Upended by the wind or deeply rooted?

Psalm 1:3 (NIV) 
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."

It is a sunny day today, a sort of resplendent day that makes one long that each and every day would remain just like this one.  It is a spring day, still turbulent in the unpredictable nature of the weather...the wind is gusting as it normally does in late April in the Western hemisphere.  The temperature will undoubtedly drop this evening as the teasing warmth of the sun will drop below the horizon and we will find our wind breakers, which have now replaced our winter downs who are hanging lonely and longingly in the back of the dark closet once again.

Sitting in the sun shine, for even but a moment, one can hear the louder than whisperings of the Nor-Easter winds as they wrap themselves intimately, sometimes violently around the tall jack pine and the juniper trees that huddle together in our mini ecosystem that is our backyard.   On one brief moment it even appears as if the tall jack pine might succumb to the wind's wrestling match, as a strong gust threatens to topple its long presence of standing at attention.  The branches, bending unnaturally, any moment a cracking sound might emanate giving credence to perishing callings of the wind.  Yet, no terminal sounds occur, the pine has survived this round unscathed...still standing tall.

As a lowly house cat suns herself on the back porch, the trees hold fast.  After all, they have stood the test of time...thus far.  Their roots, deeply planted, grounded and stretching out like unseen tendrils beneath the still cold and damp earth of spring.  A test to its created design, nourished and prepared for whatever the winds, changing and constant, can throw their way.

Watching such a witness of God's grandeur, one begins to see the depth of wisdom forged within man as we too face winds of change, speaking much louder than a whisper to our human existence, beckoning us to succumb to its force and pressure.  How deep do our roots descend?  Like the conifers in their stately display, do our roots spread out like fingers spidering their way deeply beneath the rich earth?  Are we grounded in the fertile and fortified soil?  Will we stand the test of time?  It all culminates in this epic survival and constant journey.  A Creator longing for his creation to remain steadfast, deeply rooted and unafraid of that which seeks to upend and destroy.

Why be unafraid?  One might ask.  Our courage isn't found from within but from without.  A God who richly loves, boldly equips and fiercely defends.  Our courage, our longevity and sustaining grace comes from Him...if we allow Him to do so.  Then, we too with roots deep within our Father in Heaven, will never be shaken, never be broken and forever be defended by the Creator of all things.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV) 
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.  He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

In The Arms of God (Poem)

In the arms of God

I am complete again.

In the arms of God

This soul latches onto peace.

His arms, of might and glory

Redeeming me at such a cost

I was lost but enfolded now

Beneath His sacred saving hand.

In the grace of God

I will make my stand

In the grace of God

All things of heaven and man

Become focused through his love

In the grace of God

I am made right again

Unmerited, undeserved

Yet here I stand

In the grace of God.

The very heart of God

Is my forward focus

I am not whole but for Him

The very heart of God

Compels me onward

And through the

blood of Christ I win.

Standing boldly

Love surrounds me

I am but His and his alone. 

 

Lost and Found

Jesus told a parable.  For those disciples who had been following Him, they had grown accustomed to his teaching style.  Yet they were always challenged with the content of what He had to say, often times asking Him to clarify or for the meaning.   It would be fair to say that His parables brought consternation to some while confusion to others.  His teachings were also difficult to accept at times, because it meant turning from some traditional customs that the Jewish culture had adopted along the way. 

 On this particular day, Jesus began to tell another series of parables.  His audience, the disciples of course, but there were also tax collectors and others that some identified as ‘sinners’.  Jesus began his parable with a relatable statement; “suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them…”  Immediately Jesus begins by drawing these tax collectors and ‘sinners’ into His tale.  Immediately He is helping them identify with the content of His story.  Immediately the implications are that this parable is for them.  Not a ‘for them’ which implies a tale of condemnation, but rather a ‘for them’ which implies compassion and love and a deep longing to restore a right relationship with them to the Father.   

In a moment, as Jesus begins to speak, they are held spell-bound, eyes locked on the Teacher…ready to hear His tale.  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?”  Imagine if you will, Jesus speaks this phrase and He gazes intently into each face of those who had gathered around Him.  They were the lost sheep that Jesus was talking about.  They were pariahs of society, and by choice and some by vocation had lost their way.   

Jesus wanted them to know the extent in which the Father would go to find His lost ones in this world!  Every soul, every lost child was that important to God the Father.  Jesus was sent on this mission.  He even said it in His own words; “For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)  The lost were right in front of the One doing the saving…they didn’t realize how lost they were but Jesus did.  This wasn’t some guilt trip or a brow beating by Jesus, but a message of love and compassion and care.  Jesus looked into the very eyes of the lost sheep and hoped that they would let Him rescue them. 

He finishes His parable with these words; “And when he finds it (the lost sheep) he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do no need to repent.” (Luke 15:1-7)

Think of it, He places the lost sheep on His shoulders and carries them home.   Isn't that what He has done for us too?  Those who had gathered there to listen were lost.  They needed someone to pick them up and carry them home.  Who would go to them, the outcasts…the sinners?  Jesus sought them out when all other religious leaders of the day sought out nothing but selfishness, power and condemnation.   Jesus brought salvation to them, and all they had to do was repent. 

Are you lost?  Can you recall when Jesus came to you?   All of heaven rejoices in the salvation of the lost.  And when they are found again, there is peace and there is hope in the arms of the One who seek us.   Our response to being found is repentance and allowing the Good Shepherd to carry us home. 

Jesus, Zombies & Humanity - Sermon

Jesus, Zombies & Humanity - Sermon
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Jesus, Zombies & Humanity

The Zombies are everywhere, waiting to consume the flesh of the living.  Waiting to chew on the brains of the fallen.  Sound gross?  Of course it is, yet the horror of these fictitious tales of mayhem and gore are irresistible to many.  If you need evidence of this just look up “walking dead” on google and you quickly realize how big a show that has become.  Dare I say that I too enjoy a good zombie story from time to time.  The idea of a post-apocalyptic world is both dreadful and curious to me.  Such a scenario pits humanity’s survival on the cusp of total and complete decimation.  It’s thrilling and captivates a wide audience because simply to survive, within these tales is a minute by minute adventure.

Jesus talked about zombies…ok maybe not in the context that we think.  But the Jews gathered in the synagogue in Capernaum certainly thought that was what He was saying.  “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.  This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”   (John 6:51)  With bitter taste of disdain and disgust on their tongues these Jews began to argue upon hearing Jesus’ words; “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  They had come to temple to hear the readings from the Torah and instead they hear of flesh eating deliverance from heaven.  For a moment can’t you imagine hearing Jesus’ words and thinking the same thing?  “How can this be?”

Certainly they would understand in context that blood offerings were given to atone for sin, as animals were routinely sacrificed for transgressions…it had become quite a booming business as well.  But to hear one speak of consuming human flesh and drinking of human blood for eternal life set their teeth on edge.

“For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.”   Jesus said.  (John 7:55)  Those who heard were more than perplexed.  They didn’t get it.  Jesus wasn’t literally speaking of a zombie smorgasbord when He spoke of His life’s purpose.  Just like the teachings of His parables, those who heard often times didn’t understand, and those who actually had ears to hear, heard and pondered.  Jesus was speaking and alluding to His willing sacrifice and eventual death on the cross for all of humanity…but most who gathered in the synagogue that day didn’t understand this spiritual zombie apocalypse.

Even many of Jesus’ own disciples who heard this teaching disserted Him following this metaphorical bloodletting event.  Jesus even asked them before they departed from Him, “Does this offend you?” (John 6:61) The response wasn’t so much in what they said, but rather what they did: they left.  Of course it offended them.  In fact what Jesus said to His own culture offended many.  Isn’t it interesting that when He spoke the truth, the truth was rejected and scorned by most.  The very human side of Jesus must have obviously felt rejected and hurt.  The very human side of Jesus must have experienced the pangs of loss when many of those who called themselves “disciples” turned their backs on Him.  We might often overlook this very painful event of Jesus because of the content of His message.  If we had to stand in Jesus’ shoes and speak this very hard message, knowing that it would probably offend and drive people away from us…would we have had the guts to speak it?

Yet Jesus knew and was filled with the Spirit who equipped Him for this painful event.  He even identifies some of His own when He says, “Yet there are some of you who do no believe.”  He didn’t sugar coat it, He didn’t seek to curry favor, He simply told them that they didn’t believe.  The response resulted in painful rejection.  “From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.” (John 6:66)

How often does God ask those He calls to declare His truth and speak hard teachings?  If we are to be Christ-followers, these moments will also come to us.  We can’t be afraid of facing rejection.  Some Churches today have allowed sin of all kinds to continue because they are afraid to address them because it would result in people leaving their doors.  Some Churches have curry favored and sugar coated God’s Word to make it more appealing to those living double lives.  There’s a time to let things go, but there’s also a time to confront and face possible rejection.   Jesus’ walking dead moment took some aback.  His declaration offended many, yet He didn’t back down or back pedal from what He had said.  As the crowd of resigned disciples walked away from Jesus, He even looked at the initial ‘twelve’ and said, “You do not want to leave too, do you?”

Jesus faced rejection and He knew He would offend many with the truth.  Are we?  I’m not implying that we are to deliberately find ways to offend people.  But when the Lord prompts us to address issues or speak hard truths we ought to listen and obey.  Jesus came to save humanity and to give the gift of eternal life.  As Christ-followers, you and I are called to carry that message to the whosoever despite the throngs of rejections we might receive along the way.  Our walking dead moments will come also…how will we respond?

Church, Talents & Faith

Sometimes this life is 

cracked and broken

battered on the sharp 

rocks of bitter tides. 

When feebled burdens

shatter beneath 

malnourished bones of faith

We will find our ways again. 

One day, the dying soul

fighting for breath 

pain riddled

rattled like a doll

from bygone days

shaken, torn and tattered

waged, we this ignorant

war within ourselves.

And now on death beds of

brick and mortar

we wonder why

they do not come,

when etched deep

beneath our fingernails

the splintered boards

of risk and faith, 

the only evidence of 

this remains. 

And here, the series

of the 'If only's' 

occurs.

Regrets tied to

our poor choices

anchored beneath the ice

of human tradition's grave...

if only we had allowed 

His Spirit, 

we gasp with whispered 

breath, 

but doubt crept in 

and stole our stilted courage

and so we hid our talents deep

when invested we should have done. 

So we exchanged our fortunes

for this solitary one.  

Got Faith?

The other day I was driving down the road when I realized that I had neglected to fill my van with gas.  I was on 'E' and the warning light was on giving me an indication that I had less than ten miles to an empty tank.  It is never fun to be stuck in traffic only to realize that you have to get off somewhere and refuel.  For a time, panic set in and I was hoping I wouldn't run out in the middle of moving traffic...I kept thinking of embarrassing It would be.

Are you running empty today in the faith department?  Is the warning light on in your life? 

Faith.

What is it? Why is it so hard to grasp at times, and other times the only thing that makes sense? 

You've heard it said that faith is like the wind, you can't see the wind but you can feel the effects of the wind.  So too it is with this thing we call 'Faith'.  It is vital that we possess it, yet many people lack enough of it to sustain their walk with God.  

Does God supply us with faith?  Yes, Romans 12:3 says, " God gives varying measures of faith to his people"  So how do we get more of faith when we lack it?  Because if you and I were honest with ourselves and with God we would find that there are times when we are lacking in the faith department.  James 1:5 says "If any of you are lacking wisdom let him ask God and He will give it liberally."  The same goes for faith.  Do you lack faith in your life right now?  Is your faith tank on 'E'?  Ask God to fill you again. 

The key is that we must ask!  It's not that God doesn't already know, it's that He wants us to verbalize it in our lives to Him.  He wants us to make it personal, to realize that we need Him.  We are lost without His sustaining power and grace.  When we ask, the scriptures say that He will supply.  

Today, perhaps instead of asking for anything else we should ask God to fill our tank of faith.  We all could use an added dose of it, am I right?  The issues we face, the struggles, the stress, the doubt are nothing in comparison to the might and strength of our Father in Heaven.  If we allow Him access to our lives by asking Him to enter we will be amazed at what takes place.  

Do you lack faith today?  Let this journey of yours begin by asking Him to fill you up with His grace and to grant you more faith.  He will glad supply it to those who ask without agenda or selfish intentions.  

Seek Him, and ask Him today.  

A Tale of Flight, Fright, Feast & Follow

On a perfectly clear crisp morning just as the colors were shifting from the deep purples of pre-sun rise to blinding gold sun streaked sky, Jonah received a message from God.  The message wasn’t preceded by fan faring trumpets or angelic presence with feathery wings in whooshing in midflight.  Instead God simply spoke to Jonah and his message was loud and clear.  Messages from God were rare and so Jonah was slightly shaken by the earth shattering theophany.  It took a few moments for God’s word to sink in.  It was a message that Jonah was not happy to hear.  Like a poor poker players ‘tell’, indications of Jonah’s displeasure were clear as the morning sun and written all over his face.  “Nineveh?  Are you kidding me?” He whispers under his breath.  “That’s the last place that I want to go!”   Ruffling the blankets in the now uninviting bed, He gets up and shuffles to the front door.  “I didn’t sign up for this!” He thinks to himself.   Why was God sending him to that place?  It was a wicked city and just thinking about it put a bitter taste in his mouth as if he were sucking on lemons. 

 Finally, with determination on his face, Jonah puts on his outer cloak and makes his way to the nearest sea port.  If God wanted him to go somewhere, go he would…but it wasn’t going to be to that hell hole called Nineveh.  Instead, Jonah books himself passage on a cruise in the exact opposite direction, destination: Tarshish.  If the destination alone was any indication of Jonah’s stubborn defiance towards God’s wishes, traveling to the furthest destination from Nineveh in the world would give anyone pause.  Yet aboard the vessel headed for Tarshish, Jonah, now travel weary, falls asleep in a bunk below deck.  Soon he is sawing logs like a skilled lumberjack…slow, still and steady.     Hoping the distance from home and Nineveh is enough to get away from God, he rests comfortably…until the entire room tilts sharply to the left dropping Jonah out from slumber and from the warm sheets of the bunk.  The once steady rocking lullaby of the boat is now replaced with a violent rollercoaster, as the sea vessel soars up steeply one wave wall only to plummet sharply down below another.  This pattern repeats over and over again, until the now sea sick sojourner makes his way up to the deck to discard any and all remnants of last night’s meal.   

Looking to the right towards the stern, Jonah sees the ship’s captain tossing luggage and other nonessentials overboard.  The ship’s crew are there also lending a hand in dire desperation.  If Jonah wasn’t alarmed by being rudely awakened and tossed from his bunk in the sudden squall, seeing panic and fear in seasoned sea farers eyes seals it.  He is going to die.  The Captain comes over, clothes drenched and stuck to his frame, he yells something but Jonah can’t make it out.  The screaming of the wind and the crashing of the thunder and waves drowns out all other sounds.  Jonah lets go of his safety and the rail to hear what the Captain is saying; “Pray to whatever god you know so that maybe we will be saved!” 

 His words are like a slap in Jonah’s face.   “to whatever god I know…”  Realization hits Jonah like a swinging pulley from the main mast.  “I can’t run from God!”  A second ephiphanic wave like that of this squall hits Jonah; “this storm is meant for me!”   When his feet finally catch up to his epiphany, he joins the Captain at the stern who is busy again discarding nonessential weight in the hopes of saving them all.  It doesn’t look good.  “Throw me over board!”  Jonah tells the Captain, half to himself and to the deafening tornadic gale.   The ship’s Captain doesn’t hear him, so begrudgingly Jonah attempts to match the pitch of the wind to catch the Captain’s ear.  “THROW ME OVERBOARD!”  This time he hears Jonah and at first refuses to even acknowledge his request.   But another wave crests and washes over the deck, white foam and sea life litter it as if to say ‘you’ll make a welcomed addition to the sea floor!’  Out of sheer panic and no other alternatives, the Captain complies.  He beckons a ship hand to help, and after finding soaked purchase of Jonah’s clothing, they pick him up and throw him into the violent green salted sea. 

 

Almost, as if on cue, with a stage director behind the scenes, the sea suddenly becomes calm and Jonah finds himself alone atop a measureless abyss of cresting surf with his ticket to paradise sailing smoothly out into the horizon.  He is going to die.  This realization sinks in and soon so will he…deep below a watery grave.  Just as Jonah loses strength and succumbs to the stabbing cramps in his legs and arms something spectacular yet horrifying takes place.  A monster appears from beneath the dark foreboding sea, and in one swift motion, Jonah is swallowed whole.  From one instant Jonah has faced certain death by drowning and now is horrified to consider his certain fate and painful death in being digested by this great fish.  Inside the digestive tract of this creature Jonah prays earnestly to the God he ran away from.  He confesses his sins, and pleads for God to deliver him.  It’s a last minute hail Mary, but it’s all that he’s got left.    He doesn’t know how long he sits there in the muck and the stench, but moments of sleep flash nightmares of terror and dread, so he avoids closing his eyes.  Yet, his prayers continue.  Suddenly, it could have been hours or even days, Jonah never knew, but the great beast lurches.  His involuntary digestive taxi begins to fill with more disgusting fluid and then all at once he is launched along with the spew of vomit out of the beast’s mouth.   He awakens on a sandy beach, covered is filth and reeking of the sea at its worst.  Recalling his persistent prayers and promises while being digested to death by the beast, Jonah gets up, finds his bearings and finally obeys what God had asked him to do all along.  Destination: Nineveh.

No matter where we live, or where we go, we can never run from God.  He wants our commitment, not our excuses or our exit strategies.  For Jonah and for all of us, things will always go easier if we simply obey the first time He asks.  The alternative and consequence of our disobedience is never a desirable notion, and is filled with restlessness, unfulfillment and loneliness.  Just remember this: God will not give up on us!    

"What Do I Stand For?" -Absolute Truth

Yesterday I received some criticism for my view on heaven and hell; essentially that I believe that there is such a place.  Coupled with the fact that we are people who must accept the consequences of the decisions we make.  Every action has an equal reaction.  Choice = Consequences.  I was accused of circular thinking…was Newton in his laws thinking circular too? 

I’m not here to criticize or judge others…that has never and will never be my place.  Here’s my thought on heaven and hell for the atheist.  If there is no God, then what is there to lose to believe?  By that I mean, if there’s nothing at stake at the end of human life then why not believe?  Flipping the coin isn’t there so much more to lose if there actually is a God and we chose not to explore, not to believe then we are at fault…I am at fault. 

 

I don’t perceive to know what the afterlife will be like, but I believe there is one!  As far as other religions go, was I condemning them yesterday?  No.  But through all of humanity and our history, who other than Jesus Christ came to show love, redeem and actually called himself the Son of God?  Jesus even said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) He didn't say I am one of the ways, but the way.  Jesus came for the entire world, not (and especially not) for the religiously legalistic he came for those seeking.  In fact His own people rejected Him, and the Gentiles became recipients of His grace.  You can shoot holes in that all day, but the fact of the matter is that God never has given up on humanity.  He never will. 

This brings me to my topic of conversation for today. 

 

What do I stand for?  I stand for Absolute Truth.

Our culture will say that truth is relative, that when you boil down situational issues in life, one person’s truth may be another person’s non-truth.  But does that negate evidence that there is truth in our world?  The common question we must ask in this pursuit of truth is this; “What is truth?”  What do you believe truth to be? 

If we look to science one can find this principle in action when we consider what the freezing point and the boiling point of things are can’t we?  This would be definitive proof that there is a law of absolutes already in place in our universe.   When Jesus made the claim that He was the way and the truth He meant it.  Despite the fact that there are those who would re-write history to make it more palatable or relative one thing exists that cannot be shaken despite revisionists.  Absolute truth will stand.  I don’t need to defend it, people have studied sociology, theology and many ‘ologies’ and if you hold to any kind of chaos theory if one were to boil it down it just doesn’t make sense. 

 

Where did everything come from?  Unlike Stephen Hawking who insists that the universal ‘big bang’ took place without the presence of a God or outside force…my question would be how did all of these elements come to be in the first place?  How did a molecule or the first form of life become something else?  If we look at this notion we begin to realize it is all theory and none of it can be proven.  I’m not saying that I’m anywhere near as smart as Hawking by any means, and you can call me ignorant a fool or anything else you would like but I believe with my whole heart that there is an absolute truth in this Universe and His name is I AM…God. 

 

What do I stand for?  I believe in absolute truth, I believe in order of the universe.  I believe we were all created for a purpose and not by accident, and I believe this world is full of hope and potential that reaches far beyond our physical lives…all because of this one absolute Truth that governs our world. 

What do you stand for? 

I enjoy discussions about differences and varying views, I’m not here to judge or shout down anyone…I’m just calling it how I believe God has shown me, and I believe in His truth. 

What Do I Stand for? Action = Reaction/ Choice = Consequence

“…and that in consequence of their fall (Adam and Eve) all men have become sinners, totally depraved, and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.” (The Doctrines of The Salvation Army, Doctrine #5)

“We believe in the immortality of the soul; in the resurrection of the body; in the general judgment at the end of the world; in the eternal happiness of the righteous; and in the endless punishment of the wicked.”  (The Doctrines of The Salvation Army, Doctrine #11)

What do I stand for?  This is the question I've been asking and trying to answer all week...

Thus far we’ve explored: Selflessness over selfishness; God’s Justice & Social Justice.  These are fundamental areas of a Christian life.  So let me throw some fuel on the fire, so to speak…when we recognize what it is we are standing for, where our ideologies lay and are guided by specific principles in our lives we must begin to recognize that Isaac Newton’s third law of action-reaction applies to our spiritual lives as well.

Isaac Newton’s 3^rd Law – Action/Reaction:

When a first body exerts a force F₁ on a second body, the second body simultaneously exerts a force F₂ = −F₁ on the first body. This means that F₁ and F₂ are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

Did you catch that?  Just kidding, unless you’re really into physical laws and laws of mechanics you might not understand this definition…here’s the definition that I understand:  “To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” 

 

In our world, morally speaking, this reaction is called consequences.  Everyone who makes choices both consciously and sub-consciously will find that there are consequences to each and every choice we make.   All too often, however, in our world today many people have chosen to ignore these consequences by blaming other people for their mistakes, or simply running away from the consequences.  Adam and Eve, as I’ve mentioned before faced God’s justice in the garden because of the choice they both consciously made:  Action (Choice)  = Reaction (Consequence).

Similarly, if we continue by this line of reasoning we come to a junction in the road that brings us to ultimate consequence.  Everyone whole heartedly embraces and understands that all humanity will one day face death…as it’s been said, it’s inevitable like taxes.  We will one day die.  It is quite sad to consider those who are Atheists who believe that there is no further existence after death…that this is all there is to this existence.  In the Christian perspective, we believe that our souls do have an afterlife and that within this afterlife there is heaven and there is hell.

As I’ve stated before some people have a difficult time facing this reality and that God would eternally punish those who reject Him.  But as I’ve mentioned before if our action is to purposefully and willfully turn our backs on God, then the eternal consequence of such an action is the reaction which leads the soul to eternal separation from God.  Hell is a real place!  Hell will be inevitable for some people…and I am not the judge, never will be and I’ve never claimed to be.  But if we are to embrace such a reasoning as an afterlife and the notion of heaven, then ought to understand that there is such a place as hell.

 

Here’s are some closing thoughts on this for today:

1) Own up to your actions!

You and you alone are responsible for the choices that YOU make…I am responsible for the choices that I make!

2) Consequences are real!

If you make a poor choice the consequences are yours.  If I make a poor choice the consequence is mine.  Not someone else’s.  Stop blaming others when consequences come that we don’t like that are based on our poor choices.

3) There is always a right and better choice!

God doesn’t simply want a relationship with us, He want to transform us to become like His Son Christ on our spiritual journey!  He doesn’t want us to remain the way He has found us.  He wants us to choose Him every time in our daily lives.  This means consider the consequences of our actions, consider the path that we wish to take and also consider God knows what He is doing!  Choose Him, and His path…it won’t be easy but His path is right!

4) Believe in Eternity and live for God’s kingdom in the here and now! 

If we choose His path, His direction in our lives, we not only fall in step with His will but we recognize that life is so much more than just this human experience.  Eternity is so much longer and lives are at stake.  We must be Christ’s ambassadors in our world!  We are called to this higher calling to not only look forward to heaven, but to introduce Christ to those who have yet to believe and add to this heavenly family on this journey.

What do I stand for?  What do you stand for?  I will own up to my choices…I will face the consequence of my poor choices and strive, with His Holy Spirit’s help, to live a Holy life in word and in deed!

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"What Do I Stand For?" -Social Justice!

A child goes hungry, not because there isn’t food in the village, but because his family has been ostracized for being Christians.  They are not privy to the market place and so they have to fend for themselves by begging, trying to cultivate some foods from a meager garden and by digging through other people’s discarded trash.

Another young boy watches helplessly as his father is executed right in front of him, then is hauled off, brainwashed, strung out on drugs and given an AK-47 as a child soldier.  This method is repeated over and over again by more than just the now infamous Joseph Kony.  Other places in Africa as well as East Asia this is how warfare and power is perpetrated.  Many times it goes unnoticed or unreported in our Western news sources…but it doesn’t make it go away for those who are suffering under this oppression and senseless bloodshed.

A young woman is kidnapped in the middle of the night from her bed and becomes a slave to the sex industry, where girls like her are property and a money making business.  She is shipped in windowless crates, transported on trains, and moved from one place to the next to fulfill her slavers lust for power, greed and sex.  When she is all used up, her body will be thrown out like garbage and the evil owners move on to other victims.  Some say it doesn’t happen where I live…think again!

These stories are just the tip of the ice berg that is our fight against social injustice in our world today!  It is something that all of us, who claim to be followers of Christ, should be engaged in to some form or another.  Whether it’s helping in a food shelf, a soup kitchen from time to time, or supporting a governmental bill that will further help those in need.  As Christians we are to be the very hands and feet of Christ, and I’m pretty sure He didn’t solely reside within the walls of the church to help those in need!  A part of showing Christ’s love to those around us requires us to extend ourselves and help bring Christ to other’s body, soul and mind.

“A father acts on behalf of his children by working, providing, intervening, struggling, and suffering for them. In so doing, he really stands in their place. He is not an isolated individual, but incorporates the selves of several people in his own self. Every attempt to live as if he were alone is a denial of the fact that he is actually responsible. He cannot escape the responsibility, which is his because he is a father. This reality refutes the fictitious notion that the isolated individual is the agent of all ethical behavior. It is not the isolated individual but the responsible person who is the proper agent to be considered in ethical reflection.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Ethics

We, as Christians, have a responsibility to intervene in causes for those who cannot defend themselves or are powerless to act.  As protectors of our world we not only seek to keep our environment healthy and clean, but we should also, in our power, seek to bring freedom and hope to those who have none.  Social justice isn’t just for the bureaucrat, the foreign ambassador and the law maker on Capitol Hill…social justice is for all of us who have a voice and the will power to actually change the world for the better.

“Denouncing evil is a far cry from doing good.”
― Philip Gourevitch, We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda

The quote above is apropos…we can’t merely denounce something…watching a news story we just shake our head and say out loud, “What is our world coming to?”  Yet we don’t do anything about it, we change the channel and move on in our own little worlds.  This isn't just an indictment on me this is an indictment on the entire Western world when we stand by and do nothing when whole cultures are being wiped out in semi-religious acts of genocide.  When nothing is actively being done to stop the active violence in villages and the formation of child soldiers in third world countries.  It is just plain wrong when nothing is being done to put a stop once and for all to the sex trafficking industry that enslaves men, women and children.   I'm thankful for proactive political leaders and lobbyists who fight every day to change laws and make it an active war on these plights of our world!   But it doesn't just begin and end with these leaders and lobbyists...we too have a role to play as well!  We too must roll up our sleeves and get involved!  We too have a voice, and so we MUST use it!

“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause”. –Isaiah 1:17

“Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.” –Jeremiah 22:3

“But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” -1John 3:17-18

To Stand with God and His justice, we as Christ followers, ought to be also stand for social justice and social reform so that everyone in our world might have opportunities for freedom.  God, I believe asks us to stand for those who cannot make that stand themselves.  To speak for those who have no voice, and to make a difference in our world through not only environmental activism but also social activism.  We are called to BE THE CHANGE!

Additional Sources:

http://streetlightusa.org/2012/child-sex-trafficking-research-and-statistics/

http://www.charismamag.com/site-archives/639-charisma-channels/practical-christianity/8930-practical-ways-to-fight-for-social-justice

http://salvos.org.au/more/get-involved/social-justice/what-is-social-justice/

http://www.amazon.com/Social-Justice-Handbook-Better-Bridgeleader/dp/0830837159

ttp://www1.salvationarmy.org/IHQ/www_ihq_isjc.nsf

"What do I stand for?" Pt.2 (God's Justice)

Have you ever heard the expression from a parent just before they discipline a child, "this will hurt me more than it will hurt you?"  Perhaps in your home you heard it differently, perhaps not.  I used to think to myself when I heard this said, "oh sure it will, if it hurt you more than me then why am I getting the spanking?"  Humorously I'd try to find ways to protect my rear end from harm.  Sometimes I would have enough warning because the phrase my mother used was "go to your room and wait for your father to come home!"  And so I would sit up in my room and contemplate what I had done as I was considering how many pairs of underwear I could put on without my father noticing so that I could lessen the blow of the spanking.  Truth be told, I didn't get spanked all that often but I will never forget the phrase, "This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you."

I am convinced that our Father in Heaven feels that way too!  He does not want to inflict pain and suffering on those He has created, yet because of humanity's poor choices, at times, He has to.  We were not created by a vindictive God who loves to punish.  That wasn't His purpose for creating us.  God's justice wasn't initially a part of creation until the fall took place.  Before the fall of Adam and Eve, God walked with us.  God communed with His loved ones.   The very fact that He had to drive out Adam and Eve from the garden must have been very difficult for Him!  The pain in which He must have gone through because of their deceit and consequential sin.  I can almost imagine God saying to Adam and Eve; "This is going to hurt me, more than it's going to hurt you!"

After all, wasn't it God who created for Adam and Eve their first line of clothing? (Gen 3:21)  Even in the midst of their disobedience God was there to provide for them.  God's justice is something that He withholds until it is the absolute last resort.  He doesn't want to impose punishment on His creation, yet the consequences of willful and utter disobedience is punishment within the realms of God's justice.

I know many have a very hard time comprehending the God of the Old Testament where it seems that all God does is wipe out whole cultures...yet we fail to comprehend how it must have cost God to do something so drastic.  Mankind had descended into the deepest darkest places of morality and sin.  They had turned their backs on the One who created them, and because of this His justice had to take place.

Throughout all of history, God has made the attempt to reconnect with His creation.  He has made covenants with them...and it should be noted that none of His covenants were ever broken by Him...they were broken by us, humanity.  God knew that humanity could never find salvation by themselves, and so Christ, God's one and only Son, enters the world to redeem us all.  Once and for all, a perfect example of humanity's blood can now cover all transgressions should they call upon the name of Jesus.

God's justice should never be taken lightly.  We must realize that how we live makes a difference.  How we live dictates how God imposes love and justice towards us.  If we claim to be Christians and yet our lifestyles say other wise we are knowingly sinning against God. To do so, places us in the path of His judgement.  We know of God's forgiveness and yet many use this as a 'get outta jail card' like in the game monopoly.  Many think that because God will forgive they can carry on in sin and at some point ask for forgiveness and all will be right again...but to do this is willful disobedience and God will have His justice.

Yes God is a God of love and mercy, but He is also one of justice and judgement to those He loves.  "because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." (Proverbs 3:12 NIV)  

What do I stand for?  I stand for a love relationship with God.  I stand for obedience to God...am I always obedient?  No!  But, I do know better when I sin and when I fall.  His Holy Spirit is given to all who call upon His name and He can and will provide prompting, discernment and even conviction when we go astray.

I stand for a God of Justice even when I feel sometimes His justice is harsh.  Though I may feel this way, I am not all knowing and unlike God, I do not have all of the evidence.  God does, and in faith, I have to trust that He knows what He is doing.  I am NOT God, nor am I even close to His level...so why feel as if I know better than He does?  Sometimes, this can be temptation, after all wasn't it Satan in the garden in the form of a snake who told Eve to eat of the fruit because then she would have the knowledge of God?

God's justice is difficult to understand from our point of view at times.  Sometimes we feel it's too harsh, sometimes we feel it comes to slowly.  Yet one thing is absolute within this line of conversation, God will have His justice and everyone one day, will account for what we have done on this Earth both good and bad.

Evidence of this truth: 

Matthew 12:35-37 (NIV)
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Matthew 25:31-43 (NIV) 
 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.  For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

What I Do Not Stand For:

Mankind taking God's justice into their own hands; (Governments excluded they provide our base of law and keep us safe).  Those who would Lord over people and inflict their marred understanding of justice are not speaking for God!

God's justice is like the parent that says  "It will hurt me more than it will hurt you".  He never wanted to punish His creation, yet without that correction His justice would be the consequence of disobedience.

***Tune in tomorrow as I explore "Social Justice"...an extension of this conversation today!***  "Same bat time, same bat channel"  ;)

[youtube=http://youtu.be/qQkBeOisNM0
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What do I stand for...pt.1 of 5 (Selfishness/Selflessness)

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What do I stand for?   The music video linked here by 'Fun.' asks a very good question, and within the context of living as Kingdom people, followers of Christ, this question begs an answer in all of us!  If we are truly honest with ourselves we have asked this question a time or two.  This question encompasses a whole spectrum of things from political beliefs and ideologies to intrinsic ethical and moral convictions of our personal worldviews.  This question can be a very existential pondering.  For when we ask this solitary question, other questions in the sequence of our lives beg to be asked as well.

Automatically, when thinking about what we stand for, we will recall the ‘golden rule’; “Do unto others as you would have done unto you”.  And certainly this is applicable, but what is it that we would like others to do unto us?  Love us?  Yes.  Treat us fairly? Check.  Be honest?  Certainly.  Be kind?  Absolutely.  All of these qualities and more is what we would have others do to us.

Enter Selfishness:

We hold to those truths listed above for others, but what about the way we treat other people?  Do we treat others the same way?  All too often we peer through rose colored glasses in how we treat others but if we were to look harder at our motives and intentions, we would quickly realize that many times we do things that will benefit us.  If there isn’t something in it for us, then we quickly lose interest and pursue things more self-involved and self-fulfilled.  Selfishness is our down fall most of the time.  If we aren’t fulfilled by the things we do, then no one will be fulfilled.  This is our old sinful self that is rearing its ugly head.  If there was a weakness in the Christian armor, the chinks in the armor would be selfishness and pride.   If we let our selfishness reign supreme in our decisions and in our lifestyles then we aren’t fulfilling our calling as Christ-followers.   Selflessness and Selfishness cannot take up the same space within our hearts; it’s either one or the other.   This is the crux of our world today, many of our sin issues that is crumbling any sense of morality comes from our pursuit of selfishness.

What Does Selflessness look like?

“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
and whoever wants to be first must be your slave-- just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:26-28 (NIV) 

If we stand for Christ and for what He seeks to do for the lost in our world then we must become servants and serve!  Becoming a servant of Christ isn’t easy, and it never will be if we still operate from our old selfishness.  Before we knew Christ we were consumed by this selfishness.  Now that we know Him and identify with His suffering we too must stand for more than just ourselves.  That old operating system of self cannot and will not lead others to God.  It will only perpetuate that sinful selfish cycle that this world is so used to.  What Christ did, was turn selfishness on its head.  What He asks of us as Sons and daughters of God is to follow in His footsteps as we fulfill that great commission:

^“ 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, ²⁰ 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 (NIV)

When we ‘go’ we are called to leave our selfishness behind.  This, from the start is where we begin this journey of what we stand for!

TO BE CONTINUED….

Like a television series, imagine the old announcer say, “Tune in tomorrow, we’ll explore ‘Standing for God’s justice’.”Some Nights