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March 10, 2017

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Attitudes & Behavior, Bible Stories, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Love & Works, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith, Temptation & Sin, Today: Make it Count

CASTING YOUR NET (HYPROCRISY – Part 2)

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When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! … And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. [Luke 5:4-6,11 (NLT)]

Jesus may have been a carpenter by trade but He knew a great deal about fishing. Simon, James and John were certainly impressed with his guidance. Jesus, however, didn’t just know how to catch fish—He knew how to catch men! Abandoning their fish and boat, the three fishermen followed Jesus. No longer casting nets for tilapia, biny fish and sardines, they joined our Lord as He fished for people.

A good fisherman knows with what to bait his hook, where to throw in the nets or line, and how to bring in his catch. Jesus didn’t have to beg or force anyone to follow him. His message, demeanor, compassion, wisdom, miracles, truth and love all netted followers. Although He practiced what he preached, I’m not so sure His followers do so today.

In yesterday’s message, I wrote that the truth of the gospel message depends on the truth of Jesus and not on the good behavior of His followers. Nevertheless, while the truth of Christianity doesn’t hinge on our behavior, the expansion of God’s Kingdom does. When our behavior doesn’t reflect our God, we don’t make very good fishermen. Whenever we profess to love but have no compassion, claim to forgive but hold a grudge, speak of generosity but won’t open our wallets, give lip service to helping others but never serve, or speak of peace when being vindictive, we’re driving away rather than catching followers. Jesus gave His disciples the command to fish for men and grow His Kingdom. It’s not easy to do that when our nets have the holes of hypocrisy or our bait is tainted and false.

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable. [Brennan Manning]

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. [Matthew 4:19-20 (NLT)]

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? [James 2:14 NLT)]

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March 9, 2017

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Knowing Him, Love & Works, Obedience, Salvation: A New You, Temptation & Sin, Wisdom & Guidance

OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES (HYPOCRISY – Part 1)

Jesus told them, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites in Scripture: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” [Mark 7:6 (GW)]

great-blue-heronI’ve been reading a book about discovering one’s “authentic” self; among other things, the author concluded that her authentic self wears make-up. I admit to wearing make-up, coloring my hair, wearing a padded bra and using Spanx, but I’d never call that my authentic self! Without a doubt, that’s my more attractive self, but hardly the authentic one! While I don’t consider it “authentic,” trying to appear as attractive as possible isn’t hypocritical. Pretending to be one person in public and actually being another one in private is!

Jesus spent a great deal of time condemning the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. Like the Greek thespians who wore masks while acting in the theater, they presented one face to the world while their real one was hidden behind their masks. In fact the word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek word “hypokrites” which means actor. The Christian church has taken a lot of flak for being filled with hypocrites and, unfortunately, some of it is justified. I’m the first to admit that my actions often don’t match my words and there frequently is a shortage of spiritual fruit in my orchard.

Fortunately, the validity of Christianity depends on the truth of Jesus Christ—his death, resurrection and ascension—rather than the behavior of His followers. We’re all sinners and even the most devout among us misses the mark on occasion (or frequently, in my case). Being a Christian doesn’t mean we don’t struggle with sin—Jesus set a high standard and we all fall short of it. Nevertheless, we can do our best to live as we profess to believe by relying on the Holy Spirit to convict, empower and change us. Being a sinner isn’t hypocrisy—it’s just part of being human. Christian sinners know what they are and admit it; they recognize, acknowledge and repent of their sins. On the other hand, hypocrites recognize their sin but neither acknowledge nor repent of it. Clearly, not all sin is hypocrisy; all hypocrisy, however, is a sin!

Why is it that a community that talks so much about supernatural transformation shows so little of that transformation? We will have to be men and women who embody the message that we are preaching, whose lives are faithful to the claims we are making. [Ravi Zacharias]

So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. [1 Peter 2:1 (GW)]

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March 6, 2017

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Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Fruit of the Spirit, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith, Today: Make it Count

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY- Carpe opportunitatem

Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. [1 Peter 3:15b-16a (MSG)]

big-cypress-fox-squirrelReturning from our walk at the park, we saw people at the RecPlex Center setting up for an event with a dais, tables and chairs. A woman was placing a sign that pictured a dog and the words “BARK-A-CUE” in bold red letters. My husband lightheartedly asked, “Are you going to grill some dogs?” In a snarl worthy of a Doberman, she replied, “No dogs!” and sped away faster than a Greyhound! As we walked to our car, we looked more closely at another sign; in small print were the words “Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs,” a worthy cause indeed.

We recalled the last time we’d come upon an event at the same park. That time we spoke with one of the volunteers who eagerly told us about the group, gave us a brochure; they ended up with a nice donation from us. The dog lady, however, missed a valuable opportunity to tell us about the event and possibly get two new supporters. Later in the day, I looked up the event and learned this is their major fund-raising effort. It offered a “fabulous BBQ” (probably not hot dogs!), a silent auction, a band, a well-known vocalist, and an opportunity to learn about service dogs and meet some service dog teams. It would have been a fun way to spend the afternoon. “Oh well,” I thought, “that’s her loss!” but it wasn’t just her loss. Her abruptness to us (and possibly others) affected the organization’s mission of raising, training and donating medical service dogs to veterans, first responders and others in need.

As I pondered how the woman blew an opportunity to share the good her organization does, I realized that most of us aren’t much different (at least I’m not). How many times do we miss an opportunity to share a little of our faith with someone? We don’t have to give a two-hour summary of the New Testament and most people wouldn’t want that. Nevertheless, we can take advantage of the many opportunities we have throughout the day to share our faith and God’s word in many small ways.

Like the Bark-A-Que woman, we can take offense when none is intended or be too busy for a few words or we can be like the eager volunteer we met earlier this year. Remembering we are Christ’s ambassadors, we can graciously answer questions or even offer correction, if necessary. We’re not likely to bring someone to Christ with a few sentences or a quick answer. Nevertheless, we can open the door for them and spark their interest as did the friendly volunteer who gave us the brochure. We do this not by being dogmatic and judgmental but with tact, gentleness, wisdom, and love.

The mission statement from a church I visited recently is, ”We the people of God…are empowered by the Holy Spirit…to be the hearts and hands of Christ.” Let us never forget that we are His voice as well!

If your Gospel isn’t touching others, it hasn’t touched you! [Curry R. Blake]

Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. [Colossians 4:4-6 (MSG)]

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March 3, 2017

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Fruit of the Spirit, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Holy Spirit, Miracles, Peace of God, Salvation: A New You, Trusting God

HOUSE OF LOST DREAMS (Part 2 – Redeemed)

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. [Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)]

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! [2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)]

Castle-chillon-lake-genevaAs for the “House of Lost Dreams,” about which I wrote yesterday—almost overnight, where once a dilapidated ruin stood, a beautiful house now stands. The roof tiles are repaired and clean, the house is freshly painted, the overgrown yard tamed, and a “For Sale” sign stands in the yard.

That “For Sale” sign tells me the people who redeemed and refurbished the house saw it not as a home but as an opportunity for profit. They certainly had their work cut out for them; the interior was probably infested by insects and animals and covered with mold. This hot humid climate is brutal to abandoned property and within three years a house can become irreparable. I imagine the house now looks as beautiful inside as it does from the road but I wonder if the changes were only cosmetic. What about the mold deep in the drywall and wood? Is there dry rot in the framework? Are there cracks in the foundation or stucco? What about termites? Did the contractor paint over mold rather than replace wood and drywall? Did he cut corners to increase his profit? Unfortunately, not all rehabbers are ethical and honest. I only hope that the “House of Lost Dreams” doesn’t become a nightmare for whoever eventually buys it.

In our northern community, Habitat for Humanity has started buying up foreclosed abandoned properties and rehabbing them into homes for Habitat recipients. We recently toured one of those Habitat homes while it was still a work in progress. It had been stripped down to its bare bones. Drywall, furnace, appliances, cabinets, and wiring were gone—all that remained was the frame. It is now being rebuilt with new materials by volunteers and the home’s new owners who will purchase it with sweat equity and monthly payments.

Rebuilt from the ground up—that’s pretty much what happens to us when Jesus redeems us. Of course, he doesn’t have to deal with bankers and title companies but He pays off our debt to God, assumes ownership of us, and moves right in. His is not a slap-dash skin-deep surface repair (as I suspect of the Florida house) because He is making a home fit for a King! Like the Habitat builders, He takes his time while repairing and restoring us. Although He doesn’t gut us or strip us of our wiring, He’s not about to let any mold, filth, defective parts, or pests remain. He cleans up the mess, fixes what’s broken, patches the holes, pulls out the weeds, and plants a spiritual fruit tree in the garden.

Although some homes are too far gone for even the best rehabber or most devoted Habitat group, none of us are too far gone for Jesus. He doesn’t care how long we’ve been neglected, how broken-down we are, how cracked our foundation or how rotten our core. Once redeemed, He restores us. He’ll never abandon or sell us and, as a plus, He gives us our own personal handyman in the way of the Holy Spirit!

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. [Philippians 1:6 (NLT)]

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March 2, 2017

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THE HOUSE OF LOST DREAMS  (Part 1 – Gone)

He [Job] knelt on the ground, then worshiped God and said: “We bring nothing at birth; we take nothing with us at death. The Lord alone gives and takes. Praise the name of the Lord!” [Job 1:20b-21 (NLT)]

trumbull-cemetery-ohioFor the last several years, we’ve frequently driven by a house we called the “House of Lost Dreams.” Apparently forsaken by both bank and borrower, we watched as tarps blew off windows, roof tiles grew black with mold, and ivy and kudzu grew on the walls. Eventually, plants nearly obscured the deteriorating house from view as Mother Nature took back ownership of the land.

I think of the people who abandoned their dreams along with that house many years ago. They’re not alone—many people lost homes when the housing bubble burst. At some point in time, we’ve all faced disappointment and, while not necessarily made of brick and mortar, we’ve had to abandon more than one house of dreams. I think of a friend who lost both baby and womb the same day or the friends who lost the spouses with whom they planned to spend their golden years. I know parents who lost children to drugs, an athlete who lost her ability to walk, a family whose dreams were lost to dementia and a mother whose child’s future was taken by cancer. Lost dreams all—financial woes and a foreclosed house are only two of many ways we lose our dreams.

Job could be the poster boy of lost dreams. He still had his house but that was about all he had after losing livestock, servants, children, health and the hopes and dreams that went along with those things. There was Joseph—the favored son sold into slavery. Having lost one dream, he must have thought his future much improved when he became administrator over all that Potiphar owned. Slavery didn’t seem so bad until Mrs. Potiphar accused him of rape and he ended up languishing in an Egyptian prison. Moses spent forty years leading the Israelites and then, because of his lack of faith, had to forsake his dream of ever entering the Promised Land; his forty years of faithful service went down the drain.

It’s not easy to accept that our dreams will not be fulfilled—that they are not part of the future God has for us. Sometimes, like Moses, we cause the loss of our dreams but, other times, like Job and Joseph, we do all the right things and life still goes terribly awry. While circumstances can seem cruel, we must remember that God is never cruel. We may have to abandon our dreams but God will never abandon us. When we’re disappointed, we can despair or continue to hope and trust in God’s plan for us. Like Job, we may lose everything but we don’t lose our faith in God. Like Joseph, we make the best of a bad situation and find God’s purpose in our circumstances and, like Moses, who continued to lead the Israelites to a land he would only view from a distance, disappointment won’t stop us from doing God’s work.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. [Genesis 50:20 (NLT)]

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. [John 16:33 (NLT)]

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February 28, 2017

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Church & Worship, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Fruit of the Spirit, Love & Works, Money & Wealth, Salvation: A New You, Sharing Our Faith, Today: Make it Count

HIS FAMILY

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Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” [Luke 8:20-21 (NLT)]

Last Sunday, my morning’s Bible reading was Luke 8 and I was again struck by Jesus’ rather brusque words dismissing his mother and brothers. They weren’t really a denial of His earthly family; after all, His last words expressed concern for His mother. He was making the point that His work as Messiah was even more important than blood ties, adding that those who heard and recognized God’s word had a closer link with Him than even His earthly family. Even so, I found His words rather curt and un-Jesus-like.

We were visiting friends so I attended church with our Roman Catholic hosts. Although I’m Protestant, as I read their bulletin and joined in worship, I found we had far more similarities than differences. We said the same creed, recited the same Lord’s Prayer, sang many of the same songs, celebrated communion similarly with bread and wine, and heard words from the same Gospels, Epistles and Psalms. We prayed, praised and worshipped as a family. Like Christian churches everywhere, their parish visits the sick, brings communion to the homebound, has a bereavement group, collects food for the food pantry, and needs volunteers for various church tasks and teachers for Vacation Bible School. I recalled Jesus’ words in Luke and realized I’d been concentrating on His rebuff of relatives rather than the meaning of the rest of His words. Jesus’ family isn’t limited to flesh and blood but includes all those who hear and obey His word. If I am His family, all believers are part of my family! Regardless of their denomination, all Christians are my kinfolk—my brothers and sisters—no matter what house in which they choose to worship.

Later in the day, I finished reading their church bulletin and saw that their “prayer intention” for the month of March was for persecuted Christians that they might be “supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church.” According to the U. S. Department of State, Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ. According to Open Doors, 215 million Christians experience high to extreme persecution. Their web site reports that every month, 332 Christians are killed for their faith, 772 forms of violence (i.e. beatings, abductions, torture, and arrest) are committed against Christians, and 214 Christian churches or properties are destroyed.

In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul eloquently points out that Christians are all God’s children, saying that “together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory.” He then adds, “But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.” [17b-18] If we truly share in His suffering, we also share in the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Christ. With Paul’s words in mind, I ask Protestants and Catholics alike to abide by Pope Francis’ direction to focus our prayers this month on supporting persecuted Christians everywhere.

We are One in The Spirit, We are One in The Lord. And we pray that all unity may one day be restored. … We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand. And together we’ll spread the News that God is in our land. … Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. [From “We are One in the Spirit” (Peter Scholte)]

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. [Galatians 3:26-28 (NLT)]

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