God's GPS

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.' "

(Isaiah 30:21)

A friend of mine recently shared some thoughts about how God isn't the God of only one chance, but that He is the God of many chances. As I thought about this, I started to think about how the Holy Spirit is like a GPS system that God installs in us when we become Christians.

Now, I don't a have a GPS navigator in my car, but I have been in enough cars with one that I am fairly familiar with how they work. One thing for certain, if you miss a turn or an exit, the little voice in the box doesn't say, "You stupid idiot! You missed your turn. Now you will never get to your destination. I don't even know why I bother with you!" On the contrary, the voice simply says, "Turn missed. Recalculating." In a few moments, it provides a new route to get you where you are going, and starts providing step by step directions. And if, by chance, you blow another turn, it simply repeats the process. Over and over again if necessary. Of course, by that time you should probably consider letting someone else drive for awhile.

God's GPS (the Holy Spirit) works much in the same way. When we mess up, He doesn't rant and rave and belittle us (or worse, give up on us completely). He gently reminds us that we erred, and then provides an alternate route to get us back on course. And when we mess up again (because you know we will), He simply repeats the process. Over and over again if necessary.

To further the analogy, you can have the best GPS system on the market in your car, but if you never turn it on, it will do you no good. The Holy Spirit is the same way. We have all the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, but if we never tap into this magnificent resource, we are destined to stumble blindly through life, constantly getting lost. 

For those of us of the male persuasion, we act as if we are missing the genetic code that enables us to ask for directions (or use our GPS). In fact, I'm sure the Hebrew children would have made it Canaan much quicker if Moses had just stopped to ask directions instead of wandering aimlessly in the desert for 40 years (just kidding). But we tend to do the same thing with the Holy Spirit (not just us guys, either). We think we can do just fine without getting any input from Him, and then wonder why we're always getting lost on our way to the Promised Land.

The passage from Isaiah above prophesies the day when we would have the Holy Spirit as a constant companion, guiding our steps through this complex life. Notice it doesn't say that He will drag us on the right path. Rather, He takes a back seat and gently whispers directions to us. We can either heed His suggestions or ignore them. Unlike an actual GPS system, however, He will never give us bad information ("Turn left." Um, it's a wall.) If we attune our ears to listen to His voice and follow His directions, we will get where we're going much quicker and on smoother paths. The choice is ours.

I choose to listen, unless ice cream is involved.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

One Body

"Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."
(1 Corinthians 12:12-14)

I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Orlando, Florida last weekend, where I gathered with hundreds of other Christian brothers and sisters for several days of worship, workshops and fellowship. The culmination of the weekend was the Sunday morning worship service. While I am not a big fan of liturgical worship, it was a very beautiful service nonetheless. One of the most touching moments was when it came time for communion. There were two officiants, an Anglican priest and a Roman Catholic priest. The fact that these two brothers in Christ were able to set aside any doctrinal differences and serve side by side at the Lord's table spoke volumes about how we truly are all members of one body. In attendance were people from every walk of life and from a multitude of faith traditions (or none at all), and for a brief period of time, we were all able to worship together without labels or artificial lines of separation. I kept thinking to myself that this is truly what the Church is supposed to look like.

The theme of the conference this year was "Ambassadors of Reconciliation", based on 2 Corinthians 5:18-20:

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God."

Ironically, even as we were all worshiping together as one body, a storm was brewing regarding a controversial event that had occurred earlier in the conference. Battle lines had been drawn, and the very people who are supposed to be ambassadors of reconciliation were now embroiled in a spiritual tug-of-war to see which side of the aisle would prevail. Unity and reconciliation were nowhere to be found, although many involved attempted to quell the rumors and vitriol. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised (we are, after all, sinners saved by grace), but it was rather disconcerting to see so many people withhold grace and forgiveness from their fellow believers and hold on to their offenses like a badge of honor.

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He included the phrase "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us." He also taught the parable about the unmerciful servant who, after being forgiven for a massive debt he could never repay, went out and demanded payment from his fellow servants for the pittances they owed him. Jesus made it clear that the servant's fate for being so unforgiving was less than favorable. I admit that I sometimes struggle with a spirit of unforgiveness toward those who have wronged me. But God gently reminds me how much I have been forgiven, and somehow it becomes easier to overlook the offenses committed by others.

As long as infighting and quarreling persist within the Church, we render ourselves ineffective as ambassadors of reconciliation between God and the world. When people outside of Christianity see us devouring each other and withholding grace and forgiveness, they smell the stench of death rather than the sweet aroma of abundant life. Christians should be the most pleasant, loving and joyful people on the planet, but that is not how we usually appear to those outside of the Church. My prayer is that we all learn how to love each other in spite of our differences so that we can fully function as the one body of Christ in the world. Then, and only then, will we make Christ so attractive to others that they will beg us to share the Good News with them.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

New Year, New Beginnings

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

(Isaiah 43:19)

For those of you who know me well, I don't need to tell how challenging 2011 was for me. Needless to say, I am more than happy to put that most unpleasant of years behind me, and look forward to a much better and brighter 2012. So yes, I'm looking forward to some streams springing up in my desert.

Obviously, there is nothing magical about turning the page of the calendar from December 31 to January 1 that suddenly changes our lives. It's really just another 24-hour day in a seemingly endless stream of days. But psychologically, culturally, and even spiritually, there is something significant about starting a new year that gives us hope for better tomorrows and cleansing from yesterdays. A new year provides a delineation between the old and the new, the past and the future. On this one day of the year, we get to wipe our proverbial slates clean and start all over. Of course, we get that opportunity every morning when we wake up. Lamentations 3:23 tells us that God's compassions are "new every morning", meaning that He gives us a clean tablet of life to write on every day.

But the new year is a BIG tablet - more like a giant storyboard, where we get to set goals for ourselves (call them resolutions if you want). We plan out a course of action that is designed to make our lives better and more fulfilling, to make us better people and friends and family members, and to give our lives a sense of structure and purpose. These goals/resolutions should go beyond "I'm going to lose weight or stop smoking or pay off my credit cards". They should have a much deeper impact on who we are, not just what we do or how we look.

With that in mind, I present Eight Godly Resolutions for the New Year. This is something I put in my church bulletins every year when I had my church, and I've also shared them elsewhere over the years. They are timeless because they are based on scriptural principles. and can be applied to all of our lives, regardless of our personal circumstances. They are also something that we never accomplish once and move on - they require ongoing work to achieve and maintain - so you'll probably see them here again next January, if Jesus tarries and the Mayans were wrong.

Have a safe, blessed and prosperous 2012!

Pastor David

Eight Godly Resolutions for the New Year

 1.    I will destroy all roots of bitterness by forgiving those who have hurt me and accepting forgiveness from others (Ephesians 4:29-32)

2.    I will not be satisfied living on yesterday’s spiritual blessings and nourishment (Exodus 16:13-21)

3.    I will make sure God is at the top of my priority list (Mark 12:28-31)

4.    I will let my closest friends be those that will positively influence my walk with God (Psalm 1:1; Psalm 119:63)

5.    I will seek to live at peace with everyone (Romans 12:16-18)

6.    I will commit myself to serving others (Philippians 2:1- 4)

7.    I will ask God for a renewed vision for lost souls (1 Corinthians 9:9-23)

8.    I will ask God for new opportunities to witness to others (Colossians 4:2-6; 1 Peter 3:15)

Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?

“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, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"

(Matthew 25:34-40)

Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying this first: I love Christmas. I love the sparkle and magic and general goodwill that comes with this special season. I love the food and the music and the lights and the festive atmosphere. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

But something in me has changed over the years, and I don't see Christmas the way I used to. I no longer decorate my house or put up a Christmas tree. I don't exchange presents with family and friends like I used to. To me, Christmas has taken on a new meaning. Chalk it up to growing older, or wiser, or perhaps a little of both.

Don't think that I look down on those who are fully engaged in all of the flurry and hustle and bustle of Christmas. Decorate your houses. Deck your halls and trim your trees. Eat festive foods and worry about your diets next month. Buy presents for everyone on your list. Sing Jingle Bells at the top of your lungs. May your wassail and your eggnog both be blessed.

But let's stop pretending like these festive traditions have anything to do with celebrating the birth of Christ, God's greatest gift to humanity.

I don't know a lot about birthday traditions in other cultures around the world, but in our culture, when you have a birthday, people give you gifts, and for one day out of the year, it's all about you. So if Christmas really is all about celebrating the birthday of Jesus, why do we give gifts to everyone except Him? I see lots of people posting on facebook what they got for Christmas. If Jesus had a facebook page, I wonder what presents He would talk about receiving. 

Some may say, "We give each other gifts as symbols of the gift God gave us in Jesus." Really? Why not just give them directly to Him instead? "How do we give gifts to Jesus? What could He possibly want or need?" It's quite simple, really. After all, He left us with a wish list in Matthew 25. He said that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome strangers and visit the sick and lonely, we do these things for Him and to Him. The greatest gifts we can give at Christmas (or any time for that matter), are to those who cannot possibly ever return the favor. It seems as much of the gift giving during the holidays is done so out of obligation. "So-and-so gave me something, so now I need to give something back." Or, "I don't want to forget anyone or they will be offended and hurt." Sure, a gift can be given out of love, but I didn't see a lot of love swelling up in the faces of the shoppers yesterday frantically buying the last of the gifts on their lists.

I stopped giving Christmas gifts to friends and family members. Instead, I show them my love and appreciation throughout the year, on their birthdays or for no special reason. But I make Christmas all about Jesus. The Christmas gifts I now give go to impoverished families in Africa and homeless teens down the street. To people who are struggling just to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. People who don't know my name or have any way of thanking me. I get more satisfaction doing this than I ever got out of picking out that "perfect gift" for someone I know. After all, how many of you can remember what you got for Christmas last year, or the year before? Most of the gifts we give are really meaningless tokens that get lost in the shuffle of our over-abundance. But give an African family a goat that will provide nourishment and income for many years, and they will always remember that gift. Or put a new pair of shoes on the feet of a homeless kid who's been kicked out of the house and feels abandoned by family and church because of who they are, and they will always remember that moment on Christmas morning, when someone actually cared enough to give them the exact size and style they always dreamed of having, but never thought was possible.

I'm not writing all of this to make anyone feel guilty about the way you celebrate Christmas, or do I expect that the commercialism of the season will change in my lifetime. But maybe, just maybe, something I said today might get someone to think about Christmas just a little bit differently next year.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Pastor David

Got Love?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

(John 3:16)

(Although I wasn't raised in a traditional, liturgical church, I discovered Advent as an adult. I have found this ancient seasonal observance to be very useful in keeping a proper perspective about Christmas and what it's really all about. For the four Sundays leading up to Christmas I'll be sharing my thoughts about the four aspects of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.)

 

Love. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? It’s not about shepherds, angels and wise men. And it’s certainly not about presents and decorations and Christmas trees and parties. Christmas is the celebration of the greatest expression of love that humanity has ever known.

Who would have thought that the God of all creation, the Supreme Master of the Universe, would love us puny, dirty, rebellious humans so much that He would sacrifice Himself in the form of His Son Jesus, so that He could enjoy our company for all eternity?

1 John 4:16 says, “God is love.” If God is love, then we can only truly know real love by knowing God. And because God wants us to know Him, and consequently, know His love, He sent His Son in the form of a little baby.

Why a baby? Why didn’t Jesus burst on the scene as a grown man, as He does in the Gospels of Mark and John? Why was it so important for Matthew and Luke to write an account of the birth of Jesus? I think perhaps it was to show how frail, helpless, and needy He was. Just like us. And what greater expression of human love is there than that of a mother with her newborn child? She forgets the nine months of morning sickness and backaches, and the excruciating pain of labor. All that matters is that little tiny baby in her arms.

Like that baby, when we experience new birth in Jesus, God forgets about all the mess, aggravation and pain we caused Him. All He cares about is this newborn baby Christian in His arms. We start out needing to be spoon-fed the Word, needing our spiritual diapers changed when we mess up, needing to be comforted when we cry. And all of it lovingly administered by our Heavenly Father, who loves us so much He was willing to die for us.

Love. As you celebrate Christmas this week, let every symbol of our traditions remind you of God’s great love for you.

Prayer:

God of Love, words can never begin to express how humbled and how grateful we are for your love for each one of us. When we so quickly give up on those who disappoint us, you continue to hold out your arms of love, patiently waiting for each of your chosen ones to come home. Help us to remember that Christmas is all about love. Let everything we do and say be saturated with love, not only on Christmas, but every day of the year. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Got Joy?

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Luke 2:8-11

(Although I wasn't raised in a traditional, liturgical church, I discovered Advent as an adult. I have found this ancient seasonal observance to be very useful in keeping a proper perspective about Christmas and what it's really all about. For the four Sundays leading up to Christmas I'll be sharing my thoughts about the four aspects of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.)

 
The angel who announced the birth of Jesus called it “good news of great joy for all the people.” Why was this such joyful news? Because the angel knew the true purpose of the Son of God descending to Earth in the form of a baby was so that, through His life, death and resurrection, He would provide the way of salvation to all who would believe in Him.

Unfortunately, humans saw the birth in a very different light. They expressed joy because, at long last, the promised Messiah had arrived. The Jews expected that the Messiah would make everything right. He would re-establish the throne of David and return Israel to its former glory as the religious and cultural center of the Middle East. He would rise up and conquer the enemies of Israel. And He would usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Little did they understand His true mission.

Today, we can look back at that great event and realize why the birth of Christ was such a joyful occasion. Because He was born in human form, He was able to experience everything we experience, feel everything we feel, face every temptation we face. More importantly, He alone could take on the punishment for our sins so that we could have a restored relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Our joy comes from the assurance of our salvation, knowing that we have been set free from the curse of sin and death. It comes from the knowledge that we have a Savior who understands us, who has walked in our footsteps, and who feels our pain. It comes from a deep-seated belief that nothing in this world (or beyond) can separate us from the love of God.

Our joy does not come from our circumstances; circumstances change. Our joy does not come from our emotions; our emotions are unpredictable and unreliable. Our joy comes from the Holy Spirit who lives within each believer. Like peace, joy is also a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy keeps us sane in the midst of the insanity around us. It helps us rise above the chaos, uncertainty and turmoil in our lives.

As we continue to prepare for and anticipate the celebration of Christmas, let us renew the joy that we have in Christ, and let us spread that joy wherever we go. It is a gift that we can share with everyone we meet; a gift far more valuable than anything we could buy, wrap and place under the Christmas tree.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Prayer:

God of Joy, we thank you for the great joy that we have from knowing Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Help us to experience that joy fully in all of our activities, and to spread it to everyone we meet. Remind us that the joy of this season is not only about the birth of a baby in a manger in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, but about a Savior who is returning soon to complete what He started and to take us home to be with Him forever. Amen.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Got Peace?

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Luke 2:13-14

(Although I wasn't raised in a traditional, liturgical church, I discovered Advent as an adult. I have found this ancient seasonal observance to be very useful in keeping a proper perspective about Christmas and what it's really all about. For the four Sundays leading up to Christmas I'll be sharing my thoughts about the four aspects of Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.)

PEACE 

The angels who appeared to the shepherds when Jesus was born proclaimed peace to humanity. Centuries earlier, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed that one of the names of the coming Messiah would be “Prince of Peace.” Each time Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He greeted them with the phrase, “Peace be with you.” One of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit is peace. When Jesus returns to earth to establish His kingdom during the Millennium, He will usher in a thousand-year reign of peace.

The word “peace” appears in the Bible at least 230 times. It is a central theme throughout Scripture. Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is defined in a number of ways:

• a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations
• cessation of or freedom from any strife or dissension
• freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.
• a state of tranquility or serenity

In a world of chaos and uncertainty, peace is the very real and present possession of every believer. Christmas is often thought of as a special time of peace. At least, that’s what our Christmas cards say. But if Christmas is about peace entering into the world, why do we get so caught up in all of the chaos of the holiday traditions? The observance of Christmas was never intended to be a time of frantically scurrying about trying to find the perfect gift for each person on your shopping list, decorating your home and yard to rival anything Martha Stewart can do, baking endless batches of cookies, fudge and gingerbread, attending every party and gathering you’re invited to, and usually spending and eating too much, against your better judgment.

Our celebration of the birth of Christ should be a time of reflection, not endless activity. Yes, our traditions are important because they lend continuity to our lives, but they should not overshadow the true meaning of this special time of year. Take time during the next few weeks to stop and enjoy the peace that you have in Christ. Ponder on the amazing miracle of the very Person of God coming to earth in the form of a little baby, so that we could spend an eternity with Him in perpetual peace. Use this time to also remember and anticipate the day when He will return to establish peace on this earth. Revelation 21:1-4 tells us that the order of this world will soon pass away, and Jesus will make everything new. Peace be with you.

Prayer:

God of Peace, we thank you that we can have peace in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Help us to spread that peace to all those around us as we remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace. As we celebrate His human birth, remind us to also look forward to His glorious return. Amen.

Have a blessed (and peaceful) week! 

Pastor David