The Pondering Pastor

READING FOR LOVE

2012-01-31T17:10:00.000-08:00

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.

The FIRE of the WORD

2012-01-26T09:03:00.000-08:00

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

2012-01-24T12:21:00.000-08:00

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!

THE MESSES

2012-01-15T13:41:00.000-08:00

BEING A PERSON WHO LIKES to have a place for everything and everything in its place, I don’t take to messes around the house, or the church for that matter. But, if there is one thing I have learned after years of parenting and pastoring, things get messy, no matter how hard you try to teach and keep things neat.

Life is messy, there’s just no way around it. No matter how hard we try to keep things in order life will find ways of messing things up. Make plans to go somewhere and events will take place to slow your arrival. Seek develop and maintain an open and honest relationship and something will take place to hinder trust and growth. Come to church hoping to be comfortable and ministered to and they’ll sing all the songs you detest and the sermon will call you to love the person you hate the most. Yes, life is messy.

It may be that this messiness of life is what prompted James to admonish the church to be careful of the plans you make and the steps you take. He writes,

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” (James 4:13-17)

What does this passage have to do with my need of orderliness? It is found in the sentences that deal with pride. My being upset is often more about the infringement on my space. It becomes an issue about ME and MINE, which supersedes YOU and YOURS and more critically leaves out HIM and HIS. That is never a good place to be.

Messes happen, the question is how are you going to handle them? Your way or HIS way?

ACTING OUT OR ACTING UP?

2012-01-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

A PASTOR HAS TO ANSWER LOTS OF QUESTIONS. The majority of them do not come from the faithful who sit in the pews and serve within the ministries of the church, nor do the questions come from those outside the parameters of our faith. Most of the questions which a pastor has to answer come from deep within the pastor himself.

Personally I have discovered that most of the questions which continue to rise up within me have to do with one major issue, divided into two general areas. The major issue is: what does it mean to be a Christian and how is that best lived within the culture in which I presently live. The two areas in which this issue is divided has to do with how this affects me personally, that is what does it mean to be a follower of Christ. The second being how does this issue affect the corporate organization we call the church, or the Body of Christ.

The longer I walk with Christ, the more I see that there is so much I do not know. This does not mean that I have doubt or have lost any measure of faith, but rather the longer I walk with Jesus the more aware of the deepness of who He is and to the relationship to which He calls me. In regards to the church, there too I discover an ever increasing evolution to what it means to be the Body of Christ. Again, this does not mean that what the church is doing and we need to reinvent the church all over again, rather it means that there is a depth in both relationship and call in regards to being the “called out ones.”

I believe that 2012 will be a year in which we here at Felton Bible Church, will grow deeper in our love and knowledge for the Savior, personally and corporately. How all this will work out, I am not 100% sure, but I do know that Pastor Ron and I have been praying diligently toward this end as well as discussing how we can be the church that our Lord desires us to be. This has also been the prayer focus and program focus of the Ministry Team.

One step we will be taking as a church body is in studying together the Book of Acts. We have spent months walking through Genesis, our study of beginnings, and we have just finished twenty-four weeks of walking through the Book of the Revelation, our study of the direction in which God is leading His creation. Now, we are going to embark upon a journey through the Book of Acts, that book that describes the first days of the Spirit-filled and empowered group of individuals who became known as Christians. It was the beginning of the church, and thus our beginning as well.

The goal of our study is not to try to become like the first century church. We live in 2012, in a new and ever-changing world, a world that is changing at the speed of light. In fact, just recently it has been discovered that there is something faster than the speed of light. We are not called to live like it’s AD 100, but we are called to live as the Spirit-filled and Spirit-empowered Body of Christ, and I believe a thorough study of the Book of Acts can help us discover what it means to follow Jesus the Messiah personally and corporately in 2012 and beyond. I am praying that you will join me on this road to becoming the church that Jesus, the Messiah desires us to be. I believe it’s going to be an exciting journey of growth and experience.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

2012-01-02T12:40:00.000-08:00

DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF doing the same thing you’ve always done? Do you ever get the feeling that your life is like a broken record, or to give it an up to date spin, you’ve hit one of those endless web-page loops, always coming back to the same page again and again? Yes, I believe most, if not all, of us have experienced that, “here we go again” syndrome.

I suppose that is one reason we like New Year’s day, it is another opportunity to start afresh. It is a chance for a new beginning, to say to ourselves that from now one things are going to be different. I am going to eat less, exercise more, watch less television and read more good books. You might even say, I’m going to start that new hobby, or be more regular in attending church, or reading the Bible. Yes, this year is going to be different!

Well, in order to help you accomplish your new life of living off the merry-go-round allow me to offer you some sage advice, not sagely from me but from others, I haven’t quite reached the status of a sage.

First, speak out the desired change. Write it down, tell someone you live with, get it out in front of you. In other words, make yourself accountable to someone.

Second, get yourself a workable plan. You want to run that marathon this year but you don’t go out on January 2^nd and run a 20-miler, when the most exercise you have been applying yourself to lately is pushing the computer mouse around the table. Start slow, but start!

Third, don’t take failure as an answer. Chances are you’re going to miss a work out or two. If you do, get back in there and start again. You might not finish that book you started, maybe it was too b-o-r-i-n-g! So, find another book, or maybe a good monthly journal, the articles are shorter. Whatever it may be don’t stop just because you blew the plan once or twice or three times.

This year God is going to call you to rise up to some new challenges, they may be tough, or seem impossible to you, so rely on His strength. For nothing is impossible when God is in it for His glory!

MY CHRISTMAS GIFT TO MYSELF!

2011-12-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

I REALIZE THIS SEEMS A LITTLE SELFISH, but I am getting myself a Christmas gift this year. The reason is that I deserve this gift, dare I say I need this gift and I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that no one is going to give me this gift, not this year, not ever. If I expect to get this gift my only hope in receiving it is to give it to myself!

The gift I desire so greatly is the gift of uninterrupted time to study God’s Word, be available to others and to spend extended time in communion with the triune God.

Again I have discovered the great need I have for this uninterrupted time. This gift is one that comes specially wrapped. It is wrapped in the turning off of the television and other extraneous media input, it is tied up with the ribbon of disconnecting myself from my computer for an extended period (maybe even one or two days a week). It is going to require that I limit my access to the glut of information that bombards me moment by moment. It means I am going to have to purposefully create space for uninterrupted time with God. And it means I am going to have to refuse to run my life at the speed of light that our present internet-driven culture demands.

Does this mean I am going to miss out on some of the hottest new sites on the world-wide-web? Yes it does. Does this mean I am not going to answer your emails, and voice messages within a 15-minute window? Yes it does. You see, I really am developing a taste for deep knowledge rather than superficial information. I am hungering for a relationship with people that allows me to be present with them, without feeling my cell phone vibrating in my pocket, or worse to answer it in mid-conversation (which has been done to me more and more lately).

Yes, this year I am going to give myself the gifts of simplicity, contemplation, and order, rather than the world’s gifts of complication, distraction, and chaos. I can’t wait to begin to unwrap this wonderful, multifaceted gift. The neat thing is that it is a gift that you too can enjoy, but it has to start with you. I want to say thanks to John Dyer for his encouraging and empowering book, Fromthe Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology, for challenging me to go out and give myself this gift. Thanks John, your words hit home, thanks for the gift!

CHRISTMAS IS CALLING

2011-12-16T11:26:00.000-08:00

ALL AROUND THERE ARE THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS. Not just the noise of Christmas that invades our senses, but the sights and sounds that call us deeper. They are there, if only we care to listen.

The Advent of our Lord 2000 years ago was a time of calling. God, the Living Word, was soon to enter our world, Emmanuel, God with us. It wouldn’t be a noisy arrival with the fanfare of trumpets, the ringing of bells, and shouts of acclamation, but it was still a time when God spoke, when He called, and people had the opportunity to respond.

Consider those to whom the call of God came and how they responded.

God called Mary. She responded with, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.
God called Joseph. He responded by obediently doing what God said to do.
God called the Magi from the east. They responded by embarking upon a long and perilous journey.
God called the inn-keeper. He responded by offering all he had left to give.
God called the shepherds. They arose and went to seek the Messiah, their Savior.
God called God, the Living Word. He left His throne in heaven, and meekly slept in the manger’s hay.

Two-thousand years ago, God called and people responded. Today God is still calling. Christ is calling.

How will you respond?

PEACE!

2011-12-05T17:58:00.000-08:00

I BELIEVE THAT ALMOST EVERYONE in the world is desirous of living in a world of peace. Even those who find themselves having to fight for family, faith and fatherland, are desirous of living a life of peace. Most of us in the world just want to love and care for our family and friends, we only want a safe place to call home and some food to put upon the table. Fathers and mothers throughout the world just desire to know that they can tuck their children into bed each night in a place that is peace-filled, knowing that they can awaken to a new day with new possibilities.

Sadly, we live in a world where peace seems to farther from us than in days that have past. Every day we hear of wars and rumors of wars. Gang warfare fills the streets of our cities, large and small, urban and rural. All over the world we hear of the skirmishes between tribes, villages and even families. Our own military travels the world over seeking to ensure peace only to leave the war zones wondering if things are better or worse for our being there. If ever we needed peace it is now.

At the Advent time of the year we remember the One who came as the Prince of Peace, seeking to bring peace to a world in desperate need of it. Our Lord, Jesus, the Messiah, came to re-establish peace on earth by re-establishing peace between God and those created in His image. The astonishing thing is, the peace could only be restored through the death of the Son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Peace has a cost.

Jesus came to bring us His peace, not the world’s idea, but God’s deep abiding peace. (John 14:27; John 16:33) A peace that is beyond what we would comprehend (Philippians 4:7) And we, who choose to know this peace, called not just to live in peace, but to be peace-makers (Matthew 5:9). It is the ones who make peace, not just seek to live in it, that are called the sons of God.

How will you make peace this Advent season? What a grand gift to give! Check-out Advent Conspiracy for some ideas of being a Peace-Maker this Advent season.

THROUGH NEW EYES

2011-12-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

EVERYONE NEEDS TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH A PRE-SCHOOL CHILD during the Advent season. Their wide-eyed wonder, coupled with their easy belief in the mystery unfolding before them and their simple faith expressed in prayers and wishes, can open a cynical and crusty heart to the joy and wonder of the season.

I believe that at this time of the year the prophet Isaiah’s prophecy that, “a little child shall lead them,” comes alive with new meaning. (Isaiah 11:6) Even our Lord, Jesus Christ, told His followers, that unless we become like little children in regards to faith and trust, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. (Mark 10:13-14; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:16)

In my own journey of faith in walking with Christ, I have benefited often by seeing things through eyes and understanding of others. Those who were raised in a culture different than my own, or have lived a life harsher than my own, have provided for me the deeper understanding of the grace and love of God. I have learned from the old and the young. I have learned from those who have walked with Jesus for scores of years and from those who have just commenced the journey of faith in Jesus Christ. Seeing the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit through the eyes and experiences of others has deeply enriched my own life and I pray that my faith-story has enriched theirs as well.

During this Advent season, as we look back to the birth of the Savoir, I encourage you to seek to see it with new eyes. That may come in the form of sitting down with someone older or younger than you, (physically or spiritually). It might come through encountering the Advent story through those of another culture than your own. It could even be as simple as reading the Gospel accounts of the birth of the Christ-Child in a different Bible translation.

To help you see things through fresh eyes this Advent season I will be presenting four first-person dramatic monologues. I invite you to join us as we see the birth of God’s Son through the eyes of the angel Gabriel, Joseph the carpenter, Saul the innkeeper and David the shepherd. My prayer is that during this time of joy and laughter, hustle and bustle, family and friends gathered, you will also experience the reality of Emmanuel, God with us, in a deeper way. I pray, along with the Apostle Paul that, “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU

2011-11-30T10:45:00.000-08:00

TODAY USHERS IN THE SEASON OF ADVENT. It is that time of year when we recall the birth of the Christ Child. It is a time of year when candles are lit, carols are sung and stories retold of the One who entered into our world as Emmanuel.

The Old Testament points to the Messiah’s first advent (Isaiah 9:1-7; Isaiah 53:1-12) and the New Testament points to His second advent. (Revelation 22:12-21.) It is an advent that is still to come. That leaves us stuck in the middle. But, that is not a bad place to be stuck.

It is here and now that we can recount the events of Christ’s first arrival. It is now that we can celebrate the reality that God became a man and dwelt among us for the sole purpose of bringing the gracious gift of God; the redemption from our sins and the restoration of our relationship with our Creator. (Philippians 2:5-11)

It is here and now that we can not only point to the Baby in the manger, but also to the Savior upon the cross and the coming Lord of glory. It is here and now in this place that we can stand together to proclaim the greatness of our God and Savior, Jesus, the Messiah, the One who came as the Light of the world. (John 1:1-5; John 1:14; John 8:12) We may be in the middle of the two advents but we are not in the middle alone and without hope. We are here today as the church, the Body of Christ, to declare His glory and to rest in His hope, the hope that does not disappoint. (Romans 5:1-5)

Therefore, let us celebrate being stuck in the middle and in doing so let us proclaim Him who is the “Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Revelation 22:13)

BLACK FRIDAY & GOD'S GREAT GIFTS

2011-11-25T09:32:00.000-08:00

YESTERDAY MANY OF US GATHERED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND GAVE THANKS for the blessings and abundance we have received.

Image by Texas.713 (thisIsIt2) via FlickrTODAY, THOUSANDS of people stood in the dark of night in order to grab good deals on more stuff. The thankfulness declared yesterday for the abundance we have has quickly given way to to the unbridled lust for more.

The Community Group from our church, of which I am a part, will be studying Psalm 130 this Sunday evening. In Psalm 130:6 the psalmist writes,

I wait for the Lord,
More than the watchmen wait for the morning,
More than the watchmen wait for the morning.

I don't think the psalmist had in mind the thousands who were waiting for the morning in order to grab the gifts and "stuff" that will bring hope and joy to themselves, and yes, to others as well.

Black Friday is America's answer to Good Friday. That day, 2,000 years ago that brought us the gift which each of us really needs. The psalmist describes those gifts in verse seven,

Israel (America) put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD there is unfailing love
and with Him there is full redemption.

Now those are the gifts that we all need, those are things worth waking up early for; God's unfailing love and full redemption from our sins. That's the difference between Madison Avenue's Black Friday and God's Good Friday.

This morning, as I pondered the reasons for the thankfulness we gave yesterday, I stumbled upon a blog entry by Seth Godin, entitled "A great way to give thanks." Mr. Godin wrote,

A great way for us to give thanks for the privileges we've got is to do important work. . . .For every person reading this there are a thousand people (literally a thousand) in underprivileged nations and situations that would love to have your slot. Don't waste it.

I appreciated his challenge. To take those things we declared we were thankful for and to use those things for the betterment of others, which does not mean buying more stuff to cover the stuff we already have, but to use what we have to lift others up.

Over the last few Advent season I have been pointing people to the Advent Conspiracy and I would do so again this year. As I have told my family, the greatest blessing they can give me this Christmas is to give to those who truly need.

As the Advent season begins this Sunday, I encourage you to take time...even if it means "waiting with the watchmen," to refocus your thoughts on the One, whose advent we are supposedly celebrating. Take time to re-count the Story of the arrival of the Christ-child. Take time to contemplate the meanings of the Advent season. I have found some good daily Advent resources at YouVersion, an online Bible resource. They have a number of different Bible reading programs to lead you through the season.

[AC] Promo 2011 from Advent Conspiracy on Vimeo.

God bless you as you maintain your focus on the One who has made thanksgiving possible by His entering into our world to bring us the gift of God's unfailing love and full redemption.

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

2011-11-23T15:35:00.000-08:00

THE FIRST "SERMON" I EVER "PREACHED" was at a college retreat for Garden Grove Community Church (Now known as The Crystal Cathedral Ministries). If memory serves me well (not always a given these days) I was a senior in high school when I spoke at this retreat. I only did one message and it was in the most part an interpretive peice based upon Dr. Robert Munger's sermon/booklet, "My Heart Christ's Home." I don't remember how effective I was, and I surely wasn't original as Solomon says, "There's nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

Today I received this "back-story" about how Munger's sermon became a little booklet, that has touched the lives of thousands. Take a look at, "Behind the Booklet" and read about the "rest of the story."

Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a link to a pdf, "My Heart Christ's Home."

WHAT'S IN THE BOX?!?

2011-11-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS millions (praying for over 8,000,000) of children will be handed a Christmas box filled with love and all sorts of fun and needed items and most importantly the good news about Jesus Christ. (Part of the ministry of Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child) For many of the children this will be the only gift they will receive all year long.

Can you imagine the anticipation bottled up in each of those children as they see before them a pile of brightly wrapped packages? Can you imagine the smile birthing joy that will break upon their faces as they open these special gifts filled with love? Can you imagine the life-changing opportunity that these children will experience as they read about the love of God, wrapped-up in the Person of Jesus Christ? Can you imagine the millions upon millions of people, young and old, to whom this good news message will reach just because somebody cared enough to fill a shoe box with love and prayers…and yes some toys as well?

It’s enough to make me burst just imagining it!

Each week, here at Felton Bible, we take time with our children (and adults, too) to answer the question, “What’s in the box?” and each week God provides a message of His love and grace; a message that never ceases to surprise us.

As I was contemplating all these boxes, I realized that each one of us is a box waiting to be opened. The question is, “What would be found if we pulled open the lid? Would there be a message of God’s love and grace? Would there be exciting stories to tell? Do we hold in ourselves the Gift that brings Life?

What’s in your box today?

TRUST IN ME

2011-11-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

IN THE JUNGLE BOOK (Disney’s version), the snake, Kaa, sings a slithering song to Mowgli, luring him to fall asleep and succumb to his ever-tightening grasp. Kaa’s hissing song goes like this,

Trust in me, just in me
Shut your eyes and trust in me
You can sleep safe and sound
Knowing I am around
Slip into silent slumber
Sail on a silver mist
Slowly and surely your senses
Will cease to resist
Trust in me, just in me
Shut your eyes and trust in me.

The song reminds me of another snake I know that might have sung to an unwary couple in a garden millennia ago. Sadly, today many of us find ourselves in the coils of the one who seeks our demise.

In our journey through the 84^th Psalm, today we arrive at the final verse. It too, calls us to trust, and in that trusting we will discovery blessing. The psalmist writes,

O LORD, Almighty,

blessed is the man who trusts in You.

We can see that trust is not the problem. In fact, trust is a good thing to develop. The clincher is in what, or in whom, we place our trust. Trust in the snake and you’ll find your life constricted. Trust in the world and you’ll find yourself lost in the materialistic masses. Trust in the LORD, there you will find yourself in the midst of the overflowing blessing of God.

The question therefore is in whom or what are you trusting today? Let us not be lulled to sleep by that which will ultimately destroy. Rather, let us be fully awake to God from who showers of blessings flow.

PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

2011-11-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

THE COURSE OF STUDY REFERRED TO AS PRACTICAL THEOLOGY has to do with those aspects of ministry that touch real life. For example: the visitation of those who are sick or the conducting of a funeral or a wedding or even overseeing a business meeting. (Yep, business meetings are to be theological, too.)

For the most part, practical theology is where the truths of Scripture are borne out in the events of our daily lives. You see, the Bible was meant to be more than a book we keep on our shelves for those special times. (Though it is good for all times.) It is more than a book we deeply study, learning every nuance of the Greek or Hebrew language. (Though deep study is highly recommended.) The Holy Scriptures are more than just a historical encyclopedia to help us to know God better. (Though they can truly help us to know God.) The Word of God was given to us so that we would know how to relate to the God whom we learn of in its pages, and how that God desires us to live.

In Psalm 84 we have been learning about how following and obeying God has practical ramifications for our daily life. The psalmist writes in 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

from those whose walk is blameless.

Here we see God as our guide (sun) and protector (shield) and the giver of good things (favor and honor). These are all practical things, items that we need and from which we gain benefits. Yet, note that there is a practical application on our part as well. We are to walk blameless. Yikes! That’s a pretty big responsibility, thankfully He has given us His Spirit to live within us and to help us live out the truth God has for us.

We can choose to walk blameless this week. Difficult? Maybe. Impossible? No, for nothing is impossible with God. Just ask Jesus’ mother!

DOORKEEPER OR DOORSTOP

2011-10-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS we have been journeying through the eighty-fourth Psalm. This week our path leads us to the doorway to God house. The psalmist writes,

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Psalm 84:10

The psalmist declares that he would pass up the assumed blessings of being somewhere else just to spend one day in the courts of the LORD. I am sure there are lots of perks that might come from living in the tents of the wicked (just let your mind wander a little…OK, now reign it back in!), but he would rather stand as one who watches the door, making sure that those coming into the temple courts were ready to enter in. I suppose there was more to be a doorkeeper in God’s courts than being a greeter at Walmart. So, what was the psalmist telling his readers?

Rather simply he was stating that there is no better place to be than in the presence of the LORD. Even though the world has so much to offer, he would give it all up just to spend one day close to the LORD. The good news is, we can spend our time there 24/7/365. What a blessing to know that we are never out of His presence.

I don’t know all the responsibilities of being a doorkeeper in the court of the LORD, but I do know that we can make it easier or more difficult for someone to enter in. In realty, as a follower of Jesus, we have the opportunity to make it easy or difficult for people to come into the presence of the LORD.

It begs the question; are you a doorkeeper or a door-stopper? By your life and words do you make it easier or more difficult for the person next to you to enter into the presence of the LORD? How about opening the door for them today? It’s as simple as lifting a prayer that God would bless them today, and the door will swing wide open. Wide enough for both of you to enter in!

A REAL THANKSGIVING SERVICE

2011-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I HAVE ATTENDED a number of Thanksgiving services. Some took place on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving, and some the morning of the day of turkey and football and of course the pilgrims and the Indians. I have even attended some on the Sunday before or after at churches that would rather not bother their congregants during the middle of the week. (It seems to mess up the cooking time of the turkey and pumpkin pie!)

This year I attended a wonderful thanksgiving service on October 22^nd, the day just happened to be the day my second eldest became Mrs. Krista Tankoano. Now, you might think I was giving thanks for my daughter getting married (I am), and you might think I am giving thanks for my new son-in-law (I am), you might even think that I am giving thanks that we didn’t break the bank to fund the celebration (I am), but thanksgiving service I most witnessed was in the gracious, thankful, helping service of a number of individuals who gave so freely to serve our family on that very special day. I could name them all, but they know who they are, and how they gave so freely of themselves. I can say they truly modeled the attitude of Jesus Christ of which the Apostle Paul wrote of in Philippians 2:1-5,

^“1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:”

They cooked food, served the guests, washed dishes, provided flowers and ambiance. Some helped with make-up and hair preparations, and others simply were ready to do anything that needed to be done. And all did so with gracious and I even dare to say, thankful hearts. Their selfless service allowed Linda and I to more fully enjoy the day filled with family and friends in celebration of God’s gift of love wrapped up in marriage.

I was struck by a recurring phrase I heard numerous times as I sought to thank those who served so graciously. I would say “thank you…” to which the person would reply, “No, thank you for allowing me to serve in this way.” To them it was a service of thanks-giving, and in such an act of service my own heart overflowed with gratitude to God and to each one who so freely gave of time, talent, and treasure. It is as Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, so freely give.” These dear brothers and sisters truly followed the Lord’s message and model, and for that I am thankful.

Their selfless service shall now always be a constant reminder of how I am to give; freely and with a grateful heart. It’s a lesson we all would do well to focus upon not just in this month of Thanksgiving, but all the year through. Always being reminded of what motivates our thanks. As the songwriter Henry Smith composed,

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

Give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks because He’s given

Jesus Christ, His Son.

Give thanks. Give thanks.

HOPE ASSURANCE

2011-10-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

MANY OF US HAVE FIRE INSURANCE on our homes. We purchase this insurance with the prayer that we never have to use it. The same would be said of those like myself who have flood insurance, it costs a lot, but I hope never to have to use it, but it does provide a modicum of peace…just in case.

Hope Assurance is acquired not because we pray something will not happen, but rather because we hope something will happen.

Over the past few months I have been pulling out my hope assurance policy that I keep in one of the drawers of my heart. This specific policy relates to what I hope happened yesterday (note I am typing this on Wednesday morning.) That event was the marriage of my daughter Krista Lee Kay to Soantieba Didier Tankoano. The journey to this wedding day has been one beset with detours and postponements and yet we have moved forward as if all things were certain. At this moment, invitations have been sent and RSVP’s received. Flowers and dresses ordered and the celebration meal planned. Yet, the marriage is not complete until the pastor (me) says, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” So, right now we carry in our hearts Hope Assurance, and our hope is that by the time you are reading this, the policy we hold so dearly to will be no longer needed.

This Hope Assurance is the same sort of policy we hold as followers of Jesus Christ. We, too, are waiting for the Wedding Day, the day when the Bride of Christ, the church, will be united with the Bridegroom at the marriage supper of the Lamb. (Revelation19:9) It has been a long time coming, with often what seems like detours and postponements. Yet, we hold on tight to our Hope Assurance policy. We find encouragement with the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Have I seen my daughter walk down the aisle dressed in white? No I have not, but I have faith that produces hope, and I am certain…even of that which I have yet to see.

Even so, Lord Jesus, come! (Revelation 22:20)

SEEING IT AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME

2011-10-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO I RETURNED to Felton Bible Church after being away for about 15 years. I left after 5½ years as Youth Pastor and returned to serve as the Senior Pastor. The journey that took me away and returned me home, I could not have planned if I had tried.

Returning was a fearful moment for me. I had changed in the 15 years I was away and I was sure that the church had changed as well. But, much to my surprise it was much like I had left it. Sure, there were new faces, and new programs and new ways of doing things, but what was most thrilling to me was to see many of the people I had grown to know and love during my previous years on staff.

It was exciting to see some of the “kids” from my youth group now serving within the leadership of the church. My heart was warmed to hear the many stories of how God had blessed both church and family. I was encouraged to see those from my youth pastoring days, with kids of their own who loved Jesus and were an active part of the Body of Christ.

Of course, my spirit was lifted as I saw so many that were “old” when I left, still here, actively serving God and His Kingdom. The church I left was still a church that loved God’s Word and sought to obey it. It was a family that cared for each other and for the community around us. It was a fellowship of believers who desired to pray and praise and see that God’s gospel was spread throughout the entire world.

My “God-Sighting,” as we celebrate 50 years of being blessed so we can be a blessing, is YOU! – The family we call Felton Bible Church. I see God in YOU, and what a blessing it is to pastor such a wonderful flock!

God bless you one and all!

LISTEN UP! PONDER THIS!

2011-10-10T21:40:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediAS I TYPE THIS SHEPHERD’S STAFF the Worship Team is practicing in the sanctuary. They are practicing the song “Our God,” which we will sing this morning. The chorus states,

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is healer, awesome in power

Our God! Our God!

As I was looking at Psalm 84, which I have been walking through with you over the past few weeks, I came to the next verse in our journey, Psalm 84:8, where the psalmist writes,

Hear my prayer, O LORD, God Almighty;

Listen to me, O God of Jacob. Selah.

That final word, selah, has never been truly understood. It’s meaning has been lost over the millennia, but most Biblical scholars feel it means something close to, “Stop! Think about what you have just said. Ponder its depths.” So, let’s do that just for a moment or two.

The God who created all things by the word of His mouth, allows us to call upon Him in prayer. The God who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, the God who is love, peace, holy, just and merciful, hears and get this, responds with His eternal wisdom to the prayer which we bring before Him. Selah!

The God who turned water into wine, walked on water, fed the multitudes with a few loaves and fish; who died on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins and rose triumphantly and now sits crowned with glory and honor at God’s right hand, intercedes with us as we pray. Selah!

The sovereign Lord of all invites you to speak to Him from the depths of your heart. We can say with the psalmist, “Listen to me, O God of Jacob.” Selah!

And He does! Selah!

THE ART OF JOURNALISTIC HYPERBOLE

2011-10-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia"STEVE JOBS REMADE THE WORLD AS COMPLETELY AS ANY SINGLE HUMAN BEING EVER HAS, but he had no business doing it" ("The Inventor of the Future" Lev Grossman and Harry McCracken, Time Magazine, October 17, 2011)

I guess the key word in this quote would be "human." I mean, honestly, he remade the world as completely as anyone else? I guess that means we leave out Jesus, the unknown Hebrew from a little town named Nazareth. Yeah, I guess you're right nobody as ever completely changed the world so much as Steve Jobs.

Seriously, my few word rant here, has nothing against Mr. Jobs, (I have prayed that his eternity is as productive as his past) it's against those who raise people to positions that they themselves would never take. Credit to whom credit is due, but let's try to keep things in perspective...I would even say that the invention of movable type and the harnessing of electricity would have to take the spot away from Mr. Jobs, I mean really, where would computers be without somewhere to plug them it? I believe that even the "famous" Apple batteries, with a great running time, have to be recharged once and awhile.

Enough said, with deference to the two authors mentioned above and to Time Magazine. I am still going with Jesus Christ as the One who completely changed the world...oh yes, and please forgive my myopic view point, but I am one, as are many others, who believe Jesus not only completely changed the world, He created it, too. (Colossians 1:15-20)

P.S. And lest my Apple friends think me unkind, please note I have included a few positive tributes to Mr. Jobs below.

REFRESHMENT

2011-10-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOU EVER MET WITH SOMEONE, and after your encounter was over you thought to yourself, “Now, that was refreshing!” There have been a few people in my life that always seem to be a refreshing stream in the deserts of life. They are the ones who seem to fulfill the psalmist’s words in Psalm 84:5-7,

Blessed are those whose strength is in You,

Whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baka,

They make it a place of springs;

The autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength

Till each appears before God in Zion.

Oh, to be that kind of person. I desire to be the type person who adds to another's life rather than to be what I often refer to as the “joy-suckers” of life. But how do we become streams of refreshment rather than a “joy-sucker?” I believe the answer is found within the words of the Psalm we have been addressing over the past few weeks.

First, our strength must be in, and come from, the LORD. This is not something we can muster up on our own. Second, and related to the previous statement, we must be on a pilgrimage with the LORD; that is, we are constantly and consistently following Jesus. It is only when we ourselves are sitting below the flow of living water which comes from Jesus (Isaiah 55:1; John 7:38) that we can hope to be those that bring refreshment to others.

So, which will you be today? A stream of refreshment, or a joy-sucker? Honestly I am going to work on being the former, sounds so much better for everyone involved…including you!

PATIENT ENDURANCE!

2011-10-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

IT HAS BEEN A LONG DRAWN-OUT SUMMER IN THE KAY HOME. We have been waiting, not always patiently, for news that Krista’s fiancé, Soantieba Didier Tankoano, (Yes, you guessed it, he’s not from around “here.”) to receive his passport and visa so that he could/can leave the land of his birth, Burkina Faso, and come and join our family here in California. As for the process, let me just say it’s been a lesson in patience and bureaucratic mayhem.

The good news is that, as of this writing, Didier will arrive in the States on Tuesday October 4^th and a small intimate wedding is planned for October 22^nd in our family’s backyard. (Graciously known as “The Back-Forty) It will be an answer to many prayers to finally have this fine young man here and for us to move forward in seeing Krista and Didier united in marriage. But, if that is not enough, my oldest daughter Trinity will be moving back to Italy about a week later! Needless to say, this has been quite a summer (and now fall!)

On most Friday mornings Pastor Ron and I meet for a time of extended prayer for each other, our families, and of course the church family in which God has blessed us to serve. Last Friday as we were praying through Isaiah 55 my spirit was grabbed by how much the relationship between Krista and Didier is like our relationship, as the church, with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We are told in Holy Scripture that we are the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7) and we are awaiting the day when we shall all be joined together at the wedding feast of the Lamb. (Revelation 19:9) We long and plan for that day, but the wedding cannot take place until the Bridegroom arrives for His bride. As I prayerfully pondered these thoughts I thought of Krista “patiently” waiting and also how Didier was doing all he could to get here.

One thing that troubled my heart was all that Didier was leaving behind; all that he has known from the day of his birth. He is leaving family and friends, foods and special celebrations, even sights and sounds that will no longer be part of his daily life. He is paying a huge cost in coming here, just as we are called to leave all for the sake of the Master. (Luke 14:26-27) And yet, we know he is gaining so much more. (Mark 10:29-31) I am sure he will be completely overwhelmed by what we deem as normal here in the States. It will be a place of new family and friends, of new foods and celebrations and certainly of new sights and sounds.

We know it is a place of great blessing and opportunity, but for Didier it looms before him as the great unknown. I am sure that for Didier some of the opportunities that life in the United States will afford him may actually cause him a little anxiety. I assume it may be a little of what awaits us in the New Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:1-4) We are anxious to get there, but it will be so much more than we could possibly imagine that it might even cause a little fear to arise in our hearts. Yes, we long for it, but like Krista’s fiancé, even though it is something we long for, fear still finds a dwelling place in our hearts. Yet, over time that fear will be washed away and we shall rejoice in our new place and our fulfilled relationship in Jesus Christ, our Lord.

I wonder what it will be like to finally see our Bridegroom? What will it be like when we, the glorious bride, gaze into the loving eyes of our Groom? I wonder what the sights and sounds of the new heaven and earth will afford us? What joy shall fill our hearts! What a great day it shall be when we, who have “patiently endured” (Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12), see our Savior face to face. And until that time we shall join with our brothers and sisters of ages past, who for the past two millennia have cried out, “Maranatha!” Lord, quickly come! (Revelation 22:17-21)

THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

2011-09-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

WE ALL KNOW THAT the happiest place on Earth is Disneyland¸ or so we have been led to believe. I love going to Disneyland, but let’s face it come the end of the fireworks, I am ready to get out of there and go to bed. And by the conversations I overhear between other parents and their children, I can tell you they are feeling my pain.

Yet, give me the opportunity to go back, and I’m ready bright and early the next day. There’s just something special about the Magic Kingdom. Even though the lines are long and the food expensive and the souvenirs too plentiful, it all seems to be worth it all once your strapped into a bobsled on the Matterhorn or yelling at the top of your lungs as the California Screamin’ catapults you into the ride of your life. It’s true; I am always ready to head back for more.

According to the writer of Psalm 84 he says that “happiness comes from being in God’s house, singing God’s worth.” (Psalm 84:4) Really? You mean the same type of happiness we gain from going to Disneyland? Church is supposed to be better than Space Mountain? Now, I have been to some pretty exciting church services, but put up against the big D-Land, well I don’t know.

To answer my own philosophical and theological dilemma let me draw our attention to the psalmist’s own words to find how in the world going to church beats Disneyland. Here’s the answer, happiness comes from being in God’s house and singing of God’s Worth.

You see, Disneyland is all about ME, but our gathering together as God’s people and “doing church” is about GOD! The singing is not about me, it’s about GOD! It really has to do with the attitude I bring into the gatherings with God’s people, whether that meeting is a Sunday morning worship service, a mid-week youth meeting or Bible study, a Community Group, or even an All-Church Workday,

When we willfully choose to enter into God’s House, and to worship at His throne, and to do so in humble submission before Him and each other, then happiness does come…better yet…deep abiding joy!

How have you come today? It’s not too late for an attitude adjustment.

MESSES WELCOME

2011-09-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

SOME PEOPLE SAY I AM A NEATNESS FREAK. Well, yes, I do believe there is a place for everything and everything should be in its place. If that classifies me as a neatness freak, well then, I stand condemned. Others I have heard say that a clean desk is the sign of a sick mind, well if that’s true, then I am doing just fine, because right now my desk is a MESS!

There are piles everywhere, a pile of reading material, a pile of study books, a pile of letters and notes to which I need to respond and there is even a pile of lists of things I need to do, like go through the piles on my desk. So, if I am truly a neatness freak, I should be pulling my hair out…well that may explain something!

Over the last couple of weeks we have been walking through Psalm 84. This week I am resting on verse three where the Psalmist writes, “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may have her young – a place near Your altar.” Really? God is allowing swallows to build nests near His altar? Have you seen the mess those little buggers can make. Not just the dripping of mud from their home-building, but all the … you know … bird-droppings. I know swallows are fun birds to watch fly. They swoop and dive with the best of them, but as for neatness, NAH!

And to think God allows those little creatures to make a home near His altar! There may be hope for us yet. We all come to God a mess, don’t we? Sure we have lots to offer, and we are His creation, but let’s face it our lives can be pretty messy at times. Yet, here in this verse we can find hope, for if God welcomes the swallows to make a home near His altar, then surely we, those created in His image, are welcomed as well.

God does not want us to live in our messiness, but He does welcome us in it. For He knows that it is only when we draw near to Him that the messiness of our life can be dealt with. He says, “come, and though your sins were like scarlet, I shall make them as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)

So come!

YEARNING!

2011-09-13T15:17:00.000-07:00

WE COME TO CHURCH for a number of reasons. Some come because they are dragged here by their parents., “You’re going to church to learn about the love of God, or so help me I’ll…” Some come out of habit; “It’s just what we do.” Some come out of guilt, “What would people think if I wasn’t at church?” Some come out of necessity, “This week has been so hard, I need to get some answers.” Some come out of curiosity, “I wonder what all those people do inside that place week after week?” Some come even out of desire, much like the psalmist when he penned, “My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Psalm 84:2)

I’ll be honest with you, I love coming to church. I enjoy my opportunity to open up God’s Word whether it’s on a Sunday morning, a Wednesday evening Bible study, or in the coziness of my Study. Most days throughout the week I enjoy being here; to meet with God’s people, to hear what God is doing, to laugh and cry, rejoice and hurt. Yes, most of the time I like it here. But to yearn, faint and have my heart and my flesh cry out? Well, I’ll be honest…I don’t know if I could echo the psalmist at that point.

I surmise that one of the biggest reasons that I don’t yearn and faint, is because the church is so readily available to me, unlike many in the two-thirds world who must meet in secret, if at all, because of the threat of death. So, what are we to do? We must start to pray the prayer of Psalm 84, beseeching the Lord to create in us yearning hearts, hearts that not only yearn for God, but also that yearn to be in His courts, with His people.

Wow! A church building filled with yearning people. Can you imagine…so let us pray!

LOVELY, JUST LOVELY!

2011-09-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

THIS PAST WEEK I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN Psalm 84. It is a rich source to remind each of us o the blessings that await those whose heart is bent toward the LORD. Over the next few weeks I devoted my Shepherd’s Staff to this Psalm and the rich treasures that await us in its words.

In Psalm 84:1 the psalmist writes, “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” The psalmist is talking about the tabernacle or at a later time the temple found in Jerusalem. The psalmist could not think of a more lovely place to see, or more importantly, to be near If the psalmist were to arrive today in the city of Jerusalem his heart would break over the loss of the dwelling place of the LORD of hosts, for sadly, “dwelling place” no longer stands having been destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.

Yet, for the follower of Jesus, the Messiah, there is a new dwelling place. A place not made of stone and mortar, but as the Apostle Paul wrote to the church that gathered in Corinth, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16) Not only does the LORD God make His dwelling in us, but He also makes His dwelling the Body of Christ, the church. To the church in Ephesus Paul wrote, “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:21-22)

With the above being true, the question before us is, could the psalmist gazing at you and me and the church gathered respond, “How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!” Could he?

PERMISSION OR FORGIVENNESS

2011-09-01T20:10:00.000-07:00

I HAVE USED THIS LITTLE QUIP MYSELF, “It is easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission.” The idea behind the saying of course is that we just don’t want to take the time or make the effort to get the OK to do something before commence on a project or direction. The underlying hope is that if we were wrong to pursue a certain course of action the person to whom we should have got “clearance,” will be gracious and offer us forgiveness rather than a rebuke.

This all seems well and good, but honestly, is it truly the best course of action? Sadly, it is not, at least in how the Word of God would deal with it. When facing a decision to be made it is not advisable to move ahead without first seeking out the wisdom and the blessing of God. Sure, God is forgiving and all (And are we not thankful for that?!) but God desires us to seek Him first, not after the fact. This is especially true in the areas that border on sin. Yet, sometimes, we move right ahead into sin knowing that God would never grant us permission if we asked, but we bank on Him granting us forgiveness once all is said and done.

This is in part what the Apostle Paul was dealing with when He was writing to the new, young church in Rome,

¹What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? ²By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? ³Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. ⁶For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—⁷because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

⁸Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. ⁹For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. ¹⁰The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. ¹²Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. ¹³Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. ¹⁴For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. (Romans 6:1-14)

As followers of Jesus, the Christ, we have permission to do many things, but we cannot use that as a doorway to activities that would grieve the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30) Rather, we are to live sacrificial lives, seeking always to be conformed to His Image. (Romans 12:1-2; Romans 8:29) And when in doubt about a decision to be made, or a direction to take or an activity in which to be involved, it is always best to ask permission first, and less costly too. (James 1:13-15)

How do we seek His permission? Searching the Scripture is a great place to begin, wrapped in times of listening prayer. There is the “listening the God’s Spirit within you…sometimes it is as simple as, “When in doubt, don’t. Then there is also seeking the wisdom of women and men who have walked long with God through times of trial and victory, these sisters and brothers know both permission and forgiveness. Their counsel is priceless.

So, when all is said and done, while it may seem easier just to plow ahead without first seeking the Lord, and even though forgiveness is offered freely by His grace, it’s better to ask first, and then obey. This is the path of blessing! And God’s blessing is that for which we all should seek.

May God bless you all, real good!

DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?

2011-08-31T10:45:00.000-07:00

I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE...but it is worth the re-posting. Watch! Enjoy! Laugh! Live it!

IT CAN'T BE THAT DIFFICULT

2011-08-28T20:51:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

SEVEN MINUTES OF SILENCE WITH GOD, that can’t be too difficult. Well, for some of you I spoke with this week it wasn’t as easy as you thought it would be. Some found it difficult to find the time, while others found it difficult to shut off all the “voices” in their head. Needless to say, many of us have a difficult time with the practice of silence. Why is that?

One reason is that our lives are filled with a cacophony of noise. Television noise, computer noise, cell phone noise, iPod noise, and for some we can add the noise of the workplace, or children or drinking coffee at Starbucks or even the daily grind of highway noise. Our lives are filled with noise. True, not all of it bad, but noise nonetheless.

Another reason is that we are not in the practice of being silent. There is a constant conversation going on inside our heads. Even as we sat and tried to focus on the passage from the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13,) we found any number of “voices” competing for our attention. Shopping lists, prayer requests, and questions about why is it so difficult to spend seven minutes quietly before the Lord, even the voice of condemnation for not being able to sit silently. I could go on, but we all get the picture.

Prayer, especially prayer of the listening sort, is most definitely a spiritual discipline, and like all disciplines it takes time and practice to develop proficiency. It’s much like my running, the more I do it the easier it becomes and the longer and farther I can journey. In fact, I have returned to running again and I now look forward to lacing up the shoes and hitting the trail. It is no longer that I have to run, but I want to run. Crazy, I know, but that’s what can happen as we seek to develop a new discipline. Therefore, let me encourage you to keep striving, don’t give in to the noise. Seek to grow in your Sabbath of silence and listen for the Lord, for He is speaking.

TRANSITIONS!

2011-08-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

THEY CHANGED MY STARBUCKS! And without even asking my permission, the nerve of some folks! Honestly, I am a person who functions best in a stable and situated system. Some may call that being stuck in a rut, I prefer to consider it part of my religious mindset. The difference being that a rut is just a grave with the ends knocked out and a religious mindset sees the world under the direction and stabilizing force of some One greater than I.

I have come to realize, while sitting in my “new and improved” Starbucks, that right now the whole of my world is in a state of transition. Every member of my immediate family is either in or preparing for a major transition in their lives. Even many of my extended family are facing major transitions in their lives. As I look a little farther out there are ministries around me that are going through periods of transition (three or more pastoral co-workers are leaving their places of long-term ministry.) We here at Felton Bible are also in a state of transition as we look back and celebrate God’s 50 years of blessing and as we seek new ways of extending God’s blessing to our community both near and far.

It is at times like these that I find comfort in the truth of God’s Word, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:7-8) And of course in the Lord’s wonderful promise, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6; Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 118:6-7)

In the transition of our lives may we all find that comforting security that comes living in the One who does not change. (Malachi 3:6)

RUNNING UP-RIGHT

2011-08-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

ONE OF THE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED from running is that it is better to run up-right, the main reason: it allows you to get more oxygen in your lungs. Breathing is an important part in running. No breathing, no running.

One of the little “tricks” to running up-right, especially toward the end of your run when you’re most worn-out, is to imagine a string tied to the top of your head and someone pulling that string up. I know it may sound silly, but it works (unless you have no imagination, then you’re out of luck!) Running with good posture allows you to breathe more deeply and as I stated above, that’s a good thing, especially when you’re tired out.

The same is true for the race we are running as followers of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:1-3) Not only are we to fix our eyes on Jesus, but we are also called to run up-right, that is to live righteously. Now, let’s be clear, we cannot work our way into heaven, all the up-right running will not get you there. It’s by God’s gift of His grace in Jesus and our faith in receiving that Gift (Ephesians 2:8-10) that gets us into a forgiven relationship with God and opens the Door to enter into His wonderful Presence.

That being said, we, as believers in, and followers of, Jesus Christ, are still called to run well the race set before us. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) We are called to run righteously. That is, we are to put away the things that can trip us up and do the things that will help us run with endurance and win the prize. (Galatians 5:13-26) We are called to run up-right, so our spiritual lungs can be filled with the wind of the Holy Spirit.

Time to lace up those running shoes and hit the trail.

MY FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL

2011-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

WE ALL CAN LOOK BACK AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL days with some mixed emotions. For some it was a time of great adventure. The anticipation of learning something new was almost too much to bear, and for others, the anticipation of learning something new was almost too much to bear. It all depends on where you place the emphasis. As for me I was in that second group, learning was almost too much to bear.

I was one of those who thought the best subject of the day fell in the magical learning time of lunchtime recess. What could be better? A baloney sandwich followed by Hostess cupcakes kept safe within my metal super-hero lunch pail followed by an extended time of free-play out on the blacktop? Yep, that was the best time of learning…though I hesitate to write what some of those learning experiences consisted of…I’ll leave that to your own imagination.

The truth of the matter is that school is for some a grand adventure, and for others it becomes another in a series of bad encounters. Some children come ready to learn, from homes that are for the most part secure and loving, while others arrive on campus from homes that suffer from any number of woes, be they economic, social or physical. As part of our FirstSunday Fellowship, we had the opportunity to make some bad situations a little bit better.

Following our fellowship meal, we had the blessed opportunity of filling school backpacks for kids whose lives carry the extra weight of a poor home situation. That is not to say they come from home devoid of love and encouragement, but that they come from homes that are often starting at a deficit. This little bit of blessing may go a long way to help a young boy or girl look forward to going to school with greater anticipation and joy. It was such a blessing to watch our church family stuff the backpacks with not only with pencils and paper but alas with love and prayers…and God’s Word. (You can see some pictures by checking out our church's Facebook page.)

Once again, it was such a blessing to be a blessing!

A LITTLE VIDEO WITH A BIG STORY

2011-08-05T09:12:00.001-07:00

GREAT DAYS IN FATHERHOOD

2011-08-02T11:14:00.000-07:00

AS A FATHER THERE HAVE BEEN SOME GREAT DAYS. Being present for the birth of each of my kids is one of the best. Hearing each of my children profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior is right up there, too. Then there are the times when they make a decision that is selfless, even costly, for the benefit of another person. I suppose I would classify that as one of their steps toward maturity.

This past weekend at the men’s campout my son took one of those giant steps toward maturity, and gave me the gift of once again allowing me to be one proud father (Each of my kids have done this at one time or another.) Allow me to quickly explain.

Saturday provided an opportunity for a few of us guys to take what we were told was going to be a 6 mile hike (turned out to be over 8.5, with a net elevation gain of over 1600 feet in a little over 4 miles). Jordan and I voted to go at least part way. After about a couple of miles, a couple of the guys went on ahead (Pastor Ron and Dave) and another stopped for some fishing, (Tom). Jordan and I went a little further and stopped creek-side to enjoy our lunch. We were soon joined by part of the Thornley clan (will not list all their names here!).

After our lunch Jordan and I headed back to the car. About 100 yards back down the trail Jordan stopped and asked me, “Dad, what would you do, go back or finish the hike?” I told him that if I were there without him I would probably stay with the guys and finish what was going to be the tougher part of the hike. After a couple of moments of silence Jordan replied, “Well then Dad, I think we should give it a try.” It was there that Jordan made a selfless decision to put is own desire aside in order that his dad could finish the hike! It was a step toward maturity.

It was to prove to be some tough steps, but we did it! It was a time of encouraging each other to keep on going and of enjoying some of God’s beauty. Yes, it was one of the great days of fatherhood. Thank you Jordan for making my day! (P. S. Thanks to all the guys who encouraged Jordan in his reaching the summit! You guys are great!)

GOD'S COINCIDENCES

2011-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

A MISPLACED PHONE, A LOST SET OF KEYS, both found after a pause for prayer. I heard these two stories this past week. Some would chock it up to luck or coincidence, but my two brothers-in-Christ gave God the glory for their finds. Could they have found these lost articles without God’s intervening help? Sure, maybe…but what’s fun in that? Bring God into the picture and the frustration of looking turns into an opportunity for surprises (miracles?) and the opportunity to give God praise, and that, my friend, is always a good thing.

Someone once said that there are no coincidences with God. Everything has its place and purpose. Others would disagree, saying that God is too busy worrying about the BIG things in this world, like floods and famines, to be concerned with you and your lost set of keys. But I must heartily disagree.

You see, when we acknowledge that God is aware of us, even our little seemingly insignificant needs, we bring forth the opportunity to see Him work and to praise Him for the work He is doing. When we cry out to God we are acknowledging His presence and awareness of us and our need, and that we believe that He cares about our needs. (Remember the fallen sparrow? Matthew 10:29-31) And when God answer it allows us to praise Him, which brings Him even closer. The psalmist writes,

Yet, You are holy,

Enthroned on the praises of Israel.

Psalm 22:3 (NLT)

Some of you may remember the King James version of the Psalm that declares that God “inhabits the praises of His people.”

So, the next time you find yourself in need, no matter how sparrow-like that need may seem, call out to God, for it just might please Him to answer your call as a display His love and to inhabit your praise. And that is no coincidence.

A CALL TO PRAYER!

2011-07-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

I will not be able to be there in person...but we can still all join our hearts before the LORD in prayer for our church, our community and our country.

The Response Promo from The Response USA on Vimeo.

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

2011-07-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

NOW HERE IS SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

BE IT DECLARED!

2011-07-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Image by tychay via Flickr

I HAVE SEEN IT IN A CRESCENT CITY SUNSET. I have heard it in the roar of the Yosemite Falls. I have felt it in the thunder rolling across the fields of Minnesota. I have been engulfed by it as I have starred into star-studded blackness of the heavens which hung over Kennedy Meadows. I have been humbled by it as I gazed up at the granite face of El Capitan. And I have been overwhelmed by it as I have held my new-born child in my arms.

Be it declared I have witnessed the glory of God first hand. I can understand the emotions of David the psalmist when he wrote down,

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

Psalm 19:1-4

Now, to stand in the very presence of the Holy God, as did the Prophet Isaiah or the Apostle John, that would leave me without words to describe the unfolding glory before my eyes. No 3D movie could capture its depth and no Dolby surround sound speaker system could sound forth its richness. Words would fail to express the One who is the Living Word. (John 1:1) To be given the responsibility of recounting the throne room of God would be beyond my capacity and yet, both Isaiah and John are given that task.

And someday, child of God, you too will see, not in a mirror dimly, but face to face. There we shall declare with the seraphs, angels, and multitudes of the redeemed,

Holy! Holy! Holy!

Is the LORD God Almighty

The One who was, and is, and is to come.

A Much Needed Prayer

2011-07-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

I don't often re-post things I have received, but yesterday I received this prayer from Abigail that I believe would be good for many to read and to pray.

There is not much I can tell you personally about the author of this prayer, but you can check out their blog, Reflections from Beit-Shalom.

What touched me most in the prayer was the contrast between God and His creation (us) and yet His deep desire and longing for us to live in that relationship of peace (shalom) with Him. I hope that this prayer brings you peace, and the knowledge that you too are deeply loved by our creator God.

Here is the prayer...

YHWH...You are great. You are mighty. You are above all of creation...above everything that exists...above the whole universe.

We are but dust in Your eyes...and yet, we are also the apple of Your eye!

We are a mere creation...yet we are the crown of Your creation!

You have made us. Your thoughts and ways are so far above us that we can only comprehend a tiny part of who You really are. Yet...You have called us to be Your sons and daughters! You have sent Yeshua and called us to be His bride! This is truly too marvelous for us to comprehend.

I praise You, YHWH! For You alone are truly deserving of praise and of worship. I pray that all of us will worship You in Spirit and in Truth. May we seek Your face always...Your heart...Your desires...Your plans. May we love what You love and hate what You hate.

Shape our hearts in accordance with Your desires for us and for Your kingdom. Mold us according to Your plans and Your love.

May we see with Your eyes. May we hear with Your ears. May we listen with Your heart. May we love with Your love. May we see those around as You see them. May we serve them as You desire us to.

You are our loving, heavenly Abba. Help us to understand how truly precious that is. Help us to understand what having a loving Abba really means...especially those of us whose earthly fathers fell far short of being the loving, protective men You called them to be. Help us to trust You with the heart of a child.

I thank You for Your love, for Your strength, for Your comfort, for Your provision, for Your teaching and guidance. May we love You with all of our hearts, souls, minds and strengths.

I ask this b'shem Yeshua.

BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

2011-07-07T20:33:00.000-07:00

A GOOD BROTHER FROM CHURCH sent me a funny story via email. I will share it below. It's a good reminder that it's not education, or title, or position...but it is by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

So here's the story...enjoy...

How long is forever?

Did you hear about the man and woman who had been friends for many years, who had died and gone to heaven. They told St. Peter that they wanted to be married.

“Take your time and think about it,” said Peter, “you have eternity so take fifty years and see me then.”

Fifty years later, the couple returned and again told Peter they wanted to be married. “Well,” said Peter, “take another fifty years and really think about it….” But the couple was insistent, “We know we want to be married now….”

Peter replied, “Well, take another fifty years anyway, and if we don’t have a preacher up here by then, I’ll marry you myself.”

FREEDOM!

2011-07-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

“Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!” so declares William Wallace in the movie Braveheart.

It is freedom that we long for, is it not? We desire the freedom to know that we can be safe on our streets and in our homes. We desire the freedom that allows us to pursue our hopes and our dreams. But most of all we desire the freedom that comes from knowing that we are truly and deeply loved. For when we know that kind of love we are then free to be who we are, warts and all. Even more, that kind of love allows us to become the person that God created us to be.

God created us to live in freedom, not in bondage. This freedom from the bondage to sin and death is the very reason that Jesus came and died. (Luke 4:18-19) The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

This week, as we take time to celebrate our nation’s birthday and the freedoms we enjoy, be sure to take time to give thanks to the Lord. Thanks not just for the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, but the freedom we eternally enjoy because of the sacrificial life and glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. As the fireworks fly in celebration, may also our praises fly toward heaven for the victory that is ours in and through Jesus, our God.

R.I.P. AMERICA -- 1776 - ???

2011-07-03T07:55:00.000-07:00

SOCIAL ETIQUETTE TELLS US THAT we are not to discuss religion and politics, especially in mixed company. (Not too sure what that last part meant, but people would say it.) Given that this is the month that we celebrate our country’s birthday, and given that I am one who derives some monetary benefit from “religion,” I thought it would be a good time to step off that high precipice and address both issues of religion and politics. (I might be looking for a new place of employment after some read this.)

Even though our next presidential election is a year and a half away the political pundits are already throwing rocks at each other. Lines are being drawn, stakes are being driven, and soon sides will be firmly cemented and we, who call ourselves followers of Jesus, will be drawn into the battlefield.

I am sure that some of the readers of this “Pastor’s Pondering” are either upset, or questioning the title of this piece. You might be asking yourself, “Is Pastor Randy saying that the United States of America is dead?” “Does he wish for it to die?” “Is he trying to be funny?” “Is he trying to get my attention?” Well, in all honesty, it was written to get your attention, but also with a deeper purpose in mind.

Allow me to make one thing perfectly clear, I am proud to be an American. I believe this is the best country in the world. I pray for those in leadership. I pray for those serving to protect our freedoms at home and abroad, and yet I also know that America is not eternal. One day it will no longer be.

Therefore, we must be sure we continue to focus upon that which will last. We must remember that this country is not our final destination. We are bound for a Kingdom whose King is the One we know as King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ the risen Savior.

A few days ago I heard a quote attributed to Tony Evans, (Evangelical Pastor, Evangelist, and worker for justice) he said, “God does not ride on the backs of elephants or donkeys,” to which I would add, “nor does He attend tea parties.” That is to say that God does not pick political sides. The work of His kingdom supersedes the work of any nation, including ours. We need to remember that truth, and I believe it is only when we do remember and when we act upon that truth, that America will be able to rest in peace.

You see, when I call for the United States of America to R.I.P., I am calling for it to rest in the peace that comes from knowing that the Lord is God. (Psalm 33:12) I am desirous to live in a nation that is truly at peace, first with the Lord, and then with the people who live in it and around it. This peace is not the absence of war and trouble, but it is a peace that comes from finding oneself settled in their relationship with the Creator. It is a peace that comes when a nation lives as God desires it to live; humbly before Him and caring for the needs of the “least of these.” (Micah 6:8)

So, I ask you, to join me in praying for God’s rightful Lordship over our nation, even if we are led by a tea-drinking, donkey-riding elephant. I ask you to seek the Lord on behalf of those in greatest need and then act in righteousness to lift up the broken and downtrodden, knowing that as we do, we shall incur God’s blessing and we shall rest in peace even in a dry and weary land.

May our true prayer be, “God, please bless America…for our only hope is You!”

EARLY DATING

2011-06-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

I CAN STILL RECALL THOSE EARLY DATES. Where we went was much less important than just being. Maybe it was a day at the local park, or an evening at a favorite restaurant, or maybe it was just a long drive to nowhere. What mattered was not where, when and how, but rather that we were together. Whether in vibrant conversations or comfortable silence, just being together is what mattered.

Now, after 34 years of marriage, I can honestly say I still enjoy dating my wife. Sure time changes things; four kids, a mortgage, and bodies that are not as young as they once were, but I still love spending time just with her. I believe that keeping the dating life alive is one of the keys to keeping a marriage alive and growing. What is true in marriage is also true in our relationship with Jesus, the Messiah.

In Revelation chapter two, the Lord admonishes the church at Ephesus to return to the love they had at first, a love for Him and for His Body, the Church. Jesus was calling His beloved back to those early days of dating. This is a call we need to hear today, for if we are not taking the steps to keep our love relationship with Jesus alive it can quickly become simply one of form and function. It can become one where we do all the right things, but to put it in the language of a failing marriage, “the spark has gone out.”

So, this begs the question, “How does one return to doing the things one did at first?” I believe it starts with priority and proximity. We must make time with Jesus (as with our spouse) a priority. We must remove that which robs our time with Him (TV, internet, hobbies, over-work, even some relationships) and take time just to be with Him. Second, we need to stay in close proximity to Him. That means placing ourselves in places where we can be close to Jesus. This includes His Word, His Body, prayer and worship where the focus is upon Jesus, rather than ourselves.

I believe Jesus is longing for that dating relationship, why not make a date today?

WHAT I LEARNED TODAY...

2011-06-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

WHILE AT THE FIRST WORSHIP SESSION of the Evangelical Free Church Leadership Conference I was reminded that,

"A DONKEY CAN DO MY JOB." (Numbers 22:28; 2 Peter 2:15-16)

The truth is I need to stay attentive to the voice of the LORD. We were reminded by Chris Brown of Northcoast Church that we must not confuse giftedness with spirituality, to which I was say, we must not confuse giftedness with godliness.

KEEPING COUNT

2011-06-20T17:25:00.000-07:00

HUNDREDS OF COOKIES, BROWNIES, CUPS OF WATER and numerous other goodies where consumed at Vacation Bible School this past week by over 300 kids and 127 staff. A plethora of songs were sung and verses recited, and I am not even going to venture to guess the gallons of water splashed on “Water Day.”

Let’s not forget to add to the count the thousands of pennies, nickels, dimes, etc. counted as the kids brought in their mission offering. (At the writing of this Shepherd’s Staff over $4,000.00 was raised for our “Every Drop Counts” clean water project for Haiti!)

Of course there were the countless prayers that were lifted prior to and during this year’s VBS, not to mention a massive amount of hours in developing the sets, crafts, snacks, lessons and drama sketches all so that “God’s Road Trip,” would be a successful journey.

“God’s Road Trip,” was a place where the kids took a journey through the Scriptures starting with Creation, and moving through the wilderness with a young Hebrew nation. They heard the Nativity story and witnessed Jesus’ trek to the cross and triumphal resurrection, and heard of the future Promised Land of Heaven. All in all it was quite a trip.

But of all the things counted, the best number in my estimation was the number eighty-one. That number represents lives marked out for eternity with Jesus! As we have been stating all year long, we here at Felton Bible Church have been “blessed to be a blessing,” and this week we were blessed to witness eighty-one children make a public profession of faith in the Person and completed work of Jesus Christ. For each of them they have just embarked on a journey of a life-time, an eternal life-time, with their Lord, Savior and God, Jesus Christ.

Here’s another amazing number fact: just think about how those eighty-one lives can multiply over the years as they grow and share their faith with family and friends. Only God knows that final number, and it shall be all unto His glory! So, let’s keep adding to it!

HOW MUCH LONGER?

2011-06-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

IT’S THE PROVERBIAL QUESTION throughout the history of road trips, “Dad, how much longer until we get there?!” I personally believe that question was even asked millennia ago from the back of an ox cart. The more things change the more they remain the same. Whether it was an ox cart, or the rumble seat of a 1931 Model A Ford, or a DVD-equipped Dodge Caravan, the question still gets asked, over and over and…well, you get the picture! And what is our parental response? Well, mine tends to be either, “We’ll get there when we get there,” or “We’re closer than we were 10 minutes ago!” Needless to say, it all gets a little irritating.

Our Vacation Bible School theme for 2011 is “God’s Road Trip.” We are taking the “travelers” through a whirl-wind tour of some of the great stops along the journey God has laid out before us. Starting with creation, and then through the wilderness of Sinai, to a manger in Bethlehem to the hill of Calvary to heaven’s glorious gates, it’s going to be quite a journey!

Last week we began our journey through the Book of Revelation, and it too is going to prove to be quite a journey, with some amazing stops along the way. One of the questions that is frequently asked of the prophecy found in Revelation is, “When are we going to get to the end?” and I am not talking about the end of the book, but rather “When is Jesus coming back? That’s a fair question especially when we read in Revelation 1:3, “The time is near,” and later in 22:10, “…Yes, I am coming soon.”

Not unlike the kids in the back of the mini-van we ask of the Lord, “How much longer?” The truth is, we really don’t know, but like my response to my kids, “We’re closer now than we were 10 minutes ago,” seems appropriate. The real question is, “Are you ready?” For as the Apostle Paul reminds us, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11) So, get your socks and shoes on kids, because we’re getting closer!

Maranatha!

THE HEROIC ORDINARY

2011-06-05T15:39:00.000-07:00

ROCK CLIMBING IS NOT IN MY SKILL-SET, but this past week I gave it a shot. I must start with an honest disclosure, the rock climbing that I and a portion of my family did this past week, would not classify as “real” rock climbing by anybody in the rock-climbing community. What we experienced as a test of our “skills” I am sure would be considered less than interesting, let alone exciting to “real climbers.

Last Monday our family took a little trip up to Castle Rock State Park (another confession: first time there for any of us.) We found ourselves in the company of hundreds of other tourists, strolling families, day-hikers and yes even some serious rock-climbers. We thought we would just be taking a little family stroll to see the waterfall, but along the way we encountered some rocks that, though less than ordinary to the serious climber, looked enticing to us. So off we went to attack these rock outcroppings. I don’t know if you can say we accomplished anything of greatness, but to us these rather simple scampers were truly heroic, or at least memory-making.

While finishing my reading in Running Scared, (Edward T. Welch, New Growth Press, 2007) I came across an important reminder. Welch writes that often, “The ordinary is not good enough for us; our hubris wants something grandiose. But the ordinary
done in obedience in Christ is beautiful, inspired, and oftentimes heroic.” (p. 303) Too many of us fall into the trap that if what we are doing is not climbing Everest in our spiritual lives, then we are in some way failures. Put another way, there are spiritual giants, and then there is the rest of us failures. Friends, this is a lie of the Evil One.

What we are called to do as members of God’s family is to simply walk the trail that is set before us. To be obedient in the daily happenings of life, knowing that obedience to our Lord is itself the reward. And maybe, just maybe, every so often, God will allow us to climb, to tackle something heroic and enjoy the sense of greater accomplishment, and to enjoy a greater view.

Keep hiking!

LESSON #4 from the BIRDCAGE

2011-05-30T18:27:00.000-07:00

MY TIME IN THE BIRDCAGE IS JUST ABOUT OVER and I will soon be back to the real world weekly pastoral endeavors. I can honestly say that I am going to miss my little sabbatical hide-a-way. A HUGE thank you to Marci Beth Maple and the gracious family at Redwood Christian Park who made this little study spot possible.

One of the activities that I did the most while at the Birdcage was to read Scripture out loud. If you try doing that while at Starbucks people either give you a funny look, tell you to be quiet or give you a strong indication that leaving their fine establishment would be in your best interest. Having a place like the Birdcage where one can read out loud was quiet the blessing. I came to realize, much like Paul Simon song of 1964 mournfully declared, there’s something missing in “The Sounds of Silence.” I have come to hear that the Scriptures were meant to be read out loud. Yes, Paul wrote letters, but those letters were written to read in the midst of those gathered. No copy machines or mass emails, or blogs to disseminate his information, it was written to be read. This reality brings a whole new meaning to Hebrews 4:12, that “the word of God is “living and active.”

Reading silently, especially familiar passages, allows one to skip over the words, but when we take the time to read aloud the words as written new life seems to emanate from them. Truthfully, it is something I would encourage each of us to do on a more regular basis. I know it is something I will be continue to do, so if you walk by my study and hear some “murmurings” feel free to come on in, but also be ready to join me in reading aloud.

CONVICTION & CONFESSION

2011-05-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

I HAVE IT UNDER GOOD AUTHORITY, that confession is good for the soul. So, here goes.

As I was reading Psalm 101 this morning I came across verse five, which states,

Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret,
I will put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart
I will not endure.

Well, truth this last week I spoke out against Harold Camping numerous times with people, and as I look back my words were either slanderous, or at least bordered on being slanderous.

Yes, I realize that his theology was questionable, and his prediction wrong, and those things should be dealt with, but I think I attacked the man while at the same time seeking to debunk his prediction. And that is wrong.

We can disagree over theology, we can even part company with those we think preach a different gospel, but I do not believe I am allowed to attack the person.

Therefore, I stand convicted in my spirit, and I offer this confession publicly.

We must always seek to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). For even our Lord did not slander His accusers and those who crucified Him, but rather He sought God the Father to forgive them. (Luke 23:34)

And His is the model I must follow.

LESSON #3 FROM THE BIRDCAGE

2011-05-23T08:46:00.000-07:00

I CONFESS, I LIKE IT HERE, at the Birdcage, that is. If you don’t know me, I am an introvert by nature. I am seldom lonely being alone. This sabbatical month has afforded many opportunities to be by myself for extended periods of time, though I realize that I am never really alone, for my loving God is always here…wherever that here tends to be.

This past rainy week allowed me time to get cozy with God’s Word and a warm fire, while nestling in at the Birdcage cabin at Redwood Christian Park and yet as I sat reading through the Revelation of Jesus Christ my mind was grabbed by just how “un-alone” it is going to be in heaven. Truthfully, it got me a little worried how an introvert and lover-of-my-own-space would make it in a place filled with people from every nation, language, tribe and tongue (Revelation 5:7-14), not to mention myriads of angels, 24 elders and four amazing creatures! What’s a guy like me going to do?

The answer came to me as I thought back over the past weekend. BING! The light went on in my little noggin, and here’s what I came to see. When you’re with the people you love (and who love you), and you’re doing the thing you were created to do, then being in the midst of the multitude will be just fine, in fact it will be blessed!

This past weekend I got to spend an evening out with the love of my life as we celebrated our birthdays. Dinner, a movie, a night alone with each other, it was wonderful! Then, the next day we gathered with friends, old and new, as I was blessed to help join Michelle Jensen and Christopher Castaneda in the holy union of marriage. It was a special time before the Lord and His people, recounting God’s love for us, and was followed by a fantastic time of celebratory fellowship around a table with some of the people I love the most. Some might say it was a little bit of heaven on earth.

Considering the wedding feast that awaits God’s people (Revelation 19:6-9), I guess it was!

LESSON #2 from THE BIRD CAGE

2011-05-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

LOTS OF LESSONS BEING LEARNED during this sabbatical, some planned others a little more serendipitous. (If you need a definition of “The Birdcage” you can read my previous blog about it) This week’s lesson was on keeping the right thing in focus.

On Tuesday we got to go to San Francisco International Airport to pick up Trinity as she was arriving from her first year of service as a missionary in Rome. Of course we arrived with enough time to watch lots of people coming off lots of different planes. Sometimes I would find myself watching other people go by that I would forget that I was supposed to be watching for Trinity. I guess you could say I lost focus on the right thing.

As I have been reading daily through the book of Revelation I find that my thoughts get pulled in all sorts of different directions. Amazing scenes, weird creatures, powerful events, all work to grab my attention. But this week I was drawn to the realization that that Book of Revelation is first and foremost about God. Yes, all the other events and creatures described have an important part to play, but the key point of focus is God.

That point of focus was also made clearer to me through another passage we often look at when thinking about heaven, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, where the Apostle Paul is describing the return of Jesus and how we will meet those who have died in the air, and together meet the Lord. I have used this passage at numerous memorial services to bring encouragement to those who are grieving. Paul even ends with admonishment to “encourage each other with these words.” But, like me at the airport, we can lose focus. For our eyes are not to be upon all those gathered with us in this rapturous journey to heaven, rather the focus is on Jesus, the One coming to get us.

So, let’s keep our eyes open and our hearts ready and our focus steady as we await His promised return.

Lessons from the Birdcage

2011-05-09T11:11:00.000-07:00

I AM SPENDING SOME OF MY SABBATICAL IN A BIRDCAGE. Well not an actual birdcage, it’s the name of a small cabin that the good folks at Redwood Christian Park are graciously allowing me to use as a place for quiet study. Let’s say it is a hidden away place…been going to RCP for over 10 years and never knew it was there! It is a nice place to sit, be quiet, listen, read, and pray and plan.

Over the next few weeks, while on my sabbatical, I want to share with you some of the lessons I am learning while at the birdcage (and no, there is not newspaper on the floor!). If you desire to read some of my actual sabbatical study thoughts I will be posting some things to my blog. (http://pastorsstudy.blogspot.com/)

One of the books I am working through during my sabbatical was a gift from our missionary family, the Dangers. It was a book that ministered to them through their own sabbatical over the past year, and their sharing it with me was extremely timely. The book is entitled, RunningScared: Fear, Worry & the God of Rest, and for one, like myself who is fearful at many levels, this book is proving to be an eye-opening blessing!

One of the lessons I learned this past week was the importance of the testing which God provides. The authors noted that God tests us not to see if we will pass or fail, He tests us so that we will discover our own hearts. This is what God did with the Children of Israel as they wandered through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 8:2 we read, “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

Tests are for our benefit, and with that we can receive them as the gifts that they are. When seen in that light our perspectives can truly change.

May we all test well! Blessings to you!

SCOUTS' HONOR

2011-05-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

TRUTHFULNESS IS NOT EXPLICITLY stated in the Scout Law, but I believe it is certainly implied therein. Therefore, I must be truthful when I say that not all my remembrances of my scouting years are fond ones.

I remember hiking a steep, dry, dusty fire road through the chaparral covered mountains of southern California so dead tired, with sweat stinging my eyes and all I wanted was to go home. Honestly, I was a very poor hiker, the other scouts loved it though because they always got to stop and wait for me to catch up. There was even a time where my Scoutmaster carried my backpack for me. Being a Boy Scout in southern California was not an enjoyable experience for me. I actually believe our Scoutmaster purposefully chose places to hike and camp without shade giving trees.

There was a time when I discovered that I forgot to pack an extra pair of shorts and when was questioned, by my Scoutmaster, I told him I had intended to, but forgot. His response to me was, “Scout, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” I remember turning around, with head hung low thinking, “What does THAT mean?” Whatever it meant, I knew it couldn’t be good.

Scouts honor, the above stories are true, and I could go on…but I will save you the gory details. The truth is that even though I felt pretty bad at times I sought to do my best. I did try to honor God and Country (even got my God and Country Award). I tried to obey the Scout Law and to help others. Keeping myself physically strong, well that left something to be desired. Yes, Scouting for me had its ups and downs, but this one thing it did teach me was to honor those around me whether older or younger, parent or peer, and that lesson has served me well.

It’s not unlike what the Apostle Paul wrote, “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10) Honor, it’s something we all can give. It is the gift that lifts others up. It is the act that can restore. It is the work that builds strong character. It is Christ-like.

Scouts’ honor!

Naked Spirituality: A Review

2011-04-29T19:14:00.000-07:00

Brian D. McLaren has done it again. In his recent book, Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words, he has sought to strip Christianity to its basic core. And for the most part he has done a good work at trying to pull the clothes of much of what we know as the Christian religion in order to get down to basics.

At the outset it should be noted that the title is a little misleading. There is a whole lot more than 12 words. Heck, there's 27 chapters alone, and those are filled with numerous words and ideas, so if you're thinking that by reading this book you'll come away with 12 words that will forever change the way to tackle the task of being a follower of Christ, think again.

That being said, McLaren provides an honest evaluation of those "clothes" that the church has worn for so long that we have lost the sense of what it really means, in simpler terms, to

be a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ.

There is much I appreciated about the book. First, as what seems to be a hallmark of McLaren's writing is his own ability to be transparent to his own struggles and growth. This book was not conceived and complied in the ivory towers of Christendom, but rather on the gritty streets of life. He writes from his own struggles and growth. He has "been there," and yet has also "not arrived." And for a fellow-traveler like myself, this book offers a sense of direction, as well as some ideas about how to best experience and grow from the journey of following Jesus Christ.

There are a few things that concern me in his writings, and those mostly stem from his broader view of spirituality. What I mean by that is that at times it seems as those he is a little more inclusive to other religions and faiths. Every so often I got the sense that Jesus was not the only way...but then he would seem to bring things back around to focus on a more "orthodox" view of the Christian faith. This is nothing new for McLaren considering his previous books like A Generous Orthodoxy and the The Kind of Christian series. This inclusiveness is not a reason not to read the book, just a item to watch for.

There is much I gained from the book, and I would recommend to those who are seeking to peal off the layers of western Christianity and to gain some hope for what it means to follow Jesus closely with all their heart.

The two aspects of the book which I appreciated the most was the format of seeing the journey of following Christ as a series of recurring seasons. Spring, a time of simplicity, summer at time of complexity, fall the season of perplexity and winter a time of harmony. These seasons are recurring in nature, we go through them time and time again, but hopefully with the growing awareness of what each season brings to our lives as Christians. We are reminded to see the strengths and the weaknesses of each of these seasons, and to learn to grow through what each has to bring. McLaren's illumination of these seasons were refreshing to me, and allowed me to see them in my own life, and even to be more aware of the season I presently find myself in.

I must say that his choice of the "12 simple words" could be helpful, if we take time to truly understand their meaning, learn them, and then be able to recall them as we need them in the various seasons of our life. I would venture to say that it will take writing these words down, or reading the book a few times, at the different seasons of our lives in order to remember and apply the spiritual disciplines these words seek to convey.

The chapter that I appreciated most is entitled, "Please: At Least Two Hearts Care" (Chapter 14). It deals with the ministry of intercessory prayer. Being part of a church that has always had a heart and ministry for praying for others (Felton Bible Church), this chapter opened my eyes to seeing intercessory prayer in a whole new light. It was most encouraging, parts of which I have already shared with some of our regular prayer groups. The thrust of the chapter deals with the compassion of God and our joining in that compassion as we pray for others. This past week I shared the following descriptive passage with our weekly prayer group and later with the larger church family through our newsletter. McLaren wrote,

“When we practice ‘compassion’ through simple words of intercession we affirm two profound truths. First, that God cares for all who suffer and are in need, and second that we care too. If we didn’t believe God cared, we wouldn’t turn to God, nor would we do so if we ourselves didn’t care. When we call out ‘please’ on behalf of someone else, we build a bridge between our compassion and the compassion of God. We say to God and ourselves, ‘Someone is suffering, and at least two hearts in the universe notice and refuse to turn away – God’s heart and my own.’”

This chapter alone was worth the read of the entire book. His previous chapter on praying for our own personal needs is worth the "price of admission" as well.

Brian D. McLaren is a man on a journey to discover what it means to follow Jesus and I would recommend this book to any who seek to travel that journey as well. Does he get it all correct? No, but then which of us do. I appreciate his struggles, as he seems to appreciate my own and thus has written this book for fellow struggling travelers along path of following Jesus Christ, the Son of God, so that we can know Him and glorify through all of life.

!2 simple words? Hardly! Worth the read? Most definitely! Just remember, a naked spirituality may leave you a little self-exposed, thankfully we can be clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

WHAT'S IN YOUR BASKET?

2011-04-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

GROWING UP, IT WAS AN EASTER TRADITION to find a basket filled with “goodies” left in the middle of our living room. This tradition has continued for our children as well.

Inside that basket, amidst all that green shredded plastic “grass,” were all sorts of surprises. There were of course the plastic eggs filled with jelly beans, the tiny foil-wrapped eggs, and the often large hollow chocolate Easter bunny festooned with flowers made of hardened sugar. Every so often I might even find a special toy hidden among the grass or money placed inside one of the plastic eggs. Easter morning was filled with surprises.

On those Easter mornings as a child, unwrapping the basket came first, then there was a wonderful family breakfast to enjoy, followed by adorning ourselves in our new Easter duds and then off to church…a church always more packed than usual (some things never change). It is interesting, now that I look back, that we went from filled baskets, filled tummies, and filled church pews to hear about that which was empty; the empty tomb. We went filled to hear about empty.

Yet, it was the reality of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ that truly brought fullness to our lives.

Soon the plastic eggs would be empty. Soon our chocolate candy and candied-ham filled tummies would be empty, and yes, soon even the filled pews of Easter morning church would be empty (or at least less-filled in the weeks to come.) But, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ our lives can be filled with forgiveness, hope and love. Our lives can be filled with the joy that only comes when we are living in a reconciled relationship with our Creator. The empty tomb truly fills the baskets of our lives.

As you consider and contemplate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, allow me to ask you, "What’s in your basket?"

What's in a Name?

2011-04-19T10:46:00.000-07:00

THE PEOPLE CRIED, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” As Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem on the day we have come to call, Palm Sunday, the people were hoping that this one, riding on the donkey would be the promised Messiah. (Malachi 3:1) The one God had promised to send to save Israel and rule as the anointed king upon the throne of King David of old (Isaiah 16:5).

He did come as the Savior, (1 John 4:14) but not in the way they had hoped. He came not as a champion to create and rule a new army to defeat the Romans, but He came as the suffering servant, (Isaiah 53:11) He came as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

This Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:16), was so much more than we can simply describe in a title or two. Consider, mediate, upon the descriptive names of Jesus. The Bread of Life (John 6:35), the Gate, (John 10:9), the Word (John 1:1), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14), The Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1;8, 22:13), the Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6), the Light of the World (John 8:12), Immanuel (Matthew 1:23), the I AM (John 8:58), God (John 1:1). The list can go on and on. In fact, one compilation I discovered listed over 103 descriptive names for this One we know as Jesus, the Christ (1 John 2:22).

I guess the song writers Bill and Gloria Gather got it correct when they wrote,

Jesus, Jesus Jesus;

There’s just something about that Name!

Master, Savior, Jesus,

Like the fragrance after the rain;

Jesus, Jesus Jesus,
Let all heave and earth proclaim:

Kings and kingdoms will all pass away,

But there’s something about that Name!

LITTLE THINGS DO MATTER!

2011-04-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

SHOCK AND AWE. LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION! We live in a culture that demands bigger and better, larger and louder. It used to be little mom and pop stores that were the norm, now it’s huge warehouses filled with items packaged in lots of 144. I mean do I really need to buy 144 Gillette razors? (That should strike you as funny considering who’s writing this.) The saying now is, “Go BIG or go home!” Faced with that kind of worldview it can leave most of us feeling pretty impotent and believing the lie that we since we really can’t do something that will rock the world we might as well not even try.

That is just the lie that Satan wants you to believe. And if my memory serves me correctly, he’s not a good person to trust.

Today we celebrate the contrary reality that little things do matter.

This past week an intrepid team from our church family headed south to the City of Angels (now run more by the demons) to help build the Kingdom of God by joining God in the work He has been doing through the ministry of the Dream Center. Our Dream Team was a mixture of faith and fear, seeking to provide hope and yet knowing that the needed the Holy Spirit’s help to do so.

Did they change the world? No.

Did they help to change lives a little at a time? Yes!

Did it make a difference in their lives and the lives of those they served? Most definitely!

You see, the little things do matter!

Today we join with many other church fellowships in promoting Compassion Sunday. A day where we share about the needs of children around the world. Children who need to know God’s saving love in both word and deed. Today we are offered the opportunity, not to change the world, but to change a little life in the world.

Will we end poverty? No.

Can we change a life for the good? Yes!

Can we make a difference that helps to bring salvation to soul and body? Most definitely!

You see, little things do matter!

What little thing will you do for God’s big Kingdom today?

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

2011-04-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

CALIFORNIA HAS ALWAYS CARRIED A MYSTIQUE. It’s seen as a place of perpetual warmth, beauty, opportunity, wealth and success. Many have left far away places to seek fame and fortune, if not at least a golden tan, in this mystical, magical place called, California. The Beach Boys have sung about its beaches and its warm California sun. The Mamas and the Papas dreamed about it on a winter’s day. Albert Hammond told us it never rains in California. (Yeah, right!)

Sadly, for too many, the dreams of a great life in California have only turned into nightmares. The hopes and desires of a better life have found many living on the streets, under bridges or in dangerous war zones of places like south-central Los Angeles. The dream is shattered and hope is displaced by fear. It is into these places of hopelessness and broken dreams that the Dream Center of Los Angeles comes to minister God’s grace.

This week a small group of hearty souls from our church are headed to the City of Angels to join hearts and hands with the ministry of the Dream Center. I like to refer to them as our own Dream Team. We are going with eyes and hearts wide open, knowing that we are not going to change the broken world of the inner-cities of Los Angeles, but we are ready to be used of the Lord to help bring His message of grace, love and hope. And maybe, just maybe, by the Holy Spirit’s power, we can help someone gain not a new dream, but a new reality, of God’s redeeming love.

Please join us this week by praying for us everyday, morning, noon and night. Be part of that most vital aspect of this Kingdom work…the ministry of prayer. We need you! They need you!

God bless you!

Wisdom of the Ages

2011-04-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

WALTER BREUNING IS 114 YEARS YOUNG. He was interviewed in the April 2011 edition of Men’s Journal (p.126) on the topic of “Survival Skills.” When asked, “What is the skill that every man should have?” He sagely answered, “The skill of being kind to people. In today’s world, everybody is mean to each other. But if you can help other people, you help yourself at the same time. You do, really. I used to walk all over town every morning after breakfast, and one day a lady stopped me and tied my loose shoestring. Well, I could’ve fallen down, you know. You see, it’s the little things.”

I would love to spend a day with Walter. He is definitely a sage (he’s seen a lot since his birth in 1896, Can you imaging the stories?!) Even though he is 114, he seems to have a good handle on what really is happening in our world today. Meanness is epidemic, and kindness is pushed to the shadows. I see this every week as I spend time at my son’s school. Sadly, too sadly, I even see it within the walls of the church, the very place that is to be marked by the character of Christ, the one who was and is supremely kind.

My mom used to tell me, “Randy, if you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” If I had followed that advice as a young person I wouldn’t have had much to say. That would be true for so many areas of life. I mean, think about it. Think how quiet our state and national elections would be, or the family gatherings around the dinner table. Sporting events, would be quiet both on and off the field. What about driving or the workplace or even blogs and Facebook status, not to mention YouTube uploads? How about church? Oops, sorry about that, I’m starting to meddle now.

Tragically, our world, as Mr. Breuning so wisely pointed out, “In today’s world, everybody is mean to each other.” For the one who claims to follow Christ it must not be that way. Consider what the Word of God says regarding kindness.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

⁵For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. (2 Peter 1:5-9)

Kindness must mark our lives as followers of Jesus. Kindness is compassion and care in action. I appreciate the story that Mr. Breuning ends with when he tells of the woman who did not just tell him his shoe was untied, but she knelt to tie it for him. Kindness in action is kneeling to another person’s need. Not unlike a Savior I know.

A Well-Tended Garden

2011-03-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

I LOVE WALKING THROUGH THE NATURAL SPONTANEITY of the redwood forest. Trees, bushes, sorrel, mushrooms, all growing as God had intended them to grow. All the pieces working together in what seems to the uneducated eye as random happenstance, but in reality seeking the harmony by which God created. It’s all so “natural.”

I also thoroughly enjoy walking through a well-tended garden. Meandering paths through rows of specifically chosen plants, all planned by a master-gardener for the enjoyment of all. Mulched, weeded, trimmed and well-watered, this well-tended garden is brings a joy to all the senses.

Both garden settings show forth the diversity and unity of plants “working together” to bring out something grander than just one plant could accomplish upon their own. One garden, that of the redwood forest, depends upon the Master-Gardener, while that well-tended home garden depends upon both the Creator and His faithful steward-gardener. One seems to happen with little “work” at all, the other takes knees bent and hands dirtied. One is watered by heaven’s rain, the other by hose and sweat of the brow.

God has given us both to enjoy. Much as He has given us His Word, our Bible. In one way the Scriptures are like the forest, given and maintained by the Creator, all we need do is walk through them and enjoy their richness. On the other hand, the Scriptures are like a garden to be well-tended. For us to enjoy their deep beauty means times on our knees in prayer, and hands set to the task of unearthing it’s glorious truth.

I encourage you, has our hearts turn toward thoughts of spring, of walks in the woods, and digging in the garden, that we use those reminders to enjoy the beauty of God’s Word. To both stroll through its grandeur and unearth its depths. Let’s make it a well-tended garden.

MUCH GIVEN! MUCH REQUIRED!

2011-03-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING. This phrase as not only been adopted as our 50^th anniversary theme, but is also one of the plumb lines that define who we are as Felton Bible Church. For the past almost fifty years we have been witness to God’s manifold blessings.

We have been blessed with a great church family. We have been blessed with great pastors and teachers and leaders. We have been blessed with a wonderful location and functional facilities. We have been blessed to see young and old come to place their faith in Christ. We have been blessed to see some of our own “kids” grow up and move out to serve the Lord in both the secular and sacred arenas. We have been blessed by God’s protection in the midst of floods, fires, and earthquakes. Yes, we have been blessed!

But like God’s blessing of Abraham (Genesis 12) we know that the blessings we have received is so that we can be a blessing to others. God has blessed Felton Bible Church so that we could be a blessing to our community. So that we could ministry to the needs of our neighbors, as we have done especially during times of community crisis like the floods of 1982 and 1997, not to mention the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.

We have also been able to bless those far from our local community through our ongoing support of missionaries and mission projects throughout the world. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed, people have been fed, clothed, encouraged and lives have been transformed by and through the grace of God.

Yes, God has greatly blessed us, and with those blessings, both tangible and spiritual, we seek to be a blessing to those around us.

Today, take time to count the many ways God has blessed you and determine to use those blessings to bless someone else today! For to this we have been called!

PLUMB LINES -- PRAYER IS PRIMARY

2011-03-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

PRAYER IS MORE THAN JUST folding our hands, bowing our heads and speaking in a language that is other-worldly. Prayer is more than just presenting shopping list of petitions to God in the hopes that He’s not too busy, and that He might just be in a merciful mood to answer our request. Prayer is more than just reciting a prayer from a book someone wrote 200 years ago

Now, those prayer styles I wrote of above each have their place within our life of prayer, but they are not the end, in fact they are not even the beginning. Prayer is not something we do as much as it is something we live. The Apostle Paul implores us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Logically we know that cannot mean spending our entire life with hands folded and heads bowed. I believe what the Apostle was seeking to communicate is that prayer is to be a lifestyle, not just a religious activity.

A wise old wag once told me that prayer is to be like breathing. It’s something we do all day, everyday in order to live. The ironic thing is we hardly even think about breathing unless we are in the midst of strenuous activity or suffering from a cold or allergies.

Living a life of breathing prayer means that we are to constantly aware of and reliant upon the Presence of God in us and around us. Sure there will be times when prayer will be more noticeable; like when ministry and life is strenuous or when life is beating us down as when we have cold. Breathing prayer is the activity that seeks to be in constant contact with God, aware of His Presence and dependent upon His help and thankful for both.

This breathing prayer, unlike our regular breathing, is not something that comes naturally, it is a learned discipline. It is something that must be “practiced.” The more we do practice it, the more natural it will become. Therefore, as you sit in today’s worship service I invite you to take some deep breaths of prayer…and then just keep on breathing.

Boxing God

2011-03-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

IN WHAT SIZE BOX DO YOU PLACE GOD? Oh, you don’t put God in a box, you say? Well, I beg to differ with you. I believe that we all place God in a box from time to time, if not all the time. It’s our very nature to do so.

Ever since that terrible day in the Garden of Eden we have endeavored to make God fit into our scheme of things. Millennia ago we failed to understand the deep reality of who God is. We thought we could actually become like Him. We believed the lie that obeying God was truly an option without consequences. How tragically mistaken we were, and have been ever since.

Even for those of us who have come to the point of acknowledging our sin and falling upon the grace of God expressed in Christ Jesus still seek to put God in boxes of our own making. But the truth is that God is bigger than anything we can say about Him.

Yes, we might get close to comprehending an aspect of God’s nature or character, but to truly think we can know the depth of the One who spoke all creation and time into being, well I believe we are deeply mistaken.

Yes, we can know some things about Him, and yes, we can trust Him to respond according to the truth of His nature, but to believe that we can manipulate God by our worship or our prayers, or to say that we know truly how He will bring all things about, well that is putting God into a box. I believe me there is no box big enough or strong enough to contain Him.

Now, to some this “un-box-ableness” of God is a scary thing because we like being in control (it’s one of those results of mishap in the Garden!) But to me it is one of those things that keeps me seeking to walk humbly before God. It is the reminder that I don’t know it all. It is the reminder that God is God and I am not! And truthfully, that’s a safe place to be. I bet ol’ Adam would agree.

Plumb Lines -- Living on the Street

2011-02-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY HAS ITS SHARE of those who live on the streets. Some do so by choice, others by choices that have been made for them. Most of us though would rather live within the walls of a comfortable home. A place that is warm in the winter, cool in the summer, with windows that let fresh air in and a roof that keeps the rain out. Walls, roofs, floors and doors make for places of comfort and safety, they provide us with a place to call home.

We also desire that our church be a place to call home. A place of comfort and safety where family can gather to enjoy the blessings of being family. This is all well and good, but while God desires that the church be a place of comfort and safety for all who enter in, the Lord also does not want us to lock ourselves within the walls of the buildings we refer to as church. Jesus’ command to His followers was not to come and stay, but to gather, pray, wait and then go. Consider His words, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:4-5,8) And, at another time He commanded, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

It is because of these commands of our Lord that one of our Plumb Lines states that we believe the Body of Christ is to live outside the walls and the church. We are each called to minister in our neighborhoods, schools and places of employment for the glory of God through the building of His Kingdom. Yes, we are called to live on the street.

Plumb Lines -- Real Worship

2011-02-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

“I MAY NOT KNOW ART, but I know what I like.” It often seems that this quote is applied to that thing that we call “worship.” In one way or another I have heard people say, “I may not know worship, but I know what I like.” The problem stems from the past fifty-some years where we have taken worship out of the realm of “spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24) and placed it in the realm of platform and pulpit.

For many people, worship is what we do once a week as we gather with other like-minded believers. The effectiveness of that worship experience is based on whether or not they sang the songs I like and whether or not the pastor preached a simple, short, and personally applicable sermon. In general worship rises or falls based upon what had taken place on the platform or from behind the pulpit (or music stand, depending upon your church’s liturgy.)

The truth is that worship is so much more than what we do when we gather together to sing, pray, and hear the Word of God proclaimed. Yes, those aspects of our corporate worship are important, even vital to our lives as the family of God, but true worship is vastly more. That is why one of our plumb lines states that we believe and seek to practice a worship that is 24/7/365. It is a life of worship to which we are called. Worship is what we do not only inside the walls of our church, but more importantly what we do outside as we live our lives for the Lord. It is to this definition of worship that the Word of God speaks, when the Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-3)

This is true worship. This is worship that is Holy Spirit-led, and Holy Spirit-empowered and truly God-glorifying. This is the worship we seek to live!

Plumb Lines -- Family

2011-02-13T12:43:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

WHAT IS A FAMILY? That question used to be pretty easy to answer; all you had to do was have someone watch the “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” television show, or if you wanted a more “real” family you could tune to “Leave it to Beaver.” It used to be that a family was pretty much a well-employed father, a stay-at-home mother and a couple of kids; my how things have changed!

Trying to define what a family is in our present culture is not an easy task. I suppose the simplest answer, to a very difficult question, would be: a family is anything you want it to be. Even terms like “traditional” and “non-traditional” seem to change on a regular basis. So, when we here at Felton Bible Church state that one of our “Plumb Lines” is that we are a “Family of Families,” it is not surprising that a few people will ask, “What does that mean?”

For us this phrase “Family of Families” means that we seek to live as the family of God, knowing that God’s family is made up of all types of “families.” We understand that God’s family is made up of people from various stations in life: Young and old, Married and single, Rich and poor, Families with kids and those without, Widows and widowers. We believe that we are all part of God’s family, and thus, an important part of this local expression of His family called Felton Bible Church.

I firmly believe one of the greatest blessings that God has granted us is found in the wonderful sisters and brothers that make up the family of God here at FBC. From our oldest to our youngest, we have been blessed and we seek to live together within that blessing. Therefore, one of our leading desires is to create a place that people from all stations in life can call home; A home that is a place of safety, growth, acceptance, service, love, and yes, even fun.

Come. Join the family.

Plumb Lines: Seen, Heard and Listened To

2011-02-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

CHILDREN ARE TO BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD, so the old adage goes. Well, that’s not quite the way we see it here at Felton Bible Church. Over the past few weeks, and for a few more I suspect, I have been sharing about our “Plumb Lines,” those measuring sticks we use to ensure that we are doing what we believe God has called us to do as a local expression of the Body of Christ.

One of the key plumb lines for us here is that we treat kids as part of the kingdom. That means we see them as important, vital members of the Body of Christ. They are to be seen, heard, and yes, even listened to. This is not to say that they don’t need to hear and respond to the Gospel, but it is really about understanding that children are important to God (“Let the little children come..” Mark 10:14) and can have an active part in the building of the Kingdom of God. (“…unless you change and become like little children…” Matthew 18:3-4)

This plumb line is what drives us to prayerfully produce the best Vacation Bible School in Santa Cruz County (No brag, just fact! J) It is what empowers us to continue to provide our weekly AWANA Club where kids can encounter the love of Christ and His Word. This belief is why we purposefully encourage our children to remain in the worship service and to have their own special time through “What’s in the Box?” and at the proper time the teaching of God’s Word at their level of understanding through our Children’s Church and Sunday school classes.

We believe that children can and do help us to see God with fresh eyes. Their statements are honest and their prayers sincere. Truly, the little ones can lead us. To welcome the children is to welcome Jesus. For Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.” (Mark 9:37)

Plumb Lines -- It's All about God

2011-02-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

ANOTHER ICON OF MY LIFE IS GONE. This past week, at the age of 96, Jack LaLanne passed away from respiratory failure. This almost superhuman man at the age of 60 swam from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco, shackled and towing a 1000 pound boat!

I remember as a young kid watching this man on television telling us to get up and start taking care of ourselves. We were told to eat right, and do his exercises. He never seemed to quit never let down and seemed that he would go on forever. But he didn’t.

He used to tell people that the most important person in the world was himself. He had to take care of himself, and he challenged us to do the same. He would often declare such proverbial thoughts like, “Your waistline is your lifeline!” He would say, “Work at living and you don’t have to die tomorrow.” But the truth of the matter is, we all do die. If not tomorrow, then someday, and if all we have to worry about through the course of our life is taking care of ourselves, then there will be a rude awaking for us at the end of it all.

At Felton Bible Church we also have had a few “proverbs” to share. One of them being, “It’s not about you, it’s about God.” That is not to say we should not seek to take care of the body that God has given to us, but it is a statement about the greater and more important reality, there is a God and you are not Him. When all is said and done in our life it will not matter two-hoots whether or not we could swim across the San Francisco Bay, but whether or not we have submitted our lives to the One who is the Rock of our Salvation, Jesus Christ. In the end it’s not about how many push-ups you have done in life, but how often you have bowed head and heart before the King of kings and Lord of lords. As Jesus said, “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:23-25) Let’s pray that Mr. LaLanne knew that Truth as well.

The Pondering Pastor

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