A SABBAH FAST #1

LEGALISM OR LOVE? At the beginning of 2012 we asked you to join us in reading through the entire Bible this year. Is it a step toward legalism or a movement toward love? Last week I invited you to join me in entering into a fast during the season of Lent; again, is this leaning toward legalism or is it an embrace of love? I have also encouraged you to daily pray 5-4-5, that is taking 5 minutes each day to pray for 5 people who need to experience the life-changing grace of God, again, legalism or love?

     Honestly, my heart-felt prayer is that each of these disciplines would be born out of a heart of love: A love for God, a love for His Word and a love for His work. I know that a good number of you have chosen to embark upon this journey of Scripture reading, fasting and evangelistic prayer…not to mention seeking the Lord to use us, as a local church, to see 350 people make a positive response to the grace of God offered to us in and through the Person and work of Jesus, the Messiah.

    The thing that differentiates between whether an activity is one of legalism (trying to earn brownie-points with God or His Church) or one of love, is the attitude of the heart. As I mentioned last week, one of the key purposes for fasting is so that we can grow in our intimacy with the Lord. We don’t do it to earn His favor, He already loves you perfectly and completely, we do it so we can take the time to draw closer to Him. With that in mind I want to remind you that there is no failure in the disciplines we are attempting. We might miss some days in the Word, that’s OK; just pick up the Book and start reading.  We might let up on our fast, that’s OK; just turn your heart back to the task at hand.

     Here’s more good news; When the church began to celebrate the Lenten season, they felt that to fast on the Lord’s Day was to miss the joy of what that day was to remind them of; the resurrection of Jesus. So, feel free to rest from your fast today, and celebrate with great joy the reality of the risen Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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LESSONS FROM THE MUDDY MEADOW TRAIL

I LOVE WALKING THROUGH HENRY COWELL AFTER THE RAIN, and to do so with the love of my life on an early Valentine’s morning made it all the better. That is until we hit the Meadow Trail on the way back to the car; lots of mud, lots of puddles. Some slipping and sliding, and definitely some muddy shoes!

     As I was slipping and sliding some thoughts crossed my mind regarding the times when life brings storms into our lives and the muddy residue that is often left behind. Storms are inevitable and they often do leave behind messy places that have to be traversed with care. So, as I traveled the muddy paths of Henry Cowell State Park here are some lessons I learned when one encounters the muddy messes of life.

     First, you need to keep your eyes downward toward the path. Staring up into the treetops will often leave you walking in places that you shouldn’t. The spiritual application for me when facing the messy place in life: Keep my head bowed in humble prayer.

     Second, you need to be careful where you step. As on the Meadow Trail today, even though there were puddles and mud, there were also ways to get around those areas. It may take a little extra work, but it sure beats slipping and falling. The spiritual application for me when facing the muddy places in life: I need to watch my step by walking holy. Righteous walking is imperative when we find ourselves in the messy places.

     Finally, it’s good to travel these trails with a good companion: someone who can help you find the driest path, and who can help you regain your balance should you begin to slip and slide. The spiritual application for me as I walk through yucky times in my life: I need to walk with a good brother or sister in Christ, and most of all I need to walk with the Holy Spirit leading the way.

     Storms will come. Paths will get muddy and messy. But prayerful, righteous walking with a fellow-believer can get you through even the messiest of spots.

THE OUTGOING INTROVERT

YES, THE TITLE SOUNDS LIKE AN OXYMORON, but we introverts can in fact be outgoing, all it takes is walking across the room and saying, “Hi” to someone new. I realize that looks a lot easier on paper than in real life, but it is true, we introverts can be outgoing, and with a little practice we can get quite good at it.

     Recent reports, as in the February 6, 2012 issue of Timemagazine, say that we shy introverts make up about 30% of the population. That means that the majority of the people and the life that surrounds us is geared to those 70% who are extroverts by nature. Even church is often designed by and for extroverts.

    All of us, even those like me who are introverts, are called to greet people, raise our hands, get into small groups, and worst of all, told we must share our faith with everybody we meet. YIKES! It’s enough to make us run and hide in the closet, where our Lord told us it was good to go and pray, (Matthew 6:6) and praying is what we are doing, we’re praying nobody will find us!

     And then there is the guilt. Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations. (Matthew 28:19-20) and that we were to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8), and now the pastor is telling us we want to see 350 people commit their lives to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Really? Can’t we just come to church, sit in our regular spot, interact with our chosen few, and then go home? It’s just not within me to be an evangelist.

     Take heart my shy friend, you’re in good company. If you haven’t noticed by now throughout this Shepherd’s Staff I have included myself amongst the quiet group of introverts, and yes, it’s difficult for me to share my faith as well. Not because I can’t  share it, or don’t know how to share it, it’s mostly because it’s not comfortable for me to meet and converse with those I don’t know.

     So, what’s an introvert Christian to do? Simply learn to walk across the room and greet a new person and let the conversation (or lack thereof) flow from there. Remember, the Lord is the One who desires most to see people come to trust in Him. If we will take the first step, I have found He will guide us the rest of the way. 

     So, come on, introvert groupie, take the step. 

     I am, so come and join me!

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WALKING AND WAITING

MY SCOUTMASTER WAS LESS THAN TRUTHFUL! There was more than one time I caught him in what some would call an outright lie. I’m not out to defame his name or reputation, but I think I have held this in too long.

     The lie consisted of his constant encouragement to me that the campsite was just around the next bend in the trail, or over the next rise along our path.  Truth be known, I really don’t think he had the foggiest idea how far it was until we reached our camping spot for the night.  He just kept saying, “Come along scouts, our campsite is just around the bend.” It never was…or at least it never seemed like it was. All we were doing in that hot, dusty, tinder-dry, tree-less and rattlesnake infested area was walking and waiting, (As well as berating ourselves for sucking our canteens dry on mile two of the ten we were traversing.)

     As I have grown older (mature?) I have learned that much of life is walking and waiting. I have found this true especially for those who are seeking to follow after and to obey Jesus Christ. We often refer to the Christian life as a journey: a journey not only of destination, but of becoming. We are not given the exact map coordinates, but rather called to continue to follow the Master along the trail.

     Our Lord Jesus has promised to lead us to a wonderful place and we long to arrive and have the journey completed, but we soon discover that the journey itself is part of the process. As a young Boy Scout the goal for me was the campsite where I could rest and enjoy an evening around the fire. The problem with only being fixated upon the destination was I missed all the discoveries along the way. This is true as well for those of us seeking to follow Jesus; we are so intent about reaching the goal of our lives we miss the beauty along the way.

     Sure, sometimes that trail is steep and dusty, and yet there are also times in which we stroll across verdant alpine meadows. 

     Destination and journey. Walking and waiting. It’s all part of the adventure of following our Lord and Savior. The lesson for today: enjoy the journey and the destination becomes even better upon our arrival.

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READING FOR LOVE

I LOVE TO READ. Books, magazines, newspapers, commentaries and yes, even the Bible. My favorite reading is the true stories of adventurers. The stories of men and women, young and old, who have climbed tall mountains or crossed the open ocean in a small boat, or have ridden their bicycle around the world.

     I love to read the stories of people attempting feats at faraway places that I will never attempt or most likely visit. The truth be known, I am very much a homebody, so even though I’m enthralled by the accounts of these adventure seekers, I would most likely rather read than do.

     I once heard (or maybe I read) that “leaders are readers and readers are leaders.” If we desire to grow in this life and to have a positive effect on the lives of others, then reading is a must. And what we read is just as important as how much we read. Wasting my time reading the latest celebrity gossip rag is most likely not going to increase my leadership quotient. As in all endeavors in life, reading wisely is tantamount to reading well.

     I am excited with the read-through-the-Bible program in which we have invited the church to participate. I don’t know how many are following the daily reading, but I do know lots of the reading schedules were picked-up that first day, and I am praying that everyone who has joined the journey is discovering the blessing that comes from reading God’s Word. As we move forward as a church family in reading through the Scriptures, allow me to offer two thoughts: First, if you get behind don’t worry about it. This is not a race, but a journey, and sometimes on a journey we get sidetracked. Just pick it up and start where you left off.

     Second, let’s covenant to read for love. Reading the Scriptures is not meant to be an academic endeavor, it is meant to be an opportunity to listen to the heartbeat of the God who created you and loves you. I read this past week that the Bible is a “thin place through which the presence of God breaks into this world and bursts with unpredictable consequences into our lives.”  (The Fire of the Word, pp. 30-31.) This is my prayer for you as you read through the Scriptures this year: God will break through and you’ll know Him with a deeper love.

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The FIRE of the WORD

I don't often post my book reviews to my blogs, but seeing how I was asked to read and review this book by IVP Books, I thought I had better make a posting, and in truth, I am happy to do so and to recommend this book to you.

Here is my review as written for Goodreads:

To ask a pastor to read and review a book about reading the Bible is about as smart as handing an Formula One race car driver to read a book about learning to drive.

Oh how wrong I was (nothing new for those who know me.)

This new book, "The Fire of the Word: Meeting God on Holy Ground," (IVP Books, 2012) truly awakened in me a deeper desire to not only know the Scriptures, but know the One who both wrote the Scriptures and about Whom the Scriptures are written. I heartily recommend this book to all who desire to know the Word of God better, and even more importantly, to know God better.

Some quotes from the work may best attest to the gems that are to be discovered within its pages.

The Bible is "a place where the boundary of heaven and earth has been worn through."(p.61) And therefore the Word of God becomes a "thin place through which the presence of God breaks into this world and bursts with unpredictable consequences into our lives." (p. 30-31)

The author, Chris Webb, is constantly on the task to draw us away from seeing the Bible as a book written for "theorists", but rather it is a book for lovers. (p. 68) We are encouraged to see the Holy Scriptures as the medium of the Divine kiss, a way into the very presence of God. (p. 77)

The author helps us to see the Holy Scriptures in a way that brings forth its deep riches and encourages us, his readers, to plumb the depths. Even providing a week-long journey in the Scriptures at the end of each chapter.

I would suggest reading the book through, and then go back and read it again taking that week between chapters to unearth the precious gems contained within its pages.

I also appreciated that the author moves the reader to see the Scriptures in the broader arena of the spiritual disciplines.  The Bible is not an end in itself, but part of the discipline of drawing close to our Lord and the Lover of our souls. Webb's challenge to us is to see that we are not just to be Bible-believing people, but rather, to be God-believing, Christ-centered and Holy Spirit-empowered people.

I thank you, Mr. Webb, for re-igniting my heart for the Word of God, and in that process re-igniting my heart for God. Well done, good and faithful servant.

ALL SOHLS DAY

NO, I DIDN’T SPELL “SOULS” WRONG. Today is SOHLS that is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is the Sunday closest to the infamous passing of Roe v. Wade has been designated as the Sunday where we stop to remember the sanctity of human life. All human life!

     The focus in churches around America today will be on the importance of speaking up and out for the little lives that cannot speak for themselves. It is a day for us to remember that we are all created to bear forth the image of God, and it is that truth that demands that all life is sacred.

     Sacred are the lives of the unborn and of the aged.  Sacred are the lives which society says are “perfect” and of those which society says are disabled. Sacred are the lives which can add to the community and of those which seem only able to take from the community. All human life is sacred, even the life of your enemy.

     This truth is made alive in the Person of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.” (Colossians 1:21) Yes, we were enemies of God and He loved us still. Paul wrote to the church in Rome, “For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!” (Romans 5:10)

     Not only were we created by God, but we were rescued by Him as well.  It is because this great salvation that we the church are to be about the work of saving lives. That saving is not just getting people forgiven and into heaven, but it also includes working here to see that all those created in His image come to know God’s sacred call upon them.

     Therefore, on the All SOHLS Day, let us recommit ourselves to carry forth the ministry which Christ Himself called us, the ministry of reconciliation, (2 Corinthians 5:18-21) and let us daily proclaim in word and deed the sanctity of life!