Give Thanks!

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

(Lamentations 3:22-23)

To say that this year has been a difficult one for me personally would be an understatement. Over the past few days leading up to our annual Thanksgiving celebration today, I was reviewing this year and the trials I have experienced, and one of my favorite Bible passages from Lamentations came to mind. Coincidentally (or not), this same passage was the scripture of the day in my daily devotional this morning. I was going to use some verse from the Psalms that talks about giving thanks to God (there are so many to choose from), but this one really wraps it up for me. I look back at some of the events of this year and realize that it is only because of God’s great compassion for me that I was not consumed by them. I was not consumed by grief, sorrow, anger, disappointment or any of the other emotions that gripped me at various times. Although there were days when I was feeling a little Job-like (and others were quick to make that comparison), I also felt the constant presence of God throughout each situation. And for that, I am thankful.

I am thankful that I have the promise of God through His Son Jesus Christ that I will never be abandoned. I am thankful that God walks with me through fire and flood (quite literally). I am thankful for the assurance that He knows exactly how I feel, and extends His mercy and compassion to me. I am thankful that He has brought me through each of these situations with the help of some of the most loyal and selfless friends that a person could ever hope to have. And I am thankful for a sense of humor, because it is healthier to laugh in the face of death and destruction than to wallow in misery and self-pity.

I posted on my facebook status today that “gratitude is the antidote to discontentment.” If I spend all of my energy thinking about what I don’t have, I will miss the opportunity to enjoy what I do have. In spite of everything that I have lost this year, I can still be grateful for these things:

• A peaceful home (that I WILL finish one of these days)
• A stable job that provides me with a very comfortable lifestyle
• Wonderful friends who love me, even when I am unlovable
• Reasonably good health, despite the occasional aches and pains that come with getting older
• Not one, but two reliable vehicles (I can’t bear to part with my old truck)
• New ministry opportunities that have recently opened up
• Most of all, the assurance of salvation and the promise that the best is yet to come

When I take an honest inventory of my life, I have to admit that I have it pretty good. God has been gracious and has blessed me abundantly in ways that really matter. And for that, I am most thankful.

God never promises us a smooth journey; the ride can get pretty turbulent at times. But He does promise us a safe landing. I figure I’m going to be at my final destination for quite some time, so I’m in no hurry for the journey to end just yet. In the meantime, I’ll keep my seat belt fastened during the bumpy parts, and move about the cabin when it’s safe to do so. And give thanks in each and every situation.

Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving!

Pastor David

Take Heart!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

It's been awhile since I've written anything here. I intended to use the above passage in an entry for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I never got around to writing that entry. On September 6, I had to put down my beloved dog, Tabitha, who was my constant companion for 15 1/2 years. To say that I was overwhelmed with grief would be an understatement. A week later, I went to retrieve her ashes, only to come home to find that a water pipe had burst in the ceiling above my new kitchen, the ceiling had collapsed, and the whole house was flooded. At that moment I began to identify a little bit with Job.

I honestly don't know how people make it through life without Christ. Sometimes it's hard enough to make it with Him on our side. If it was not for His constant presence and peace, and the incredible friendship that I have with two of the most generous people I have ever known, I would have probably had a nervous breakdown. I suppose God had me wait with this message until I had something more personal to share than the academic musings that I had originally intended.

Throughout this double whammy that I was experiencing, the above verse kept running through my mind. Jesus' intent on warning us about coming troubles wasn't to scare us, but rather to prepare us for what was inevitable, and to reassure us of two things: He has overcome the world (and its problems that abound), and we can have peace in the midst of such troubles. Notice that He didn't say, "I will overcome the world." Rather, He uses the past tense: "I have overcome the world." It's a done deal as far as He's concerned. This means that we don't have to face each new trouble wondering if He will overcome this one like He did the last one. Instead, we can rest assured that not only has He overcome the current situation, but He also knew it was going to happen and prepared the way for us to make it through with His help.

One of the things I learned a long time ago is that no one is exempt from troubles in this life. People often question their troubles with a rhetorical "why me?" Somewhere along the way I began to understand that the real question should be "why not me?" What makes anyone think that they are so special or favored that they should skip along through life without any problems? Jesus told us that we will all have troubles. Not, we might have troubles, or that some people will have troubles. Troubles come along with breathing. Sooner or later, we will all faces trials and tribulations. In fact, if anyone tries to convince you that you must be doing something wrong if you're having problems, they are simply lying to you. Sure, some of our troubles are self-inflicted, but often things simply happen beyond our control or understanding. Christians who go around claiming to lived such blessed lives that they are unscathed by trouble are either delusional or hiding something.

I'm not out of the woods yet in this current situation. I'm writing this from my hotel room where I'm staying until my house is restored to a livable condition. And I still miss my "baby girl" very much. But I also have an inexplicable peace that I know comes from my faith in Christ, which allows me to continue on with my life (such as it is). Just as Job ended up getting a double blessing after he endured all of the troubles that came upon him, I too expect that great good will come out of these recent events in my life, even if I can't understand or imagine what they might be. Thank God for the peace that comes with Christ's overcoming power!

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Fear Not!

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior." (Habakkuk 3:17-18)

Unless you have been living under a rock, you are probably well aware that the world is in turmoil and disarray. As I write this, the nation of Libya is undergoing a civil war as rebels attempt to overthrow that country’s dictator. Syrian unrest has resulted in thousands of deaths over the past five months. Recent riots and looting in London resulted in extensive property damage and several deaths. Last month, seventy-seven people were slaughtered in Norway by an anti-immigrant zealot. The US stock markets are declining again after a brief recovery, and the economies of most industrial nations are in shambles. In this country, millions of people have lost their homes to foreclosure, and our unemployment rate is still hovering close to ten percent.

Needless to say, fear is rampant.

People fear for their safety, their financial security, their health, and their future. There are so many things that can cause us worry and fear in this world. Yet, the Bible reminds us over and over again to not fear. In fact, the phrase “do not fear” and its variations appear hundreds of times throughout the Scriptures. Fear is the opposite of faith. When we experience fear, worry and doubt about our situations and circumstances, we are saying that God is not able to see us through or to provide what we need.

The passage I quoted above is one of my favorite Scriptures. It reminds me that my joy does not depend on my circumstances. Regardless of how things around me look, I can still “rejoice in the Lord” because He alone sustains me in the bad times as well as the good. I don’t have to walk in fear of destitution, disease, danger or death as long as I trust in God’s perfect provision in my life. Governments will collapse, employment will end, loved ones will die, and health will fail. But one thing endures through all of life’s turmoil – the joy of the Lord.

If you’re walking in fear today, let it go. Place your faith in God and look to Him for your joy and peace in the midst of your trials. He will never let you down and will never disappoint you. God’s been doing what He does for a long time, and He’s pretty good at it.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Only A Mist

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

I was saddened to read the news of the tragic event that occurred Saturday night at the Indiana State Fair. At least five people were killed and dozens seriously injured when a storm blew over the concert stage right before the main act was to begin their performance. What started out as a day of fun and entertainment turned into a horrific time of suffering and death.

I'm fairly certain that none of those concert-goers went to the fair that day thinking that they would never return home. What was the worse thing that could happen at a Sugarland concert, after all? Indeed, it is a very sad and shocking event, all the more so because it was so unexpected. One assumes a certain amount of risk riding on wild rides like roller coasters and the such (I stay away from them - far far away!). But standing on the ground in front of a concert stage - what could be safer?

As I contemplated this news, I thought about the truth that all of our lives are but a momentary mist in the grand scheme of things. No one knows when their time is up. Most of us don't work in dangerous occupations like law enforcement or the military or mining. We wake up in the morning, go about our mundane routines, and assume that we will return home safely at the end of the day. But the Apostle James reminds us that we can't take a single day of our lives for granted. Only God knows how many days have been allotted to us here on earth. This is not to say that we should go about our lives in constant fear of death, or refuse to plan beyond the next few minutes. But we should always acknowledge that our plans are subject to God's greater plan, and that we will only carry out our plans if it is His will.

I drive a considerable distance on my commute every day, and know that every time I sit behind that wheel, I may never reach my destination. More and more, drivers on the road are distracted by so many things (don't ever let me catch you texting while driving!). I am amazed at the things I see people doing when they should be driving - dialing their cell phones, texting, reading, putting on make-up, shaving, filing paperwork, using their laptops, talking to their kids in the back seat. Sometimes several of these things all at once. I cringe whenever I see a driver holding their cell phone in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other; I wonder who is driving the car.

Because we know that our lives can end in a moment, it is all the more important that we secure our eternal future by establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ as our Savior. If you have not accepted His sacrifice on the cross as payment in full for your sins, then there is no better time than now to make that all-important decision. Tomorrow may be too late. Beyond that, strive to make the most of every moment that God gives you. Don't forget to tell your loved ones that you love them, even if you're pretty sure that they already know.

My prayers go out to the families and loved ones of those who died at the fair. May God provide them comfort and peace as only He can.

Have a blessed week.

Pastor David

Modern-Day Pharisees

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:13, 23-28)

I’ve been reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado, called “Just Like Jesus.” The premise of the book is that God loves us just as we are, but too much to leave us that way. He wants us to become transformed into the likeness of His Son Jesus. Of course, if we are to become like Jesus, we need to study His life and teachings. Thus, Lucado examines a number of areas in which we can (and should) examine ourselves and see how we line up with our Savior.

Now, I’ve spent my entire adult life studying the Bible, and have read it cover to cover dozens of times. I’m still learning new stuff every time I open those pages, so I certainly don’t claim to know everything that’s in the Bible. In fact, if anyone does, they’re either delusional or a liar. But I do think that I have a fairly good grasp on the overall character of Jesus as revealed in the Gospels. In spite of His dual God/man nature, Jesus was a rather simple, uncomplicated individual. He always spoke the truth, He only did what His Father told Him to do, and He never lost sight of His eternal purpose for being here on earth.

One of the interesting things to note about Jesus is that the only people He ever condemned were the religious leaders of His day: the teachers of the law and the Pharisees. These men were extremely self-righteous individuals who looked down on everyone else and did anything necessary to maintain their elevated positions of power. The passage quoted above from Matthew shows how much Jesus detested the practices and character of these hypocrites:

• They made it nearly impossible for their followers to enter into the kingdom of God because of all the rules and regulations that they placed on them
• They stood between God and anyone whom they felt was unworthy to be a part of His kingdom 
• They followed the letter of the law in everything tangible, but ignored the intangibles that God required – justice, mercy and faithfulness
• They looked good on the outside by doing and saying everything that had the appearance of righteousness, but their hearts were full of evil, greed, malice and duplicity

Jesus could see right through the thin veneers of these religious leaders. He knew their thoughts and motives, and had nothing good to say about them. Indeed, these were the very men who incited Pontius Pilate and the crowds to have Jesus crucified. They were terrified of any radical idea or practice that might upset their carefully crafted religion or diminish their stranglehold on their followers. Jesus was just such a radical thinker. He taught radical love, radical acceptance, radical forgiveness, radical transparency, and a radical relationship with God the Father.

 

Thus, Jesus had to go.

The sad thing is, not much has changed in two thousand years. The church today is filled with the same teachers of the law and Pharisees that Jesus condemned in His day. These self-righteous hypocrites insist on burdening their followers with rules and regulations that they themselves are not always (or ever) willing to adhere to. They drudge up the Old Testament laws that Jesus satisfied on the cross and use them to keep certain types of people away from full fellowship with God. They put on a great public show of morality and holiness, while at the same time are engaging in unsavory and unethical behaviors in their personal lives. They oppose the radical teachings of Jesus, and pick and choose whom they will love, accept, forgive and fellowship with. They have a heavy hand in the political process in order to ensure that local, state and federal governments abide by their narrow world view, and that laws are made and enforced which are designed to impose their brand of morality upon the masses. I dare say that Jesus Himself would not be welcome in most of their churches.

I’m just as sure that Jesus would pronounce the same condemnation on these modern-day Pharisees. How many countless lives have been destroyed because of their wanton, harmful hypocrisy? How many people have been pushed away from the table of fellowship and driven into the open arms of the enemy? How many people have walked away from the church, and from God, because it no longer seemed possible to please this cruel taskmaster that the Pharisees have concocted?

One of the reasons I left the church I was raised in was because I was told that I was not allowed to question the beliefs and practices of the church. Things were the way they were, and that was that. Since that time, I have always believed that if you are not allowed to question what is being taught and done in a church, then you need to find the nearest exit and get away from that place. Such places are more cult-like than Christ-like. I don’t care how charismatic or polished a preacher, evangelist or author is; you should always compare what they say and teach against the Word of God.

My prayer for the church today is that she becomes more Christ-like, and that those Pharisees who oppose the liberating message of the Gospel be removed from their positions of power and abuse so that we can continue to seek and save the lost.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Forgiven!

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

Okay. I confess. I am one of only 8 people in the entire country who did not follow the Casey Anthony murder trial. In fact, I hardly even noticed it until the verdict was announced and the whole nation seemed to erupt into a mob mentality, declaring her not only guilty of murdering her daughter, but worthy of death.

Having served on a trial jury, I understand the gravity of the responsibility placed on the jurors to render a just and correct verdict. I also understand that, in this great nation of ours, we have a jury system in place for the very reason of protecting people like Ms. Anthony from mob rule.

I do not know if she is guilty of murdering her daughter. I don't know if she is even responsible for her daughter's death. I wasn't in the courtroom, and I didn't serve on the jury. Apparently there was not enough clear and convincing evidence presented to the court to justify her conviction. If there was any miscarriage of justice (as later reports seem to indicate at least the suspicion of legal misdeeds), then it is up to the judicial system to sort these things out and correct any wrongs.

However, I do know that it is better to err by acquitting a guilty person than executing an innocent person. I was somewhat taken aback by the outcries for her blood by people who were not in a position to know beyond a reasonable doubt whether Ms. Anthony is truly guilty of a capital crime. She may look guilty. She may even act guilty. She probably did and said some really foolish and regrettable things during the investigation and subsequent trial. But it is not illegal in this country to be stupid or to look guilty. What really amazed me was how many of my Christian friends were so quick to declare her acquittal an injustice, and thereby condemning her to death. Really?

I am often reminded of the passage from Colossians quoted above, which clearly puts things in perspective. I am to forgive as God has forgiven me. How many of those declaring Casey Anthony guilty and worthy of death have themselves been given a "get out of jail free" card by God. Not once. Or twice. But numerous times. We all have sinned against God and our fellow humans. The Bible declares us worthy of death because of our transgressions. But God provided (and still provides) the acquittal for our offense:

"...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)

I, for one, prefer to let God have the final word on whether Casey Anthony is guilty. Frankly, I find it more appropriate to pray for her salvation than to call for her execution. I'm pretty sure that's what Jesus would do.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David