group of people who care for their whole being. 
May you, NOT FEAR the world today, and go out with strength and confidence to give.

God bless you.

What are you doing with the gifts God gave YOU?

When we decided to move to Colorado to operate Camp KIVU, it was a huge leap of faith.  We'd been in Branson Missouri for ten years.  We developed some WONDERFUL friendships.  My wife's family was 100 yards down the road.  And...our church was, and still is, AWESOME!!  There's a lot to staying that made sense.

But when the opportunity came to move out to Durango and invest everything we have in the future of raising up strong, spiritually confident, honest teenagers; we couldn't pass it up.  It's the gift God gave us. 

Much like Matthew 25, when Jesus says, "It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

 "After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

 "The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

 "The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

 "The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

 "'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness." (Matthew 25) MSG

What are you doing with the gift God gave YOU?

Are you hiding them away in the dark corners of the world because you're frightened to let anyone see them?
Are you investing them for the Kingdom to come?
Are you tucking them away so no one knows how good you are?

I saw this last year at the British "American Idol," and it blew me away.  What a great example of someone who finally had a chance to showcase a talent.  Hope you enjoy!!

No One Knows the Time

One thing we are all so concerned about, at least here in America, is Time.  What time is it?  When are we going to ....?  Time is money! You only have so much time on the planet. 

You've heard all the cliche's before. 

But the more I read Jesus, the less I'm concerned with Time as it relates to the gospel. 

I don't think Jesus set the hourglass and wanted us to watch in urgency as time simply drifted away.  I don't sense, at least through Matthew, that the message of the gospel is "Get it done Cause Time is running out."

Rather, I sense even in the eschatology (big word for 'end times' study) Jesus simply uses time to show us how we should be living every day. 

In other words, the whole of the gospel has little to do with when the earth is going to end and Jesus would come back, but maybe the more important facet to look at is the idea it could end any second. 

It makes my soul smile when I hear end times teachers try to predict the end of the world, as if to instill fear into the listeners to hurry up, get it done, because you never know.

Well, the fact is, you NEVER KNOW!  But the response shouldn't be a fearful one. 
We shouldn't be concerned with seeing the gospel like a race.

I think the faith living should be an every second deal, not weighed by looking at the clock ticking, but more like it's just the right thing to do.  It's the transformation occurring on the planet that causes us to live every second, every minute, every hour, and every day as if Jesus has come to make things right. 

That's the Peace which dwells in the heart of those in pain.
It's the key to facing death with an attitude of resolve.
It's not the fear which brings about satisfaction.
It's the daily understanding of God's plan for the world.

Jesus told a story of virgins waiting on a bridegroom.  (Matthew 25)  Some of them took oil for their lanterns, and others left the oil and let their candles burn out. The former knew they needed to prepare for a wait, the later were so excited they forgot it might take a while. 

While they were waiting, the ladies who ran out of oil asked those who had prepared, "Can we borrow some of your oil while we wait?"

The whole of the parable is about the coming of the Son of man. 

Some people will prepare and see LIFE comprehensively, while others will see it as a rush to the end. 

Jesus follows the parable up by saying, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."  And we don't. 

We don't know the day or hour when Jesus returns.
We don't know the day or hour when the earth exhibits tragedy.
We don't know when violence will strike.
We don't even control the successful celebrations. 

It's almost as if Jesus is saying, "CHILL OUT! Live Like I told you to live, and keep watch.  I'm coming.  Don't worry.  Don't fear.  RELAX!"

So for you today, let this be a reminder.

Following Jesus shouldn't be wrapped in anxious fear.
We shouldn't be scared of what is coming, or what might come.
For, "Greater is He who is in Me, than He that is in the world."

I know that doesn't raise much money, or gain a great audience of fear mongers.  But it will bring peace to you when you focus on the main parts of the faith.  How are you loving God TODAY?  How have you loved others TODAY? And let the end times be just that....then end. 

May God grant you the Peace that Passes all understanding this holiday season.
May He give you a vision of living life to the fullest, without fear.
May He comfort you in time of pain and need. 

For the God we follow is the only hope for a broken world. 

Eschatology 101

Enough on climate change.  We need to get back to listening to what God has in store for us, had in store for us, or is having in store for us.  (depending on which theological system you want to cling to.)

Matthew 24:30-35 says, "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 

And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."

The biggest problem with a passage like Matthew 24 is it's Jesus' apocalypto.  This is the section matching Daniel and Revelation.  It's awesome that Jesus' teachings continue to re-affirm the rest of scripture, but the base line is so hard to interpret. 

If you take it 100% for face value, then you have to look at "this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened."  That would mean that the disciples who were listening to Jesus' discourse would infer all these things were to happen soon.

If you say it's symbolic, then you have to deal with the issues concerning which passages are symbolism and which one's are literal. 

It's quite a conundrum since there are SO many different theological systems built to interpret this kind of teaching. 

I think maybe the layman's version of looking at this passage is to say...

1.) Jesus is coming back with great power and glory
2.) We don't really know when
3.) We know He's in control of the end.
4.) We know if we line up on His side of the story, they'll be much praise and thankfulness

Other than that, trying to pinpoint the date of Jesus' return, the timing historically when some of these things are going to happen, or trying to conjure up apocalyptic fear in the masses of people who get caught up in that stuff, is just a waste of time. 

How are you living today as if Jesus was going to come back this afternoon?
How are you living today, knowing that some of this might have already happened?
How are you living today as an ambassador for the king of the Universe?

It shouldn't really be all that different.

Unless of course, you're one of those people who think you can do something about the nature of space and time as it relates to One Supreme God.  And then, well, you've got some more reading to do. 

Probably the most important verse in chapter 24 of Matthew is verse 44, "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

Let us be a people who live life to the fullest expecting the beauty and glory of the Lord to arrive at any minute. 
May we see God, not as a get out of jail card, but rather; as the giver of life, the author of grace, and the master artist of forgiveness. 
For He alone is worthy of all our praise!!

For those of you in the Nashville Area, I'll be there for the next three days. 

Mon.  7:00 P.M. I'll be at 549 Grand Oaks Dr. in the Brentwood area.
Tues. I have morning meetings
Tues. Night I have a private dinner
But I'd love to get together if you have time.  I'm off on Wed., back to Durango, and then a MUCH NEEDED break from traveling. 

God bless.  Hope to see you in Ten!

Ad-Ons to the Great Commission

This is one of my favorite pictures of the earth.  It's on my computer desktop, it's on my phone, I just love looking at the beauty of this little green and blue ball hanging out in the middle of a vast universe. 

I think one of the reasons I like looking at this whole world is the comprehensive nature of all involved. 

I mean look at it.

Look at all the systems that have to take place for life to exist. 
The weather patterns.
The eco-systems.
The relationship of humans, plants and other animals.
The cycle of water.
The transfer of energy.

It's just amazing to see from a 20 mile view, all the interesting things that have to take place to make it all work. 

That's why, I believe, the discussion of the end of the world is such a hot topic.  You see, for all the good and intricacy we see, there are certainly bad things happening too.  And, it's those that make it so hard to live peacefully knowing there's SUCH GOOD, dwelling among SUCH BAD.

The disciples wanted to know when Jesus was going to come and make all things new and right again.  They asked Him when the 'end of the age' was coming, and he began painting a picture in Matthew 24. 

Continuing with our reading, this morning I read this section, "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:9-13)

Doesn't sound real positive does it?

Death, Hatred, People turning from the faith betraying each other, Wickedness, Loss of Love; but He who stands firm to the end will be saved.  It's almost like SURVIVOR for keeps or something, right?

But the interesting part of this section, in my opinion, is this gospel preached around the world as a testimony to all nations.  

It's interesting to think how the gospel started off being preached from church to church.  They actually circulated letters from community to community.  It was a one-to-one type of ministry. 

Certainly there were conferences, councils, and big ecumenical meetings, but it wasn't until radio until people could broadcast the gospel over long range geographic regions. 

Television brought even more of an audience, and now; with satellite television and simulcasts, the gospel can go all over the world at the same time. 

It's amazing how communication is changing so fast. 

I was cruising the internet last night and found several sites dedicated to the Signs of the Times, all looking for the end of the age, and this was one of the most critical points.  They were almost pushing the gospel for the motivation of Jesus' return.  Almost like if they could reach all the people groups of the world, then heaven would open up, and Jesus would come back.

I wonder....

Is that the reason?

Should we share the gospel so this beautiful world will rid itself of the evil it's so entangled with?

I'm pretty sure the gospel wasn't meant to be a key that unlocks a cosmic turn of events.  Rather; what if the gospel was meant to show us the intimate way humanity can return to a right relationship with the creator of the Universe.

I guess I'm trying to say, If your motivation to share your faith is to trigger some Armageddon type of event, maybe you need to check your reasons.  Maybe you should check your understanding of the gospel.  Maybe...??

Maybe we as a people need to fear less about what's going to happen in the future, and focus on what's happening in the now.  

Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19)  For no other reason than it was our duty to share with people the beauty of Jesus.  It's not like we're making a club, an army, or some secret society that's here to take over the world.  God's already promised He'll do THAT in His time.  

Let's don't be people that try to ad-on to the great commission.  Rather; let's be people who love Jesus so much, we're willing to share His love and His death on the cross to people who need to know how much God cares for them. 

God has chosen to use us to be the agents of hope to the world.  Can we take the challenge without twisting it to our own agenda?

The End of The World As We Know It

Continuing on in our discovery of Matthew, this morning I was reading through Matthew 24 again.  Remember, it was a few days ago I brought the idea to "the Journey" that Jesus was actually revealing the end of the age.  I didn't get many comments about what the end of the age actually meant, so we'll continue on with a few options.  1.) The end of the age could be the end of Israel as Jesus and the disciples knew it.  2.) The end of the age could be the end of a certain mid-eastern way of thought.  3.)  The end of the age could mean the end of a religious ideal, or as my strict eschatalogical conservative friends point out, 4.) It could mean the end of the world. 

We'll see if He clears it up in the coming verses. 

It was verse 3 where the disciples asked, "What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?"

"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. (v. 4-8)

So we can understand Jesus to say there will be people coming to deceive, there will be wars, nations and kingdoms will rise against each other, and there are famines and earthquakes. 

Those who are watching closely for the coming of the Christ have tried to point out the severity of these bullet points as THE signs we are living in the last days.  I'm not saying we aren't, but as we look throughout the course of history, hasn't this been the case since the beginning? 

Scientists point out the severe earthquakes that formed our mountains, continents, and island nations.  So earthquakes have been the case for a while.

Famines are noted even back as early as Biblical times.  Remember Joseph and the 7 year famine of Egypt?  That was between 6 and 10 thousand years ago.  So famines have been around.

We know Paul dealt with false Christs as early as his first epistle, Galatians.  Remember, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galatians 1:6-9)

We can deduce, false prophets have been around since Paul's time, deceiving people away from the gospel. 

And War?
Wasn't War and nation rising against nation part of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus...well, all the way through?

So what do we do?
What do we do with people who are on the street corner conjuring up the fear of global disaster, apocalyptic demise, and a need to turn from their wicked ways because 'time is running out?'  Are they in their right mind?

Well, for the sake of understanding I don't have ANY IDEA when, what, or how Jesus is returning. 
I don't know what it really looks like.
I have no idea other than what I read in the BIble, and deduct from the studies of great men who have gone before me. 

The important thing to note....

Jesus is coming, and THAT'S HOPE!!

Hope there will be a good King come back to the world.
Hope there will and end to this disease ridden planet.
Hope, we will live in a world where people will finally live at peace

But I'm jumping ahead of myself.  

Jesus answers His disciples.  The end of the age will begin with signs like birth pains.

Birth pains are the beginning signs a woman is about to give birth to new life. 
It's not very pretty.
In fact, for three of our five children, I watched as the birth pains started small and seemed to be bothersome.  But, as the day went on, the birth pains effected my wife in such a way...well, let's just say if men were to endure such distraught, there wouldn't be a population problem.  That's for sure!!

The point is, it takes birth pains to usher in new life.
It takes a time of intense pain to move on to a new beginning.
And it seems as though Jesus is pointing to a time that will bring about a 'new age.'

It's important we continue to keep our eyes on the end goal.  As ages pass, and birth pains consume our attention, it's important to know the point is NEW LIFE! 

Therefore, if Jesus refers to the 'new age' as something that's already happened, let us celebrate the pains that ushered Him in.

If He's referring to 'new age' as the end of the world, let us celebrate rather than fear the coming of the newness!

May God bless you today as you seek His heart.

May we know, together; the heart of Jesus. 

The End of the World, according to Jesus

Every generation has an obsession with the end of the world.  Most are tragic endings when the sun explodes, the earth turns on itself, and most tell the story of the end of humanity. We LOVE this stuff!!

Movies like 2012, Armageddon, the whole Left Behind Series, even to some extent the Twilight series, make us feel vulnerable and tease our natural sense of fear into a false sense of pandemonium.  

I've never been one who enjoys engaging in the manipulation of people's fears, but...Jesus did have something to say about the time when the world would wind down.

"How Is the world going to end?" the question the disciples asked even in Jesus time. 

Matthew 24:1-3 begins to explain,

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. "Tell us," they said, "when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

So...evidently there is an "End of the Age" because there are signs that will point to a specific time. 

The Question is...What does that mean?  What is the end of the age?  What age are we talking about here?

Is Jesus setting the stage to reveal the end of the world?  Or, is He merely talking about a time when the end of the age of the disciples would be finished?

I can't wait to go through Matthew 24 with you and see where Jesus will take us on the "end of the Age."  One thing I want you to remember though,

FEAR IS NOT FROM THE LORD.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1), so as we discuss the coming of the end of the age, let us not be fearful. For greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.  No matter what the world has to offer, we must remember, GOD CREATED IT ALL ANYWAY. 

So it doesn't matter if we talk of 'One World Governments,' 'One World Currency,' or even the talk of 'Anti-Christ,' For God is even more powerful than all those things.  (although we probably won't cross those words unless necessary)

It just frustrates me that there are those believers out there who continue to use fear to manipulate people to give finances, power, or influence.  It's a disgrace to the honor of the King of Kings, and I will NOT be one of those. 

So let's talk about Matthew 24, together.

Let's discover what Jesus meant on this, the last of His teachings before the Cross. 

May we allow the Word of God to help us re-discover the Christian Worldview. 

Inside OUT rather than Outside IN

Once again, Matthew 23 spoke to my soul this morning. 

Isn't it amazing how the Bible has the timeless ability to convict us, allow us to contemplate, and keep us within a standard of God's message?

This morning I read, " Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean"

Matthew 23:25-26 

This one is so easy.
How many of us truly live on the outside as we are on the inside?
Still further; how many of us live on the outside like we thought we should, but our inside is pretty dirty?

It's the law of humanity.  We always bow to the social pressures to 'fit in' or to look like we 'have it together' but reality tells us, no man woman or child on this planet has life all figured out.  We all go through stuff.  We've all got issues to deal with.  We all have dark closets in our lives we'd rather not open up to the world.

The Fashion world speaks boldly to how important it is for us to 'look good' on the outside.  Doesn't it? 

Pretty models.
Artistic clothes.
Make-Up artists.
Bold set designs for shows.

It's all about the outside.  Isn't it?

And when we move to faith...

How many people do we know within the last year that were living double lives, all the while trying to look like God was smiling blessings down on them?  They were trying to 'look good' on the outside.

How many times have we seen high profile people who are acting like they do the "God" thing, yet we know in the dark hallways of their lives, they're just trying to sell a bill of goods.  They were polished up on the outside.

Or maybe more frank....How are you at cleaning out the inside of the cup first? Are you just trying to look good outwardly?

What if we were people, honest in our conviction, true to our hearts, and simply lived in a world where we knew people are just people? 

What if we had the freedom to live life together, no matter the struggle, because we all had each other's best interest in mind?

What would happen if instead of trying to be the moral police for everyone else, we just took a long hard look at our own behavior, and tried to match it with God's transformation power in our lives? 

I would venture to say, Christianity would have a better name, if we just lived in honesty.

May we be people who care about the heart, rather than trying to command behavioral change in people.
May we be sensitive to the movings of the Holy Spirit in our own growth, and the growth of those around us.
May we be honest in our faith, knowing we all faith, and walking with others who fail, so that; we can come out stronger together.

It's why we do what we do.

We try to give teenagers the Freedom it takes so they can develop a deep faith with the God who sits on the throne of Heaven and Earth!

If you have teenagers, or you know some teenagers than need to experience this kind of freedom, don't hesitate to click on over to http://www.campkivu.com, and join us for an exceptional 2010 summer. 

God bless!!

The Haunting of Christian Faith

This is the section of the gospels that haunts me everyday.  I know it sounds like an over-exaggeration, but it's true.  The essence of the faith is something all devoted followers desire, and the fear of walking through this life and getting it all wrong...well, it is the core of my being.

Jesus confronts the religious leaders again in Matthew 23 when He says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel"

I consider myself a teacher.  A teacher of the gospel.  Probably much like the Pharisees thought back in Jesus' day.  They were people that surely thought they were doing the right thing, but somehow were mis-guided, mis-directed, and motivated by selfish righteousness rather than the beauty of God's laws. 

They knew the scriptures backward and forward.
They taught of God's redemption bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
They molded their existence to be pure and holy before God.

But in doing so...they missed the whole point.

You see, the haunting of the Christian faith is that we will turn life into some grand production. 
We'll see the law, and totally miss the spirit.
We'll find comfort in the lists we create, and as long as we check them off, the demon of apathy rests like a blanket over our souls, keeping us from the MOST important things.

The Pharisees actually took the law so serious, they counted the grains of spice and tithed them as the Old Testament taught them. 

Have you ever seen Cumin?
Go and open the jar of dill in the spice rack.

They are the smallest of all spices, yet the Pharisees were dedicated to counting every grain so they would line up with God's law.  It was right.  It was true.  It was the way God taught them to be different in a society of selfish gain;  but they forgot.

Although God gave them the law to tithe, the most important parts of God's message to us is to seek justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Him. 

Too often, we get caught in the same stuff.  Don't we?

Our lives turn into Christian production for the sake of production.  We put on good shows.  We try and dedicate every area of our lives to pleasing God.  We desire SO MUCH to live within the confines of God's righteousness, and all the while we personally stand on the sidelines when it comes to major issues like global slavery, human trafficking, and orphan care. 

We've reduced those actions to "that" faith, referred to as a social gospel, and we continue trying to build a personal life God will find pleasing.

Well, what if personal faith is only one part of the equation.
What if God desires our pious dedication
What if God wants our tithe....

As well as a care for people around us.
What if he wants our holiness, ALONG WITH our partnership in caring for the world.
What if we are putting all our emphasis on the small things, and we're missing the overall message of God's reconciliation.

Oh people of faith....

May we continue searching for the heart of God in everyday life.
May we not rest comfortably in our devotion, as we watch those God loves so much slide into injustice.
May we love God so much, and devote ourselves to His mission so much, that our devotion comes as an outcropping of our desire to see His message reach the poor, the afflicted, and the hurting in the world. 

This is what Haunts me.
This is what Scares me.
This is what I long so diligently to know...The Heart of God.

This is my calling to the teenagers of the world.

For "religion God our father finds pure and undefiled is to care for the orphans and the widows; AND to remain unstained from the world." James 1:27

When we Act out our faith

Continuing on with our study through Matthew, I was cruising through Matthew 23 again this morning.  It's such a sobering look at Jesus' lashing out at the religious leaders of the day.  For sure I don't want to simply throw religious leaders under the bus, as I am one; but the call for religious leaders to continue being honest with their own heart as they practice faith is un-deniable. 

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Matthew 23:13

This is especially poignant to me in my own journey.  I trained as an actor in my undergraduate work, and Jesus is specifically referring to the Pharisees and teachers in lieu of an acting term.  Hypocrite is actually a word used to describe someone who puts on a different character and acts out a story. 

So here Jesus combines the religious people with the art of acting.  Evidently they were making it impossible for people to enter the kingdom of heaven, and even though they thought they were in God's Kingdom, they were kept from entering it themselves. 

I've read a lot recently about a current debate "The New Gospel" versus "The Old Gospel."  It's interesting to see how certain people want to just continue ranting against the religious leadership of the day; while others rant against the people that aren't 'IN' the Kingdom. 

It seems to me here, Jesus is calling all people to be humble of heart.  Stop acting!  Live life as men and women all under God's Kingdom; rather than trying to create man made kingdoms masked as God's. 

I hope we can reach out and be people who know the Big Kingdom (God's Kingdom.)
My prayer as Christian leaders lead us into Kingdom, we can all be REAL.
It's my hope as God's Kingdom continues to be built, we can rally together, and help others understand our mission, "To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God." (Micah 6:8)

Don't be mistaken, Everything belongs to Him

I'm learning so much on my travels through Matthew.  As I re-read chapter 23, I'm finding it a little less than encouraging, but so important that we learn from the mistakes of past religious leaders.

Jesus is clearly helping those who claim to teach about God, and understanding about core faith.

You know the word "core" right?

The Core is the essential, central, most important part of an organism. 

For example, the human body's core is important to functionality of every other part.

If your core is weak, then your movement is weak. 
It effects everything from athletic performance to posture.  

An athlete must have a strong core to compete at the highest level of whatever sport he or she chooses to endure.

Likewise, faith must have a core. 

See if you can see the core of the religious leaders of old...

"Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it." (Matthew 23:16-22)

It seems the core of the faith was in buildings.
Maybe in objects.
Probably in programs. 

But lest we forget the God of heaven and earth created ALL THINGS.  In Him all things hold together.  (Colossians 1:15-20)
A comprehensive view of God shows us that He lives here on the earth around the alter, around the gift, and in our heart.
He should be in the middle of all the worship we give; rather than worshiping an alter, an object, or some sort of gift.  

May we stop our distractions, and focus our core attention on the God who sits on the throne of heaven.
May we worship the God who created the Universe.
May we not forget the power, the majesty, and the essence of His Spirit that dwells with us in this world. 

In everything that has breath, may we worship Him today.

When Evangelism Happens

There are whole books, shelves of curriculum, and thousands of teachers that could fill this space concerning evangelism and discipleship. And believe me, I'm not arrogant enough to think I'm going to solve all the debate right here in 500 words or less.

There are so many ways to share the good news of the gospel with people. 

Life on Life.
One on One.
In a small Group.
In a stadium.

History has proved the Spirit moves in all kinds of directions, and in His own time.  So, far be it from me to sit here and write the end all be all method of sharing one's faith.  But one thing is sure...Jesus was pretty harsh on religious leaders that were shackling new followers with a system of beliefs that were unmanageable. 

Matthew 23 says this, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." (Matthew 23:15)

This passage is very strange, and deserves much discussion. 

Whether you know it or not, There is a cultural frustration with the "street evangelism" I grew up with.  It seems like all the rules have changed.  Nothing is like it was 15 years ago. People either don't want to hear it anymore, OR; they have their own system that suffices the hardest questions in life.  It's like the whole world changed overnight.  But, it might not be such a bad thing.

You see, when I was new to the faith, I had a teacher put a Bible in my lap, and he said, "If you want to be a good Christian, read your Bible everyday."  Which is AWESOME!! But I had no idea what the Bible was all about.  I didn't know how to read it, and became increasingly frustrated with the language of a culture 2000 years away from mine.  I found myself applying verses to my own personal situation, when in fact later I learned in Seminary; was TOTALLY WRONG.

But in order to be a 'Good Christian' I obeyed my teacher, and started a regimented devotional time, everyday.

(don't read too much into that.  I think reading the Bible everyday is the fuel for my soul.  It's just that my motive was wrong.)

Then I had a youth pastor say, "If you want to be a good Christian you have to go down to the streets and share your faith with unbelievers.  After all, it's the Great Commission."  So that's what I did.  I started sharing my faith with everyone I ran into contact with.  I shared with the gas attendant, the subway sandwich artist, and the car mechanic.  I left tracks in bathrooms all over the country, and felt it was my responsibility to share the good news with every person I ran into.  Again, there is nothing wrong with sharing your faith,  but I look back and see my motive was all wrong. 

I just wanted people to hear that Jesus died for their sins.  I really didn't have a comprehensive view of what it means to follow Jesus after they accepted Him as their Savior.  I had no point of reference for what it meant to put actions to faith, and when I look back I saw it as more of a rescue mission, rather than a full on life changing faith.

I felt like if I could only get people to confess their sins, confess Jesus as savior, and believe God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9) then I would be doing my mission.  It was up to someone else to deal with them after that. 

The problem is...not as many people are lining up for the lifetime discipleship job. 

Don't get me wrong, sharing Jesus is essential to who we are.  After all, He alone is the one who has defeated death, reconciled evil, and gives us ANY hope for the future.  But we must be careful not to just leave people out in the cold.  Just because you can mark down the number of people you shared Jesus with, doesn't mean you're doing the best job. 

I think this is what Jesus is saying.

You travel all over the world to make a convert, but you're not helping them see the beauty of the gospel in life after they've decided to follow Jesus.  You've not shown them the freedom, and abundant life God came to give.  You've not helped them see the persecution that is on the horizon and how to handle it.  You've not guided them to a place where they can have a habitat worthy to incubate their faith to maturity. 

And it's this reason why I do what I do. 

It's why I write books.
It's why I speak all over the world.
It's why I do the camp thing out at KIVU.
It's why we're developing programs for teenagers to understand what it means to share their faith, and also be Do-ers of the word.  (James 1:22-25)

It's not simply enough to read your Bible and go on Street Mission trips.  Those behaviors should be outpourings of a core change inside.  (2 Cor. 5:17).  Because when Jesus truly comes into the heart of man, EVERYTHING CHANGES!!

May we be people who don't just act our faith, but rather; do out of a core of change.
May we praise the God of the Universe for Saving us from death, sin, and life as it is in the now.
May we be a people who can hope in the reconciled Kingdom to come and as people begin understanding the faith, may they become co-laborers in the New Kingdom. 

May God Bless you Today!

When it's all about you

The next big warning Jesus gives about the Pharisees concerns the state of their own selfishness.  Jesus says, "Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:5-12

How many times are leaders concerned with what people think?

The truth of the matte is, Christian leaders have the same insecurities everyone else does.  They need to be complimented.  They need the same ego strokes as the rest of us.  But if taken too far, this ego can grow and we can turn the whole of our faith into one big compliment. 

Being a Pastor can be seen as a place of prestige.
Singing in the choir can be thought of as 'better' than someone else.
And when the ideas of someone's position are coupled with their outward selfish adoration; the core of the faith becomes "ALL ABOUT ME" rather than all about Jesus.

Don't you think we've let this slip into our cultural Christianity again?

I can tell when I walk into groups where the main issue is about how we look, or how we come across to the world.  It's stale.  It's uncomfortable.  There are snide remarks about others that don't measure up. 

When will we learn.

It's not about how many toys we have when we die. 
Life is about the relationships built here.
It's about the way we've shown God's love to others.
It's about the ways we can walk with people through tough times.
It's about the times we can celebrate together!!

May God give us perspective today. 

The Fatal Flaw of Christian Living

This is going to sound crazy.  But I think, The fatal flaw of the Christian community lies in its followers. 

Ok, now wait a minute.  I know what you're thinking.  How can this guy continue to give teenagers a positive Christian Worldview when he thinks Christians are a source of the problem in the faith?

Well, let me explain.

When Jesus was approaching the last hours of His life, He preached a sermon we don't hear about very much.  It's found in Matthew 23, and over the course of the next few days, I'd like to examine this teaching, glean what we need to know, and apply it to our daily lives.

It's not a nice sermon.
It certainly wouldn't be well received at the Mega-Churches in America.
And pastors, at least those pastors that are in the church for the wrong reasons, have trouble identifying with what Jesus is saying. 

Check this out...

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Matthew 23:1-4

Believe me, I'm a church lover.
I enjoy worshiping with like minded believers.
I love hanging with pastors and youth pastors.
I truly believe God is moving through the church to bring about reform, reconciliation, and forgiveness to the world.

But let's be honest, there are several Christian leaders who have asked us to do things they are unwilling to do themselves.  They ask us to follow them, but they recuse themselves from the very teachings they are trying to implement; thus creating this hierarchy of faith.  It becomes less of an "abundant life" and turns into this shackling of activity most are unwilling to do. 

It's almost as if there is some kind of 'more blessed' position that leaders have some idea that God holds them in a different accountability.  They can ask you to abstain from certain things in the world, and then you find our they're the ones that are participating in the exact stuff they told you not to do.

Let's be real. 

Sometimes it's not even the fact the leaders consciously deviate from their teachings, as much as it is that we are ALL IN THIS HUMAN CONDITION.  We all sin.  We all fail.  We all contradict ourselves at one time or another.  In fact, it's as much the follower's fault, as it is the leaders. 

We put these people on high platforms of visibility.
We almost worship their existence.
Our expectations are that they are perfect.
And we know...They're Just Not!

Not all Christian leaders are like this.  In fact, the one's that are following Jesus in all honesty and humility, they're the one's we should embrace.  The leaders who live life with us, and not at us; those are the true messengers from the Lord. 

So watch out. 
Be aware.
Don't let subtle manipulation take you away from knowing you are a child of God.
Don't let anyone co-erse you into some sort of religion where they are unwilling to participate themselves.

Ironically, Christians may be the source of the fatal flaws, but they're also the source of much grace.

I've seen Christian leaders who are full of the Holy Spirit
I've witnessed the beauty of anointed men and women who get it.
I've been privy to see some of the greatest gifts God has given this earth through those He's chosen to lead.

It's not everyone, but we must be carefully who we allow to lead, who we follow, and how we structure our faith following

For only in honest humble faith, can we truly know the heart of God. 
And that means that if you are called to leadership, we need you to live life with us. 
We need to know that you know what we're going through.
We need to know you're in our corner.

And that's why Jesus came in the form of a man to live on the earth, to feel our pain, to travel our temptation, and to show us GOD IS TRULY WITH US.

Are We Going to Be Married in Heaven?

I have the time honored privilege to perform weddings for my close friends.  I love it!!  I love being a part of the wedding celebration when a groom sees his bride for the first time, and they commit their lives to one another 'till death do them part.'

But working with teenagers, I often get some crazy questions about marriage and what happens to marriage after death. 

Cruising through Matthew this morning, Jesus kind of explains it in verse 23-32,

"That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. ²⁵Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"

 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you,  'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."

(Matthew 22:23-32)

Now for those of you who are paying close attention to theology, this is precisely the reason there are some differences in the Mormon Church, and the main line Protestant denominations.  The Church of Later Day Saints believes in eternal marriage and celestial population of planets upon death; and this is in direct violation of what Jesus claimed is the purpose of marriage.

But let's not camp out on this point.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) So even as your Mormon friends get caught up on the details of marriage after death, remember; it's God's will that all should come to know him.  We need to make sure that the truth of Jesus' word is sharp as a two edged sword, but gentle as a dove. 

If they choose to believe in a doctrine that opposes the one Jesus preaches, just remember it's ok. 
It's their life. 
They get to choose whether or not to believe in Jesus or not. 

Don't stress out about it. 
Don't try to argue your way to change their mind. Arguing never leads someone to salvation. 
Don't try to strong arm them to believe like you do. Violence never leads someone to love. 
Let's just continue to love, continue to pray, and leave the rightness up to God. 
He'll take care of it in the end. 

We can present our ideas, and the justification of our ideas (mainly the Bible), and allow them to do the same.  It's Evangelism 101, respecting others for what they believe, not allowing them to compromise the truth, but love them in spite of the outcome. 

May we love people today that think differently than we do.
May we show God's love to all in our sphere of influence.
May we walk our faith in the midst of our daily world.

May we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and our neighbor as ourself. 

Thieves in God's House

Trekking through Matthew.  Arriving at Matthew 21 today, and pondering the scriptures today.  Check this out...

"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"(Matthew 21:12-13)

You know the scene.  Jesus walks in and turns over all the tables, money flying everywhere, birds free from their cages, and Jesus lets the money changers have it.

Sometimes people like to equate this section of scripture to the facts that ministry people aren't allowed to sell anything.  Books, videos, and various resources can be found in almost every church across America, so are those churches violating God's intention for the church?

I think it's important to know the context by which Jesus scourged the temple before we come to any firm conclusions.

The temple was the place where God dwelt, literally.
It was the place where everyone was to come for the atonement of sin.
During passover, Jerusalem would literally grow exponentially as Jews from all over the country side came to offer their religious sacraments.
Well, the residents of Jerusalem knew it.

They knew the influx of people meant opportunity for entrepreneurs.
They knew the religious places where central to the obvious migration.

So they took the things the people needed and started creating margin.

The margins for a sheep, for instance, was almost 400% above the regular price.
The doves were 250% above what they could have been.
The grain was higher, the meat was higher, and the incense was almost out of reach for the common worshiper.

So Jesus was dealing with a culture that had turned the temple into a retail store with erogenous profit margin.  They couldn't have sold that stuff outside the temple for anything near what they were making there.

Back to our day...

The resources available at the church are most likely there to help the people of the church grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Some help people understand God's view on cultural issues.
Others help people navigate the stormy waters of marriage.
And still more have information to disciple people in their financial lives.

So is it ok to sell Christian resources in church?

I BELIEVE if we've got stuff that truly will help speak to a generation and help the kingdom grow it's ok.  But church leadership must be careful.  We must not turn God's house into a place where people are being gouged for the products.  Our motivation must continue to adhere to the purity of the gospel, but; people need to understand product costs money to produce.

Ink isn't free.
Production isn't free.
Paper isn't free.
The time it takes to write isn't free. (believe me, writing books takes an enormous amount of time.)
So to be able to pay for the product surely isn't a sin.  Is it?

What do you guys think? 

Obviously being an author weights my opinion here, but I want to live inside the principles the Bible lines out for us to live by.  If the church needs to be free from selling stuff...then so be it.  We need to make sure we're allowing God's heart to drive our lives, rather than our heart trying to fit God into what we want to do.

Let's talk.

This is one of those times...REALLY?

Now, I know most of you don't really care.  I mean, when a dignitary walks into a room, most of you think, "Well, they put their pants on one leg at a time, just like me." Right?

But that's just not the case!!

I've had touch points with world leaders from now and again, and entering the event is a BIG deal. 

They do...

Red Carpets
Limos
Shiny Dresses
Fancy Tuxedos
All of them have a group of people who follow them around, some necessary assistants, but most are just there to give an ambiance of popularity.
Sometimes there are crowns
Most of the time there's some kind of theme

In fact, there are jobs in the world whose central reason for existing is to make leaders look great to the public. 

Well, as I continue plowing through Matthew, I came across Jesus' Jerusalem entry.  Believe me, I've read this section thousands of times before, but I just started thinking about what this really might have looked like, just this morning. 

 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away."

Excuse me??

The King of the Universe is going to enter into Jerusalem, His final entry, leading Him to the cross...ON A DONKEY??

I was thinking today, I wonder how many  ministry leaders today would ride from event to event on a donkey??  HA!!

I was with a group of High Profile Christian Ministers a few years ago, and I was amazed at how they were trying to compare which Jet they had.  HA!! A far cry from the Donkeys of old huh?

Another reason I believe Christianity has a wonderful play on the reconciliation of the world.  Jesus' message is for everyone.  He didn't chose to sit on the ivory tower to tell us what to do, He decided to come and live with the people.  He didn't live AT the people. 

No other 'god' in the history of religion has given such grace and mercy to his people.

May we be a people who find security in the fact that God knows what we go through.
He didn't fly a G650 to the crucifixion.
No, He lived like a regular guy, and rode a DONKEY to the most important event in history.

Want To Be Great In God's Kingdom?

Here I am in Enid Oklahoma, thinking about what God wants from me today.  I'm praying for His will to be done.  I'm seeking His face this morning.  And I came to Matthew 20. 

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

 "What is it you want?" he asked.
      She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."

 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?"
      "We can," they answered.

 Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father."

 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:20-28)

Isn't it strange, sometimes we ask "God what do you want me to do for you today?" in some sort of 'Hey God, Look at Me' way.  As believers in the pool of faith, we wish so dearly that our heavenly Father would look down on us and give approval for whatever we choose to do with our lives.

But I think today, God is whispering a simple, sweet message to my soul.

It isn't about how much you do for me.
It isn't all about how many boxes you can check off in the religious circles.
No, this Kingdom is all about servant hood.

It's not about serving to be noticed.
Or serving to be great.
It's about serving people because the King of Kings decided to come down to earth and serve mankind. 

And, if I want my life to be about being closer to Jesus; then I need to allow my life to model what He modeled. 

For if God can come and live life WITH us and not AT us, surely I can live a life WITH others.  

I'm off to a Men's Bible study here in Enid.
I'm excited to serve those guys this morning, for no other reason, that I want to know about their lives.
I want to know what makes them do what they do.
I want to live life WITH people.

God bless you today!!

For the Love of Money

The latest story in our saga following Matthew 19 is that of the Rich Young Ruler.  You know the story right?

A rich man came to Jesus while he was teaching, and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life?"  

Jesus told him to keep the commandments.

The man said, "I've done all these, what still do I lack?"

Jesus told the man, "Go and sell all that you have, give it to the poor, and come to follow me."

You can read the story word for word, Matthew 19:16-24.

I've heard this story preached thousands of times.  And to be honest, most of the time pastors tell the congregation how the love of money wasn't the man's problem.  They use the story as an analogy, and ask the congregation to reach down deep in their hearts to identify whatever it is that is keeping them from God.  

Some need to rid themselves of cars.
Some need to drop their addiction to television.
Others need to make sure sports, relationships, family, or even church isn't getting in the way of their relationship with God. 

All those things are true.

But Jesus said, "Go and sell all you have."

So as we examine the text, just for the text sake, could it be that Jesus meant what He said?
Could it mean that we must give up everything we own to follow Him?

Of course leaders in ministry don't want to preach this, or else they'd have a congregation unable to support the local ministry. 
Of course congregations don't want to hear this, because we are Americans.  We are achieving the American dream with a house, two cars, 2.5 kids, a dog, and a picket fence.  We're trying to accumulate wealth, and the last thing we want to do is vacate our 401K's for some kind of extremist fundamental religion.  Right?

But what if that's what He meant?

I've been confused about this passage since I was a little kid.

Does God want us to just give up our earthly possessions?

What do you think?

Let's re-imagine the way we've heard this story for so many years, and ask that God teach us the value here.

May we follow Him with all we are.
May we be brave enough to sell it all.

The Children of The Kingdom

Remember playing on the playground? 

Remember when the ills of life just slipped into a world where all things were negotiated with a kickball, monkey bars, and a bag of nutter butters?

It was a life much simpler than mortgages, insurance payments, and health insurance.  We didn't worry about politics, well; most of us didn't worry.  The beauty of the simple life was faith that all things would be taken care of. 

We didn't worry about food.
We didn't worry about clothes.
It was who could go fastest on the merry-go-round.
Who got picked to play in the recess kickball tournament.
And how fast could you chase the girl with the pig tails in her hair.

Ahhhhh, the simple life.

Right after Jesus spoke of the consequence of divorce in Matthew, the very next section describes when the people brought children to Jesus to be prayed for.

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. (Matthew 19:13-15)

Isn't it interesting? The king of the universe has likened His kingdom to children. 

It wasn't the greatest minds.
It wasn't the most athletic.
It wasn't the warriors or the politicians.

It was the children.

The children who come full of faith that life can be simple, yes; it's the simplicity of a child like relationship which causes Jesus' heart to move. 

My prayer today...

May I have a childlike faith that will resist the temptation of the world to be busy, or filled with incomprehensible worldly things. 

May I focus on the things God wants. 
May I spend time on the things He spends time on.

What Does Jesus Say About Divorce?

As I've been dealing with teenagers for almost 15 years now, one issue continues to rise to the surface without fail... Divorce.

I would be willing to say 90% of all the kids who end up causing some sort of trouble in school, at church, in sports, or even out here at camp; come from some sort of dysfunctional family, and most often; a divorced home. 

And Here me say, "That's ok with me." 

I love helping kids navigate through tough times.
Whether it's divorce at home, rejection from friends, or just trying to grow up; I love walking with teenagers through the hardest time of their life.

But the issue remains...

It's no secret, Divorce is the plague in today's marriage relationship.
Nobody wants to get Divorced.
I mean think about it...

Bride is all dressed up on her wedding day
Groom is getting ready in the groom's chamber
Bridesmaids are delicately sashaying to the classical music in the background
Pastor stands up front
Vows are said
Reception celebrates the beauty of a new relationship
Nobody is thinking, in the middle of all that, "I can't wait till we end this thing!"

It's the furthest thought from their minds.

But recent statistics show, America's divorce rate centers around 41% for first marriages, 60% for second marriages, and 73% for third marriages. 

The divorce breakdown looks something like this according to the Institute of Professional Psychology...

AGE            BOYS            GIRLS

under 20        11.7%            26.7%
20-24             38.8%            36.6%
25-29             22.3%            16.4%
30-34             11.6%             8.5%
35-39              6.5%              5.1%

It's really sad when I talk to teens and hear the effects of divorce on their own self-worth, self-esteem, and their overall emotional growth through their teenage years. 

It's just sad.

I know there are times in marriage that are hard.
I know we mess up all the time.
I know expectations and failures plague relationships
But it's just super sad when something so good, so right, and so pure ends up in tragedy.

This morning I was reading in Matthew 19, and I found the section where Jesus spoke of divorce. 

 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?"

 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh' ? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

 "Why then," they asked, "did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?"

 Jesus replied, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

 The disciples said to him, "If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry."

 Jesus replied, "Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it."

I'm in the middle of writing a book on teen dating, sexuality, and marriage.  I just wonder...

Is Divorce the plague, because we're in America?
Is it the sign of our times?
Have we missed out on teaching about relationships to teenagers?
Or, what's going on?

Obviously it's not God's design, but there are lots of things that aren't God's design.

Murder isn't God's design, but it happens.
Failure isn't God's design, but we see that every day.
Adultery isn't God's plan, but men and women fall to it on a daily basis
Lying isn't God's design, but every corner of business I deal with navigates little lies here and there, surely God didn't intend on that happening.

So I don't want to overstep my bounds here, but I do want to address the elephant in the room.  I do want to help parents see the effects divorce has on teenagers, and I do want to make sure teenagers understand the commitment of marriage.

What I do know, God is a forgiving God. 

He came to heal the broken hearts of the world. 
He came to mend relationships. 
But in the middle of ugly separation...can anyone help me here? 

Why is divorce such an o.k. thing in our culture today?

Continuing Forgiveness

 

 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart." (Matthew 18:23-35)

So which one do you most relate to?

Forgiveness

As Jesus continues to travel the countryside talking about sin, sheep, and reconciliation, Peter pipes up and asks an interesting question. 

"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matthew 18:21-22)

You know...

One of the reasons I think it's so hard to get along in the world today is because we just don't have this attitude.

I mean, if someone cuts me off on the drive to work, it's not my first nature to think.."Oh Lord, may I forgive them."  In fact, it's a lot more like, 'HEY!! What are you thinking?'

When someone offends me, I'm a whole lot more likely to look for ways I'm right, and they're wrong.

If there's ever someone who sins against me, I'm prone to write them off, and think they're not even worth taking the time to work through an issue with.

But that's not Jesus' way.

I believe, the more I read through Matthew, the more I'm seeing Jesus continuing to call those who choose to follow Him to the table of forgiveness and humility. 

It's not about what you can get.
It's not about how much you can gain.
It's not even about how right you are.

The beauty of the gospel message is in forgiveness, no matter what the cost. 

My heart is softening to all those people I've wronged in the past.
My soul is searching for people I've written off, and trying to find places where I need to re-connect and ask for forgiveness.

The power of the gospel is in the forgiveness of those we wrong, those who wrong us, and ultimately the beauty of a reconciliationn with all mankind. 

May we be a people who find the value of God's intent through forgiveness.
May we hold tightly to this principle of never ending mercy.
May we take time diligently seek truth concerning our sin, others sin against us, and the healing God provides for all sin through His ultimate forgiveness.

Conflict Resolution...the Jesus Way...

You know there are times in your life when relationships end up like this.  It might not be just in marriage, in fact; it may just be a friend, a co-worker, or family member, but the feeling is the same. 

You're mad.
They're mad.
Neither really wants to be mad.
Let's be honest, life is a lot easier when we're laughing and having a good time, right?

So what does it take for us to live a live in the abundance Jesus came for us to live? 

I think the answer is in Matthew...

 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17)

Of course it sounds easy.
Why wouldn't we want to reconcile with one another?
Is it really worth the life spent living with a wedge of sin between each other?

It's all about pride isn't it?

Everybody wants to be the one who has the issue against them.
Nobody wants to be the one who has to humble himself to another.
Everybody sees themselves as the righteous one bringing justice.
Nobody thinks it might be their fault justice isn't served.
Everybody thinks they've got a corner on the market of truth.
Nobody thinks they're harming anyone.

You see, I think Biblical conflict resolution is a two way street. 

We've got to be humble enough to approach someone who has wronged us.  We can't go with arrogance.  We can't go with the intention of seeing someone humiliated in front of us.  It can't be a "I GOTCHA!" moment.  We have to go with an attitude of humility to those who've sinned against us.

And the receiver...

We've got to be humble enough to hear how our sin effected someone else.  We've got to hear the heart of someone we've hurt, and be able to swallow the lust for "right-ness" most of us harbor every day. 

Unfortunately, very few people are able to do this on a daily basis. 

But imagine for a minute....

If we could die to ourselves, and really give over to the needs of others...what would the world look like?

A Father's Love

I'm telling you right now, this animal is D-U-M dumb. 

Every summer there is a massive sheep drive up the road in Bayfield Colorado near our camp, KIVU.

And every year, I'm amazed at how un-intelligent these animals really are. 

They run into cars.
They dive into the ditches
They follow each other with no regard for their own personal survival. 
It's astonishing.

So as I read the Bible and hear the analogy of sheep, I often ask, "Who is the writer referring to? Is it the Jews?  Is it the church?  Is it people who are in sin as the previous chapter would refer to?  Or is it me?"

As I trek through Matthew, I come across another passage that show's God's amazing love toward humanity. 

"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost. (Matthew 18:12-14)

I've seen a hundred sheep. 
It's a massive event. 

They stop traffic.
They take forever, because none of them really know where they're going.
They run into each other.
AND THEY SMELL TERRIBLE!!

So what would be the big deal if one of them just wandered off?

I mean come on...

You have 99 left over. Right?

But God knows, that the wandering of humanity is intrinsic to our nature. 
We all have wandered to God, away from God, and some still search for the voice of a Father.  

It's like an oscillating event, right? It seems good one day, but then tragic the next. 

I've come to resent that oscillation, because I want to sit with the very heart of God.
I want to know Him intimately.
I want to serve humanity in a way that honors the beauty of the gospel. 

But dark times come.

Let's be honest, even Mother Teresa lived a life of ultimate sacrifice as she served the dead and dying in Calcutta; but after her death her memoirs were underlined with doubts. 

... in a letter to a spiritual confidant, the Rev. Michael van der Peet, that is only now being made public, she wrote with weary familiarity of a different Christ, an absent one. "Jesus has a very special love for you," she assured Van der Peet. "[But] as for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see, — Listen and do not hear — the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak ... I want you to pray for me — that I let Him have [a] free hand." (TIME magazine. Aug. 23 2007)

Mother Teresa?

I don't know of a human more influential in the last century as an advocate for the love God has given us here on the planet. 
If anyone on earth was close to the Shepherd, surely it was Mother Teresa?  Right?

I think the struggle she had as she wandered in her faith gives me confidence when I wander in mine. 
When I have doubts, Mother Teresa's life serves to secure a confidence that even the most Godly have times in the desert of their spiritual journey.

For it was Mother Teresa who also said, "It is not enough for us to say, 'I love God, but I do not love my neighbor,'" she said, since in dying on the Cross, God had "[made] himself the hungry one — the naked one — the homeless one." Jesus' hunger, she said, is what "you and I must find" and alleviate.  Finally, she suggested that the upcoming Christmas holiday should remind the world "that radiating joy is real" because Christ is everywhere — "Christ in our hearts, Christ in the poor we meet, Christ in the smile we give and in the smile that we receive."

So what gives me hope...

Hope is...

There's a shepherd that continues to search after my wandering soul.
He has come to make all things new, and all things right, and He alone can comfort me in those dark silent times. 
His presence can be seen when helping the poor.
His voice can be heard in the silent times of solitude.
His 'AHAVA' love means He's willing to chase after my wandering heart.

That's a Father's Love!

 

The Severity of Sin

Have you ever seen this?

Ever touched it?

Ever breathed it?

Probably not.  Because if you have ever inhaled this little microbe, you'd probably not be able to sit there and read this blog post. 

The above picture is commonly referred to as the hantavirus.  It's a small airborne pathogen infecting it's victims when they take a deep breath of contaminated air.  Once ingested, the virus goes to work and begins to compromise your pulmonary system.  If left untreated, you eventually suffocate and die.

I know it's a pretty bleak picture, but it's the law of nature. 

This virus is DEADLY!

Can you imagine if someone were able to collect the virus in a tube?

What if they walked around with the tube open?  On the bus?  In the Subway?  At the playground? Maybe the halls of your kids school?

Would you be angry?

What would you do to stop it?

I was reading in Matthew 18 again this morning, and Jesus was continuing to explain the severity of sin caused when we intentionally or un-intentionally cause people to stumble, and I was moved again. 

I wonder how serious we take the sin in our lives? 

Sure we ask for forgiveness.
We ask our friends how to help.
But, sometimes I wonder if we've reduced the severity of sin to an apple on a tree a few thousand years ago. 

It's cute.
It's 'their' problem.
If only 'they' would have listened to God.

And all the while, we just keep on wallowing in sin, not knowing who it may infect.

Jesus said it like this, "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell." (Matthew 18:7-9)

I'm pretty sure Jesus thought sin to be a serious deal.

But the beauty of the Christian story...there's an antiviral cure.

John said, "If you confess your sin, He is faithful and just to forgive you of sin, and cleanse you of all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

In other words, the virus that might infect you...
Or the tube you're carrying around infecting other people...

Are BOTH FORGIVEN.

We must be a people who recognize sin, and know it's effect.
We can't be people who are continuing to cause others to stumble.
We need to know the forgiveness God can give, and the mercy He has to offer. 

It's the pivotal most beautiful concept I've come to know of the faith I believe.

Consequences For Actions

I don't know if they teach this at Youth Seminary.
I'm sure it's not a topic of conversation at summer camp.
I wonder if schools ever even grace the topic.
But Jesus said, "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."

At KIVU we take this warning VERY SERIOUSLY!!

I have long recognized the dangers in causing students to stumble. 
It's not hard.
One missed word.
One miss-interpreted statement.
And all of the sudden, stumbling becomes a reality.

Have you ever seen a millstone?

You're not getting up from that one.....

So, All of us who are involved in youth ministry would be wise to take heed.
We have a responsibility to be excellent in our communication to new believers.
We have an obligation to make sure our lives are drawing people children closer to Jesus, not further away.
We have a wonderful opportunity to help students to know God, but it's not a game.  It's life.  It's real life.

So, this morning, as I pray....I ask...

Father...please may the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you.  And as I prepare to lead those you've place in my sphere of influence, may your words be clear, and my agenda take a back seat to yours.  

May we be a generation of leaders who understand the severity of causing confusion where you want us to be clear. 
May we see the heart of a child as the most important treasure you've given us.  

Thank you for the sacred privilege given to us as we make your message known to the world. 

The Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

It's almost indicative of American culture.

We want to figure out how to be the BEST!

We want to win the game.
Be in the front of the class.
Make sure we're in the top 10%.
Get the raise before someone else does.

Isn't it interesting, In Matthew 18, the disciples came to Jesus to ask, "Who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven..."

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:2-4)

What a beautiful picture.  

The disciples come to Jesus for a raise.
They want to compete for their faith.
They feel like it's all about what they can do to get ahead.
But Jesus flips it on it's ear.
He invites them to re-imagine.

To re-imagine their understanding of the Kingdom.
To re-imagine their view of children.
To re-imagine how they see God.
To re-imagine the beauty of a pure relationship.

A Child has an innocence for life.
His imagination wanders far from the chains of normal.
Her understanding isn't hindered by what we know, but what might be.

I wonder if Jesus is telling us, Imagination and wonder for the beauty of God is the key to heaven.
I wonder if simplicity is the key.
I wonder if an innocent trust is the way we develop a closer intimate relationship with God.
I wonder if we're making this whole thing WAY TO COMPLICATED.

Jesus could have said, "You have to go to seminary."
He could have told them, "Not until you write a couple of books."
He could have said, "It's the number of people in your ministry."

But He focused on the little children. 

It's not that we wish to be great in the Kingdom.
We just want to re-imagine the way we see God's kingdom, and begin to move in that direction. 

My hope is today....

You can approach God like a child.
You can trust him with your whole life, not to worry about what the day will bring.

"Whoever welcomes a little child like this...welcomes me." (Matthew 18:7)

Jesus and Taxes

There was an outrage in Jesus' day about paying taxes.  Imagine that!  A world that was disgusted that a charitable organization traveling around the countryside healing, feeding, and spiritually mentoring people would have some kind of exemption to the tax code.  Crazy huh?

Well, the people were frustrated and continued looking for a chink in the armor of a man who walked with 12 lonely disciples.  They asked Peter, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

"Yes, he does," he replied.

When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?"

"From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

Isn't this a great picture?

Taxes being required from other people to fund the temple costs, while the sons of the kings and priests were getting off because they knew the tax code, had relationships with the tax collectors, and skirted the duty all together; caused much dissension with those who were just trying to live.

Sound familiar?

But, look at Jesus' answer.

He didn't say we need to throw a revolution.
He didn't call us all to the harbor to throw the coins in the lake.
He wasn't calling town hall meetings to rile people up.

He reminded Peter from where the money came in the first place.

Can you imagine?

Peter goes down to the lake, catches a fish, and then pulls out the full amount of his taxes. 

It's almost as if Jesus says, "Ok, they want their money, give them their money.  But don't forget who created the fish!"  HA!!!  I love it.

God is the creator of all things.
He alone owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
He MADE THE FISH!!!

So the next time you feel like you're being taxed unfair, remember....

You don't serve the kings of this world.
We believe in a kingdom that stretches from Alpha to Omega.
Pay your taxes.
But don't forget who made the fish.

Several Issues Still Plague Me

Ok, most of you know how much attention I spend on trying to figure out this 'evil' question.  I just don't get it.  Why does God allow this kind of stuff to exist on the earth? 

I don't question He is real.
I don't have problems with the validity of Jesus.
I just really don't get it.  Why?  Why doesn't God just come and make His Kingdom known to all of us, so this kind of stuff doesn't have to happen.

My heart is sad this afternoon, knowing the persecution going on in the world. 

One of my favorite stories in all the Bible

Can you imagine?

What if you woke up one day, and someone you love is suffering at the hands of some weird spirit?

I was watching the Exorcism of Emily Rose, a few years ago, and it was just hauntingly disturbing.  The fact this spirit world exists, and there are real life consequences to living in it....YIKES!!

But you know what?  We have no reason to fear.  For greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.  Right?? 

I was reading in Matthew 17 this morning.  Jesus comes up on a demon possessed boy. 

It's one of my favorite stories in all the Bible.  Partly because Jesus heals yet again, but mostly because of a man's desperate desire for the health of his young boy.  I'll just post it for you down here.

When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. "Lord, have mercy on my son," he said. "He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him."

 "O unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me." Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?"

 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:14-20)

The part of the story I find fascinating is that God gave the disciples the power to go out and do "more than He had done" yet they were unable due to the lack of faith.  In Mark, the story focuses more on the father.

Jesus says, "If you have faith, I will heal him."  And the father says, "I believe, but help me with my unbelief."

It's almost as if there truly is a component of faith that is missing when God wants to heal, but doesn't. 

I know....I know...

We have to be careful not to accuse people of their lack of faith, because we don't know God's ultimate plan.  But, for me, in my situation, I pray that my faith is bigger than a mustard seed, able to move the mountains Jesus spoke of.  And, certainly enough to heal a boy in need.  I long for the faith that Jesus speaks of where, "Nothing will be impossible."

Imagine Pt. II

Sorry for the continued blog post.  I was right in the middle of finishing the Imagine post, when the loudspeaker came on, "This is the last call for flight..." so I had to post quick and run to the gate. 

Where were we?

Oh yea..

Why did Jesus do this? 

Why did He take His disciples up to the mountain for transfiguration, when He was telling everyone to keep quiet about His Messiahship?

A Few Thoughts.

I wonder if Jesus was trying to let the disciples see what the Kingdom was going to be like.  You know, transformed bodies, hanging with prophets and leaders of the Old Testament, showing them that the Old Testament and the New Kingdom were being united.

I wonder if He was cementing the fact He was God's Son by showing them the supernatural.  Maybe He wanted to seal the deal with them.  Although we know it didn't work.  Remember, it wasn't enough for Peter to stop from denying Him on the eve of the crucifixion.

I wonder if He was just hanging out with friends, Elijah and Moses. Maybe He was sharing His human experience with them and recollecting what it was like in heaven.

The beauty of it...we just don't know.

Theologians have been trying to dissect this event for centuries, and the bottom line is, we don't know. 

What we do know...

Jesus had the ability to commune with the Old and the New at the same time. 
He showed the disciples a little peek into the coming Kingdom

But I think the part that jumped off the page today was when God spoke and said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him"

Maybe it was just another affirmation that Jesus is God's Son, and He was the fullness of God on the earth at the time.  Listen to Him.  Do what He says.  I'm pleased in Him.  What a gift!!

What do you guys think? 

There's a lot to dwell on here.

Imagine

Last night, I came home from a Spiritual Emphasis Week at Valley Christian High School down in the Phoenix area.  Their theme all week was 'Imagine' which was a great title, especially for a guy like me.  Imagining the Christian Faith is to open up the possibilities of what could come.  It's awesome!!  To read the Bible and imagine Jesus actually feeding the 5,000, or to imagine the smells of the prison cells Paul spent so much time in, or maybe to sit and wonder at the desert heat the Israelites put up with for so long; it's part of the journey.  Imagination takes us from the doldrums of reality and moves our mind to a place where we can actually begin to believe. 

So today I invite you to Imagine.

Imagine you're in the group of disciples.
You're sitting at the base of another mountain.
Jesus has started to walk to the top, with some kind of purpose, you don't know what.
The afternoon sun begins to set in.
It's Hot.
You're Thirsty.
But you don't want to get out from under the shade tree you've claimed as your refuge.
You fall asleep for a little while, waiting on Jesus and the fellas to return.
Then, all of the sudden...

"a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified.But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus."

WHAT??

The story is found in Matthew 17:1-13.  It's the famous Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were all transformed into a bright light.  WOW!!  What a thrill it must been to see such a wonderful sight!!  WOW!! 

Ever wonder why?

Why is this scene in the Bible?

Why does Jesus spend so much time telling people to keep His identity secret, and then He does something like this??

What do you think?

(I'll write more later tonight.  They're calling my plane right now!!)

Signs

Have you ever found yourself asking, "Ok God, if you want me to _______, just give me a sign?" 

I found this picture and thought, I wonder how many people got married because these clouds lined up like this?  HA!!  What a deal!

But seriously, how many times have you negotiated with the Lord to show you a sign of His will for your life?

God if you'll only...
I promise if I see _____, then I'll give you my life forever...and so on.

Well, you're in good company.

The people of Jesus' day wanted some sign too, but He was pretty short with them.

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven. He replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah." Jesus then left them and went away.

Isn't it silly to be looking for signs when there are signs all around?

"The heavens declare the Glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork." 

That's what the Bible says.

Yet, we continue to ask God for the writing on the wall.  It's almost as if we're looking for some miraculous supernatural event to make a deal. 

But what if we're living in the sign.

What if the creation shows the signs that God exists?
What if it's God's world all around us screaming at every turn?
What if every morning you wake up, just taking a deep breath is a sign?  A sign your body has been created in the image of God, and HE IS REAL!!

Maybe we should take some time out and look at the signs all around us, before we started asking for donkeys to talk, and hearts in the clouds.

Paul wrote, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

Just some thoughts for today.

The Brutal Battle Of Hypocrisy

Have you ever had someone tell you they didn't want to be a part of the Christian faith because of all the hypocrites in the church?

I have.

And, it's sad, but true.

There are thousands of church goers that walk into their sanitary church buildings, every single week...

Sitting on the back row.
Reclining on the front row.
Sitting on the platform.
Preaching from the pulpit.
Singing from the choir loft.

ALL HYPOCRITES.

What a minute?

We're all hypocrites in some form or fashion, right?

Hypocrisy is simply saying one thing, and doing another.  It's the idea that someone would put on a face that surely doesn't reflect the honesty of the heart.  And who ever does that?

WE ALL DO!

It's part of human nature.  It's self preservation.  It's a way of controlling one's feelings, and being a part of controlling what others think.  It's, well....it's life. 

We all want to be better than we are.
We all want to achieve more than we have.
We all want to project the best possible scenario in life.

But the bottom line is, we all struggle.  We all have issues.  There's not one person sitting in a pew this Sunday who has life figured out.  And you know what...that's ok...as long as we don't try and play the hypocritical game with ourselves. 

We need to examine the depths of our heart.
We need to be honest with ourselves.
For, if honesty begins to permeate the very core of our being, then and only then will we allow the transformation that God so desperately wants for us. 

I was reading Matthew 15 this morning.  The Pharisees called Jesus out, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don't wash their hands before they eat!" (v.2)

You see, there was a ceremonial cleansing that happened before meal times, and the disciples, well sometimes, let's just say, their stomachs were driving the situation.

Jesus couldn't take it anymore.  He retorted, "Jesus replied, "And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother' and 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,' he is not to 'honor his father' with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 

 " 'These people honor me with their lips,
      but their hearts are far from me.
 They worship me in vain;
      their teachings are but rules taught by men.

Wouldn't that be a wake up call?

Jesus was basically holding the bar of moral accountability up as high as the Pharisees were.  He was trying to show them the necessity of loving God with your whole being. 

So What? Their hands were dirty when they ate, but look at all the good they're doing to spread the gospel. 

So What? The kids brought some drinks in the sanctuary.  At least they're there.

So What? The music changed genre this week because the pastor wanted to see if he could attract a different crowd. 

So What?

Jesus is helping us see the danger of pointing out something that doesn't sit well with you, and calling someone out on it. 

So today...

Let's be a people that allows people to be people rather than a bunch of hypocrites.

Don't you think there are bigger battles to fight, than this one?

What Happens When The Waves Look Too Big?

Probably the most familiar story in all the Bible, Jesus walks on Water.  The account written in Matthew is where I was today, and it was AMAZING!! 

I've read this story thousands of times before.  I mean, think about it, when anyone talks about Jesus, somewhere in their conversation they talk about how He walked on water, right?  It's the most inconceivable action, to watch a man, a human man, defy the laws of gravity and physics.  And it wasn't just walking on water that was the miracle. 

Matthew 14 says the waves and the winds were 'buffeting' the ship, and the disciples were scared to death when they saw the ghost-like figure of Jesus walking toward them. 

Can you imagine?

Out on the sea.
Little bitty boat.
Filled with 12 men.
No one took roll to see if Jesus was in the boat or not.
The winds are whipping the sails.
The waves are crashing over the sides.
Water, salt, cold, basically the worst part of the Discovery Channel's show Deadliest Catch.

Then all of the sudden
Someone shouts, "Look! There! In the Distance."
The fear of the elements is now amplified by the fear of ghostly figures dancing in the distance.
"Take courage.  It is I.  Do not be afraid." (v.27)

REALLY???  I'd be scared to DEATH!

"Lord if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water." Peter shouted.
"Come." Jesus replied.

You know the story. 

Peter stepped out of the boat looking toward Jesus and then when He realized the waves and the wind were a part of the circumstance, he looked down and began to sink.  The fear was invited back into the experience, "Lord Save me!"

"Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"(v.31)

Hmmmmm......

Why did you doubt?

If I were Peter, it would probably go something like this...

"Jesus?  Did you see the waves, the wind, the danger all around?  We could drown out here!"

"But didn't you..."

"Jesus, now don't get me wrong, but this sea is dangerous.  In fact I've seen fishermen fall overboard and die right here in this spot.  These storms are no trivial matter.  We don't even have a life preserver on the boat anymore."

"But haven't you..."

"Can you just stop for a minute?  Look, I've been here before.  I've seen the danger with my own eyes.  I've talked to the widows and had to break the news that their husbands were never coming back, because they were careless..."

"Peter, how much more do I have to prove to you that you'll be ok?  You're walking on water!"

And then it sinks in. 

No matter the danger.
No matter the fear.
No matter the circumstances blowing their harsh reality all around me.
No matter the history.
No matter the point of reference.

God can defy it all!

He can bend the laws of physics.
He can change the past.
He can hear our cry.
He can sense our pain.
He can lift us up, out of the danger.
He can give the unthinkable, reality.

May we not doubt God's caring love for us. 
May we settle into a place where the norm is simply a historical problem
May we keep our focus on Him, and trust in His plan. 
May fear and worry take a backseat to the victory God has planned for us.  

What happens when the waves look too big?  YOU SINK.

So stop looking!

The Result of Un-Belief

Have you ever been around someone who is gifted? Every now and then someone come through our place out here in Durango that is truly gifted.  We've had tremendous singers, dancers, climber, athletes, surfers, and all sorts of people who have specific gifts.  I mean really good at what they do. 

From time to time, there are those who come that are just a surprise to everyone.  Out of seemingly no-where with no family history, they just express their gift, with no natural explanation. 

It's exactly what happened in Jesus' day, and the people from His hometown missed out on what He could have come to do.

I was reading in Matthew 13 today.  "When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith." (V. 53-58)

You see, Jesus came from a 'normal' family.
Some religious leaders of the day were amazed because, 'nothing good comes from Nazareth' they would say.
His mom didn't have any specific talent
His family didn't have any social standing
His dad was just a carpenter

And because the people decided to put Jesus in the same box as those around Him, the Bible says 'He did many miracles because of their lack of faith.'

I pray that we are a people who believe.
I pray that we don't put Jesus in a box.

Can you imagine?

The effect of the people's disregard for who Jesus claimed to be, resulted in a lack of miracle. 

There is something to belief. 
There is something to faith.
There are times in our lives that God wants to do something great, but somehow there is a correlation to our belief and God's Mighty work in our lives.

May we not keep the works of God at bay because of our mis-understandings.
May we seek to believe.
May we pray today for God to help us with our un-belief so the fullness of God can be in our lives. 

Iron Sharpens Iron...the Power of Forgiveness

It's been a tough last couple of weeks. I can't hide behind the veil of "Christian Leadership."  The Pain in my heart is real.  I can't hide from the fact it's tough to talk through issues that remind me evil is still a part of this world. 

But something deeper calls my soul to a place where the reality of the Christian Worldview must, above all else, be lived out in real time.  In fact, if I confess to believe with all my existence that God is a God that is both judge and forgiver, I have to seek the part of His creation story that seeks to embody both. 

I received a comment this morning about how the writings here at andybraner.com seemed as though I was not living by the very foundations I claim.  My friend graciously offered, "I read your entry several times over and did not find any evidence of compassion or forgiveness. These are not two charges that we can selectively follow when we feel like it. They are the calling of Christian men. Hate the sin, love the sinner."  And he is right. The Bible says, "As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another," (Proverbs 27:17) and today I receive the sharpening today, my brother!

He is right...

Right that we should love all people no matter their acts of evil on the planet.
Right that Jesus tells us, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," (Matthew 5:43-44)
Right that Christian men are called to a higher purpose.

I've been careful not to exclude the pain of others through this time, for I know there are many who are reeling from a world filled with evil.  I know many readers, here at this site, are looking for answers.  I know there are many who are walking the long road of understanding, and seek to find the heart of God in a fallen world. 

Let me offer a few thoughts...

I have been researching the process of forgiveness this week, and found a few videos on.  I don't know who this man is, but I'm sure the truth of his message is timely and needed. 

The process of forgiveness is not one that often comes quickly.  Especially for those of us who are living honestly withing ourselves. 

It's easy to act like you've crossed the forgiveness barrier.
It's easy to put on the show.
It's easy to don the Christian mask, and act as if everything is ok, BUT IT'S NOT OK

It's not ok that we live in a world plagued by bad stuff.
It's not ok that murder and violence continue.
We must not be satisfied that we just walk through life without REAL feelings about the nature of a fallen worlds.

But if you'll see, even in the world's eyes, they recognize the power of forgiveness as we seek to forgive the sinner, but continue to hold the act accountable. 

Watch this...

It was the Amish who reminded us the power of forgiveness.
It was the horse drawn buggies, the plain clothes, the innocence from the world.
It was true faith in what they believed.
They had the power within their community to reach out and forgive the family of the murderer who took their children's lives.

And you know what?

Even in the pain...Now They Live the Freedom Forgiveness Brings.

Recently I traveled to Rwanda.  I met with Bishop John on several occasions.  We spoke of the worst genocide in modern days, and He continued telling me of the process of forgiveness. 

Even the victims of intense war crimes, have learned how to walk through the range of emotions.  From anger to embarrassment, there is hope through the antidote of forgiveness.

It's the power by which we can truly live a life different from the world (Romans 12:2).  Instead of inciting vindictive judgment, the power of freedom from the anger that can take root in bitterness...This is the power of the gospel.

"For while YOU were yet sinners, Christ died for you." (Romans 5:8)

May we be a people who continue to fight through the Journey of forgiveness.
May we fight to humble ourselves over our natural feelings of judgment.
May we seek to forgive like Jesus forgave. 

Thank you, my friend. 
Thank you for calling me to a higher standard.
Thank you for reminding me of Forgiveness.
Thank you for sharpening today.

Next time you think works aren't a part of the faith...

It's probably the least talked about part of the Christian life, mainly; WORKS MATTER!

I know, I know, there's going to be an outpouring of people who want to write and tell me the plight of Martin Luther, or the theological doctrine of John Calvin and the reformers; but this morning confirmed to me again, what we do on this earth is going to matter when we get to heaven.  A good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit.  It's straight from the mouth of Jesus. 

It was Matthew 12, when Jesus was healing, and the Pharisees called him Beelzebub.  Are you crazy?  Why in the world would Satan heal people and subvert his own will for the planet?

Then Jesus says, "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:33-37)

In other words, you will be judged by the words you say, and the deeds you do on the earth. 

It's all the way through the New Testament, and it should cause those who call themselves Christians grave concern.  For if, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks," I guess it's time to see what's in your heart?

Do you speak with a regular tone of anger?
Are the jokes you tell, and the places you find humor pleasing to the Lord?
What if you stood before God right now and gave an account of the fruit your life produced to this point, would He be pleased?

I think it's time we take this very serious.  It doesn't mean we start the "Christian Act" all over again, but it's a warning to us all to be careful how we call on the grace of God in our lives to justify actions that WILL BE BROUGHT UP IN THE FUTURE!!!!!

Be careful.
Don't let the doctrine of Grace be abusive.
We know God forgives, but we also know He judges. 

The Psalmist says, "The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom."  I think our culture needs to return to a healthy fear.  Not a fear of manipulation, but a healthy reverence for the creator of the Universe.  For the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Why Kill a Man Who Heals?

Can you imagine watching someone heal a handicapped person, and then want to go and kill the healer?  Really?

Well, that's exactly what happened to Jesus. 

 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

 He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

 Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

Matthew 12:9-14

I don't know about you, but this just seems strange.  Were the religious leaders of the day just so blinded by power and prestige, that they couldn't allow a guy to help people?

I wonder.

Do we act the same way?

When someone reaches out to help others, are we quick to judge them, and make them look bad?

What if someone was to go help the homeless?  I've heard people say, "Why would you help them?  If they would just get a job, then they'd be ok."

Or, I've heard people trying to reach out to pregnant teenagers, "Why would you help her?  She's a whore!!"

But why are people so quick to go and criticize others who are trying to reach out and help the world?  The Pharisees were obviously angry. 

Maybe it was because Jesus was doing things that jeopardized their power struggle.
Maybe it was because Jesus' power was in the common man who knew He could reach out and heal.
Maybe people need the sick, the poor, the afflicted, so they can continue to rule someone.

I just hope we're not a generation who hold laws so tight, we're unwilling to reach out to the needy. 

God is a Provider

On my daily Matthew cruise, I found yet another incredible message.  It's a story you don't hear of too often, but certainly doesn't mean it's not important. 

Matthew 12:1-8, "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."

 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Did you see that?

The Laws of Moses, that included the one about "Remembering the Sabbath, and Keeping it Holy" were a comprehensive 680 + rules and laws that the religious leaders were living by. 

Jesus knew the laws.  For goodness sake, He wrote them, and gave them to Moses. 

So when Jesus came to see the needs of the disciples, mainly that they were hungry, He didn't hesitate to meet their physical needs. 

I believe this section gives us a couple of principles for today. 

1.)  The spirit of the law is important.

You can't simply read the text and contrive a 'hard line' interpretation without doing some good research.  Why did God make the law of the Sabbath?  What was He trying to say to the hearers of the law?  How was He trying to make sure they were in a closer relationship with Him through the laws?  We've got to take time, STOP, and instead of trying to get a couple of sound bytes, we've got to be responsible with the way we interpret scripture. 

2.)  The Sabbath is an important day.

It's no secret.  Having a Day of rest is essential to the rhythm of the way God created us.  But how do we do a Sabbath day?  How do we observe it?

Jesus shows, it's not about denying yourself food.  The Sabbath is a time to remind us that we are more than objects of production.  We work for 6 days, and then on the 7th, we rest and fill our souls with the things that make us human.

So, try this. 

This week, take a day to put down whatever it is you do for work, school, or any kind of production, and just take a day to relax. 

Enjoy life. 
Take a breath of fresh air.
Do something that ignites your soul. 
Ride a bike. 
Go on a hike.  
Take some friends out for a day on the lake. 
God to a football game.
Have a picnic with your family. 

Just make sure, you're not just becoming a robot, and you take some time to remember God crated all we see, and in HIM all things hold together.  

Thank you Jesus for giving us a wonderful example of how you take care of our needs.  You are The Provider. 

The Yoke

It's one of my favorite sections of scripture.  At the end of Matthew 11, Jesus says, ""Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

How many times have we heard this verse from the pulpit of the church?

All through my growing up, I thought the 'yoke' was like this picture of the oxen.  It was supposed to be a link between me and God. Or, it was supposed to be someway that I'm chained to God.  But, if you just think about it logically, there's no way Jesus is saying, "Come to me all you who are weary, because I'll put a yoke on you and work you in the field until we plow up for the new harvest?"  REALLY?

I've done some pretty extensive research on the subject of the 'yoke', and I found that it really means 'teaching style.'  

So the Rabbi of the day would take a few disciples under his wing, and begin teaching the disciples the way they interpret scripture.  It was a way that every nuance of the Old Testament had a way of being vetted out.  

This idea of taking on Jesus' yoke, is that we need to take on His teaching.
We need to emulate His life.
We need to assume His teaching, and THEN we'll have a true understanding of how life is supposed to work.

May we be a people who take on Jesus' teaching.
May we take it serious, and not merely a suggestion
May Jesus' yoke bring relief to you today.

A Day of Repentance

It's no secret cities are a place where people have access to lots of stuff, certain special events, and a bit of progressiveness the rest of us don't necessarily get to enjoy.  I love walking through our cities here in America and hearing the different rhythms, feeling the various tensions, and watching how people do life in the cities. 

I've never really been much of a long time city guy.  I've lived in basic small towns most of my life, so I'm not real tuned into what it might be like to actually dwell in a place with over a million people.  Must be crazy!!

Well, I was reading in Matthew 11 today when Jesus started rebuking the cities he had performed miracles in. 

 

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Si don on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you." (Matthew 11:20-24)

I know, cities or towns, the repentance of humanity is essential to knowing God.  It's an important piece to salvation.  Understanding, knowing, and turning from your sin is the only way you can realize the power of God in your life. 

So, as Jesus is rebuking these cities for their lack of repentance, I started thinking about our attitudes today.

When God moves in a special way in our town or city, do we take repentance seriously?
How long does it take before our daily routine turns back into the rut we created before God moved?
Are we even willing to step out and be a part of what God is doing?

I, for one, want to be in the middle of what God is up to. 
I want to experience His miracles, and His work on the planet today.
I want to be in the thick of it.

Do you?

Maybe it's time for a city wide, or a town wide day of repentance.  I know the officials probably won't like it, but who cares?  Let's begin to follow God's will for our lives, rather than pandering to whatever oppression people want to put on the Christian community.  Let's together, ask for forgiveness from our cities and towns!!

A New Look At Christianeese...

Ever heard the phrase Christianeese?  Don't be deceived, it's a real language!!  You won't find it translated in a book.  There's no Rosetta Stone to help guide you through it.  It's actually a sub-culture language Christians use, for...well, I have no idea.

Things like, "God thank you for the blessings you bestowed on us" (usually used while praying.) 

Now, how many people ever use the word 'bestowed' outside of a prayer?  Really?

Or, I actually heard this from a comedian once, "Lord, bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies." (usually used while praying, right before a meal)  And then the one who is praying shoves some Big Mac and Large Fry down their gullet, as if somehow God is going to transform that transgendered fat into the equivalent of fruits a vegetables on the way down??  Really?

Or maybe you've heard, "Brother Andy, so good to see you today..."
Or what about the classic, "Did you see Sally at the game the other day? God bless her..."

Let me be real honest here...if anyone ever uses 'God bless her' on you...that's not a compliment.  It's almost as if we should take pity on the poor girl for some un-obscure reason. 

What's even more disturbing is, no one really takes a long hard look at this stuff.  We just go on with our normal everyday lives, and never really take the time to listen to ourselves talk.

I was recently with a guy who was investigating the Christian faith, and he had decided it wasn't worth going to church to find out about Jesus.  I asked, "Well, don't you think if you want to know the founder of a faith, you should go and learn about him?" 

"Andy, I have no idea what those people are talking about?  I don't know what they're saying half the time, and it seems like there's got to be an easier way."

Hmmmmmmm........

Talk about convicting.

I think it's time we stop creating our own language.
I think it's time we return to the Way Jesus worked with people.
He used images of trees and fruit. EASY
He talked of the roads people knew.  EASY
He told them of the laws of Moses they worshiped.  EASY

He didn't try to re-create culture. 
He lived in the culture, and then began morphing it from the inside. 

He showed culture the answers they were looking for. 
He gave to the needs the people were longing for.

Willie Nelson used to sing it, "Looking for love in all the wrong places."  The culture in Jesus' day wasn't that different from the one we live in.  People are still looking for significance.  They still long for meaning.  They don't want to live alone.  And...eventually...people are trying to reconcile this cosmic universe to the reason why they are living on this planet. 

Jesus came to show us the right place.
He didn't try to make a different place. 
He used the words, the images, the cultural ceremonies to show the people, "LOOK, I'M GOD!!"

May we stop and make sure our words are honest, not some re-creation.
May we recognize the times we aren't communicating God's love clearly, and turn to give.
May we be God's love to the world, so they can see we love them, Because He first loved us.

Thanks for reading. 
Thanks for praying. 

I write this article on the heels of a great tragedy.  (see the article below)  And I think what's coming out of my soul is in a reaction to Christians in tragedy.  To say something trite to a family that is suffering is almost an insult to them.  The Bible says to, "Mourn with those who mourn, rejoice with those who rejoice."  There are no words that will relieve the pain right now.  For those of us far away...let's pray.
For those of us who are close...just be there.  Don't try to fix anything.  Don't try to make it better.  Sometimes we just need to be close, and let family and friends know we understand pain.  Thanks for praying!!

A Giving God

Even though there are hard parts of Matthew 10, there's one thing that remains constant, Jesus continues to re-enforce the idea that giving to the needy is a central component of the Way. 

"He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." (Matthew 10:40-42)

So many teenagers call me and ask, "Why is it so easy to follow God when we're out at camp?"  And I have to be honest, it's a component of faith I wish I could unlock.  It's easy to follow God when you are with like-minded people. 

It's easy to worship when everyone is worshiping.
It's easy to read your Bible when you see others doing the same.
It's easy to be kind when it's the norm.
But what happens when you go back into the world?
Are camping times, retreat times, mountain top times simply a place to receive a 'shot in the arm' of God to help you get through the hard times?

I don't think so.

I think the purpose of camping or retreat times is so that we can re-focus.  We can remember the purpose of our faith, and when we go back in to the world we can emulate that behavior for everyone to see.  We serve a Giving God who is interested in giving even a cold cup of water to the least of these. 

It's part of the WAY.
It's central to our faith.
It connects us to the heart of God.

So if you're struggling today to realize the power of God in your life, stop focusing on yourself, and go give to someone in need.  It's the difference between Christianity and every other faith. 

Our God gives, while other 'gods' demand.
Our God in concerned with the well being of the Kingdom, rather than focusing on the blessing of the individual.
He wants those who are adopted into His family to reach out beyond our normal sphere's of influence, and give our resources to those who need them most. 

May we be a Giving People.
May we recognize the needs of others, and begin to meet those needs.
For this is a new command, "The world will know you are my disciples by your love for one another." 

So today...Go Give to someone, and see God in your selflessness.

Jesus, Peace, Swords?? What's going on here?

Today I was continuing my reading through Matthew, and I came across an interesting section of scripture.  Matthew 10 is where Jesus calls the disciples and sends them out to cast out demons, heal the sick, and spread the good news. 

But down here in v. 34, there's an interesting section, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn  " 'a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,  a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law - a man's enemies will be the members of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36)

Isn't Jesus the one who is the Prince of Peace?
Didn't He come to say, "Love your enemy?"
Wasn't Jesus all about the family?

So what's going on here.  Jesus came not to bring peace, but the sword?

I'm at a loss today.

Any suggestions?