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

Free Indeed!

"To the Jews who had believed in him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?' Jesus replied, 'I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.' (John 8:31-36)

(In honor of the U.S. Independence Day celebration, here's an excerpt from a sermon I preached several years ago.)

Freedom is a central theme throughout the Bible. In fact, it was God's purpose to free us through Jesus Christ, foreshadowed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament. In Isaiah 42:6-7, God gave His prophet the ministry of setting prisoners free:

"I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness."
This was not a reference to literal prisoners, serving time for some crime they had committed. Rather, it referred to those who were being held in a spiritual prison, in bondage to the things of this world that are controlled by the enemy, Satan. It was, and still is, God’s desire to set all people free from the bondage of sin and death that Satan has placed us under.

Isaiah reiterated this prophecy later on:

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." (Isaiah 61:1)

It was this same prophecy that Jesus quoted at the beginning of His earthly ministry, taking the mantle upon Himself for setting free the prisoners of Satan. (Luke 4:16-21)

From the very beginning, when Adam and Eve fell into sin, it has been God’s intention to free us from the curse that He was required to place on creation for their sin. Therefore, it should be a priority for all Christians to live in the freedom that God has provided us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And it should also be a priority for us to share that freedom with those who are still in bondage.

Therefore, through Jesus, we are freed from bondage to sin. But what exactly are we free from?

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

We are free from the law of sin and death. The law of sin and death is quite simple: you sin, you die. The law of the Spirit of life is equally simple: you believe in Jesus Christ, you live. This life is made possible by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit given to all believers at the time of salvation:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

If you have the Spirit of God living within you, you have total freedom. But what does this freedom entail?

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery....You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” (Galatians 5:1, 13-15)

It is not a freedom to sin, but rather, a freedom from sin, and a freedom to live right, a life of love. It is also a freedom to be able to commune with God through Jesus Christ, and to have a close personal relationship with Him:

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12)

So how do we live a life of freedom?

“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)

Freedom comes about when we learn God’s ways for living our lives. Just as we cannot live in a free society without laws and ordinances, so neither can we live in freedom without guidelines and principles. These are found in God’s Word, and are the same for all people.

“But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25)

These principles and instructions are given to us for our benefit. James says that we will be blessed if we follow them.

They are not designed to make our lives miserable, but to keep us from displeasing God. There is no reward or benefit from doing things our own way. We must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the price paid for our freedom. Just as the freedoms we enjoy as Americans have come at a great price, so also our freedom from sin and death came with a great price as well – the blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have a responsibility to live our lives in a way that honors the one who paid for our freedom. Romans 6:15-23 tells us:

“What then? Shall we sin because we not under law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This is reinforced elsewhere in the Epistles:

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (James 2:12-13)

“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)
Therefore, let us live our lives in freedom!

Have a safe and joyful Fourth of July celebration!

Pastor David

The Sky Is Falling!

"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, 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 28:18-20)


I read an interesting blog the other day that questioned the placement of the "gay marriage issue" at the top of the list of priorities of GLBT activists in the US. The writer questioned whether there aren't more significant and life-threatening issues facing this community here and abroad which deserve greater attention than whether it should be legal for same-sex couples to wed.

As I pondered his thoughts, I began to wonder the same thing thing about the American "church" and those vocal opponents to "gay marriage" who are running around like Chicken Little proclaiming that the sky is falling, certain that same-sex marriage will usher in the utter destruction of our civilization as we know it.

Seriously.

I have been a student of the Word of God for the better part of my life, and have read the entire Bible from cover to cover dozens of times. I have yet to find the passages where Jesus instructed His followers to go out and ensure that their communities and nations only pass laws that conform society to their very narrow, constricted world view. Throughout Scripture, God admonishes His people to care for the outcasts and oppressed of society - characterized by widows, orphans and aliens - and to administer justice. Nowhere does He suggest the church should devote massive amounts of money and energy to make sure that people don't legally form relationships and families that don't look like theirs.

Any casual observer would think that the most pressing issue of the "church" today is the imminent threat of annihilation by gay and lesbian couples who want to have the same recognition of their marriages as their heterosexual counterparts. If the "church" is so adamant about preserving the sanctity of marriage, perhaps they should devote more money and energy toward eliminating divorce instead of trying to keep people from getting married.

The fact is, Jesus only gave one set of instructions to the Church: go out and make disciples and teach them to obey His commandments (i.e., love God, love your neighbor). Sadly, the "church" is too busy doing everything else except that one rather simple task. It's no wonder that we've been waiting for two thousand years for Him to come back; He's waiting for us to finish the job He gave us to do.

Meanwhile, countless thousands of "well-meaning Christians" are devoted to doing everything they can to oppose the civil liberties of the GLBT community, while countless millions (billions?) of people around the world are starving for a message of hope and deliverance, and are dying without a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I'm fairly certain the God must look at all of this and just shake His head in total amazement at how far off track His people have gone.

May God have mercy on His Church, for they know not what they do.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Which Wolf Are You Feeding?

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

I recently attended a church function where one of the speakers told this story:

There was a young Navajo boy who had been acting very badly. His parents asked him why he was acting this way, but he was at a loss as to why his behavior had deteriorated. They told him to seek out the wisest person in the tribe and ask that person to help him discover the nature of his problem. 

The boy decided to visit the wisest person he knew, the tribal chief, who also happened to be his grandfather. "Grandfather," the boy asked, "do you know why I have been acting so bad lately?"

The wise old man replied, "There are two wolves that live inside you. A good wolf and a bad wolf. The good wolf causes you to be obedient, loving, kind, generous and forgiving. The bad wolf causes you to be disobedient, hateful, bitter, angry and selfish. These two are always at war with each other."

The little boy looked at his grandfather with concern on his face. "But Grandfather, which wolf will win?"

The old man said, "The one that you feed."

This parable illustrates a great scriptural concept. Paul instructed us to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Why? So we could go around looking at the world with rose-colored glasses? Of course not. He knew that our minds are the portals to to our spirits. What we feed into our minds goes directly into the very essence of our beings. In Romans 12:2, he tells us to transform our minds because the battle between good and evil starts in the thought processes. James also discusses this in his epistle (James 1:13-15).

If I want to produce a life characterized by the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, etc.), then I need to feed my mind with those things that are aligned with those virtues. I need to surround myself with positive people who are loving and encouraging, and who exemplify the virtues I want to emulate. I need to expose myself to positive, uplifting books, movies and other media that help me foster goodwill toward my fellow neighbor rather than plant seeds of doubt, despair or suspicion.

Likewise, the only way I can starve to death the "bad wolf" is to avoid exposure to those influences that cause me to harbor envy, bitterness, anger and selfishness. I need to filter out the messages of this world which tell me that I should look out for me first, or that I should eat or be eaten. I need to avoid toxic relationships with people who live on a steady diet of complaining, bitterness and negativity. I have to practice the art of forgiveness (it is truly an art that takes a lifetime of practice to master). I need to let go of the past, and release those who have hurt me from the bondage of my grudges. I need to release myself from the chains of regret for the things I failed to do, and instead focus on what I can still do with my life during the time that God grants me. I have to avoid comparing myself to others who seem to have it better than me, and learn to be grateful for the undeserved blessings that God has allowed me to enjoy.

One of the most important truths that I took away from this parable is that I alone am responsible for choosing which wolf to feed. No one else can feed my good wolf or my bad wolf. They may place the food in front of me, but I am responsible for accepting or rejecting it. I can blame no one else for my failure to nurture the good wolf or starve the bad one.

Which wolf are you feeding?

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David

Watching My Steps

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)

I've been wearing a pedometer for the past week. My company sponsors a "Healthy Habits" program for our employees, designed to encourage us to eat better and exercise more (healthy employees make happy employees). We kicked off a 6-week "Step To It" campaign this month to give us measurable goals for walking and other activities designed to improve our overall physical fitness. Each participant was given a pedometer (in the shape of a heart, no less) and six weekly logs for tracking our progress. So all week long, I've been accompanied by the gentle "click click click" of my pedometer as I tool about.

As I was going for my morning walk today, I was listening to the pedometer clicking off each step I took, and I was thinking about what the Bible says about our steps. I knew there was a verse in there about God ordering the steps of a righteous man (it must be in there because we sing about it in church), but I wondered what else the Bible has to say about our steps. I also wondered if that often-quoted passage was in context, or just another fanciful saying that people like to throw around because it sounds good.

So I turned to my new best friend, BibleGateway.com, and found some interesting passages (including the correct context of said verse above). In the King James version, Psalm 37:23 says, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." In the NIV (quoted at the top of the page), the phrasing is different, and there is a condition and a promise attached to this verse. If God delights in my ways, He will make my steps firm (or "order" my steps), and if my steps are firm, God will keep me from falling even when I stumble. To just say that my steps are ordered by God seems to imply that God tells me where to go and I have no choice in the matter - basically I'm just one of His puppets. However, if I delight God by living and doing right, then He will firm up my steps and preserve me, wherever I walk (obviously only walking in those places where I belong).

Then I found Proverbs 4:11-12: "I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble." This tells me that, if I follow God's ways, I can be assured that my spiritual walk will be blessed. The opposite, then, is also true: if my steps are being hampered and I'm stumbling when I run, then I must not be following God's leading along the straight paths that He has laid before me. This gives me cause for introspection and self-examination. I'll be the first to admit, when you've been walking with the Lord for several decades, sometimes the scenery gets a little boring and the path seems uninteresting. We often want to take a detour for a fresh adventure or a new perspective. However, just like in hiking, if you get off the trail, you're asking for trouble. God is not obligated to preserve and protect me when I stray from His guidance.

Finally, I found this: "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." (Proverbs 14:15) Today I was having a discussion with a friend about renegade preachers who have no accountability. Often their followers soak up every spoken word without giving any thought to verifying it against Scripture. I mentioned to my friend that, as a pastor, I always told my congregation to never take my word for anything - always check it out in the Bible for themselves. What if I was having an off day and decided that we should start something goofy in the church? I would hope that I had trained my flock well enough that they would immediately recognize the dissonance of false teaching when they heard it. I not only need to be careful as a teacher and preacher, but also in my personal walk as well. I must give careful thought to my steps - how I spend my time and energy, the decisions I make, the people I associate with, even my thought life.

We all need to watch our steps. God is not some cosmic puppeteer pulling our strings and forcing us to go wherever He wants us to go. He has laid out a road map for us, but it is our choice to make whether we follow it. If we do, His word promises us that we can rest assured in His ability to preserve and protect us as we travel along.

Have a blessed week!

Pastor David