The Journey

I can't

The Scripture says that "joy comes in the morning."  But, at the midnight hour there is pain.  This past Monday a member of my church died.  Family and friends experiencing that midnight hour.  What do you say when someone is going through that dreaded feeling?  What words sooth?  As a pastor, I often am confronted with such situations, and it is very humbling.  I want to give the right words, with the right expressions, with the right attitude--and I seem to always come up short.  I want to encourage, to pray, to comfort--but my words fall flat. 

And then I am reminded by the still small Voice:  "You can't but I can."  Although I am called into spiritual leadership, I can't help but realize that I am one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.  I am nothing special on my own.  My own wisdom and intellect is disappointing.  But, then there is God.  He knows all, sees all, and is never limited by time or space.  This all-powerful God can, even when I utterly can't.  And I am glad!  So, at the midnight hour, I do something that seems insane: I praise and worship the God who loves me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).  The morning will come--and there I will find joy.

Fear

We live in a day and age that is ruled by the choking atmosphere of fear.  Politicians, businessmen, religious leader, educators—you name it—people of all walks of life are paralyzed with fear.  Focus groups, polls, trial balloons, advisers, experts are constantly consulted for fear of doing or saying the wrong things.  Christians and the church have also succumbed to fear—dangerously more concerned about offending a godless culture than offending God Himself.

The Art of Conflict

This Sunday I will be addressing (or tackling) the issue of conflict between brothers and sisters in Christ.  The fact of the matter is that conflict is a certainty.  And I would suggest that conflict is alive and well even among the most mature believers in Christ.  The issue is not whether conflict is right or healthy--the issue is how we as Christians are going to deal with conflict.  This is where, I believe, often times failure is a very real possibility.  Emotions, imaginations, frustrations, and confusions invite a departure from the mandates of God's Holy Word.  If we are not careful and disciplined, there is the tendency to abandon reason for us to declare how right we are and how wrong the "other" guy is.  Add to the fact that we want people to choose our side, we now have a big blow up without reconciliation in sight.  The church looses, the lost looses, and once again, Satan comes out the big winner.

However, I know the end of the Book: God wins.  The question is: are we on His side or the "other" guys side (i.e. Satan).

What do you think?

Compassion

Since yesterday's message on compassion, I have been swamped with comments (all of them good so far).  People have a hunger to do the right thing, but the sin nature encourages us to focus on self.  Compassion places the focus on others--others that are in need--others that are hurting--others that are struggling in life.  I want to encourage you to make it a priority in your life to follow the footsteps of Jesus to love unconditionally--looking for ways to show the love of Christ in meaningful ways.  I want to hear what God is doing through you as you put the principles of God's Word in practice.

Fasting and Prayer

I am preparing for a fast--a time of prayer and humility, where I will abstain from food.  There are at least three reasons for this fast.  First, fasting, prayer, and Bible intake is important for my own personal spiritual development and health.  Second, fasting and prayer helps me hear from God concerning His church.  And third, fasting and prayer centers my heart on what matters to God--especially as it relates to those without the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Even though the Bible addresses fasting numerous times, I hear very little about fasting these days.  I wonder what your thoughts and experiences are concerning fasting?  Do you regularly fast, or do you see fasting as something not important for the Christian of today?

What do you think?

Where to Begin

Yesterday, I concluded a trip to Florida with the wife and kids.  Twenty-two hours of driving time plus food breaks and restroom stops made the journey back to Manhattan, well, let me say it tested my resolve.  During the long drive, I thought about my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I feel that there is always room for improvement.  So I asked God to give me some direction on where to begin.  He pointed me to Psalms 139 where David prayed: "Search me Oh God..."

Often times when we are looking at improving ourselves, we focus on what we can do--what is in our power and control to accomplish.  This will always fall short of really experiencing the "purpose" driven life--a life lived in the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.  God has something much more amazing in mind for us to experience--for us to live.  So, it is not what I can change, it is what God can change as I live by faith in the one who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

The Power to Overcome

Sometimes I can be very philosophical--addressing terms or situations that go beyond my own self.  As I was working on my Sunday message (I am a pastor), I ran into one of those "terms" that caused me to think--and think--and think some more.  In fact, it was more than a term, or a doctrine, but a situation. 

The situation is sin--whether thought or deed.  The question is how do we overcome the power, the temptation, the draw of sin (anything that falls short of God's glory).  I know from personal experience that sin is difficult to master, to overcome.  My conversations with people also demonstrate the truth that sin is powerful.  It costs more than we ever intended to pay, and takes us farther than we ever intended to go.  It destroys everything in its wake. 

As I was studying for this weekends message, I centered my thoughts on 2 Peter 3:14-18, on reconnected to a powerful truth: that God has given the believer in Jesus Christ the way to overcome sin.  And that truth? Grace!  God's Grace!.  As we "grow in the Grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ" there is the power and authority we need to overcome.  That is how we can "make every effort" to reject sin and embrace a life of holiness. 

This Sunday, I am going to share this thought, and a little bit more about God's amazing, wonderful, mysterious, powerful, incredible, matchless Grace. 

Getting Better

For the last three weeks or so, I have been feeling sick.  Finally, after my wife's insistence, I went to see the doctor.  I was confident he would say: "there's nothing wrong.  It's all in your head."  Well, there was something wrong, and it was in my chest--Bronchitis.  The doctor subscribed a prescription, and now, a few days later, I am feeling almost as good as new. 

You would think that, after forty-four years of existence, I would learn to not let a sickness get so bad.  I don't like seeing a doctor.  But, on the other hand, I don't like feeling sick. 

Spiritually, we allow ourselves to suffer.  Doubt, fear, discouragement, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, disappointment--all spiritual sicknesses that we somehow allow to fester, and become bigger problems.  We need to remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is the Great Physician--the healer of physical and spiritual problems.  As a believer in Christ, we have access to His presence, where we can find genuine, lasting, authentic healing.

Let's not let things go.  Let's go to the Great Physician, who always knows what we need, even before we ask it.

A Blur

For some reason, and I don't know why, I have been thinking about the time I was a teenager--more specifically, a high school senior.  To augment my thoughts, I dug through a foot locker that contains stuff from the last thirty years of my life.  And there it was--my high school year book.  As I was thumbing through the pages, I became surprisingly frustrated.  I couldn't remember most of my classmates.  I was having a hard time recalling the details of my four years at Saugus High School.  Am I loosing it? 

Sometimes I look at the years gone by and it seems just a blur.  I don't want it to be a blur--I want remember--the good and the bad.  I want to remember conversations, the laughs, the cries, the people, the sights--I want to remember. 

Maybe I am going through the beginnings of a mid-life crisis.  Maybe if blogging existed twenty-five years ago, I would have remembered a lot more--and I would have been lamenting right now about knowing too much. 

Well, just a though!

Safe

I like it safe--predictable and no surprises.  Change is usually not my cup of tea.  Just like the movies, I want a happy ending.  But, as a believer in Christ, I am called by Christ (See Mark 8) to a life of anything but safe.  He has called me to deny myself (my desire to be safe and happy) and take up my cross (my God-given purpose) to to pursue Him with passion.

As a pastor I am also called to help others experience Christ's calling to "die" to self.  This is easier said than done.  People like comfort, simple, predictable, happy--not a calling to surrender, struggle, trust, faith, and...well, the list goes on and on.  What concerns me is that so many professing Christians rather be comfortable than fulfilling their God-given purpose.  Sometimes I feel that what is expected of me from Christian people is to make people feel good, to entertain.  But, what if I proclaim a message that makes people very uncomfortable, very uneasy? 

Next Sunday I am going to preach such a message.  I have entitled it "The Comfort Zone"--Living a life for Self.  My hearts cry is for people to realize that God has much more for us, if only we allow Him to take control of our lives.  But, surrendering is so hard to do.

What do you think?