My father had a plaque on his desk that I will always remember. It read, “For every minute you are angry you lose 60 seconds of happiness.” It described a philosophy by which he lived, as I shared recently at his funeral, as well as a philosophy he passed on to me. Not only is it a good philosophy but it is theologically sound. Philippians 3: 13-14 says, Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Now, the Bill Drees translation is this, “Guys, I may not have everything figured out yet, but here is what I am doing; forgetting the past, by making things right with all I can and living as hard as I can to be what God has called to do and created me to be until I am in Heaven.”
Too many lives and too many moments that can never be redeemed are lost by living and focusing on the past. All we have is this moment and it is a fragile vapor. James 4:14 gives the sobering reminder that we are not promised another moment other than this one we currently have. “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.” I am constantly amazed at the way people choose to spend the vapor of the moment, which is all the life we know we will have, being angry, foolish, holding a grudge, fearful, worrying, having hurt feelings or being self-centered. It is much easier to get over things quickly and enjoy the moment. That is why most people see me with a quick smile, even in the midst of life’s storms. It helps the storm to pass quickly. Jesus woke from a storm, brought immediate peace then questioned the faith of those followers who were afraid during the storm. You see He was so restful and at peace with the Father that he could sleep when others were erroneously worried for their lives.
Worries, anxiety, anger, fear, failure to quickly forgive are all emotions that one never sees in the face of Jesus. As a professing follower of Jesus far too many actually live as Atheists when it comes time to practice this faith in life’s storms. Church people can be some of the worst at failing to put faith into practice. I know some former church members who are still holding a grudge against me three churches ago. Bless their hearts (those of you who know true Southern know the real translation of that phrase.) I once had a group of youth who became angry at the pastor because I expected them to be somewhat quiet and not disrupt the worship service so they vandalized my home. I guess they needed to advance a little in school and church knowledge because they didn’t realize that my home was the church parsonage and they simply damaged church property angering their parents who were church members. Anger and vengeance rarely works as we plan. It is best to forgive as quickly as possible so we can move to happiness and joy. One never knows when the vapor of live will flicker out. I have officiated at funerals for people in their 90’s and less than 9 months.
My first sermon was from John 10:10, “The thief comes to rob steal, kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” It has been nearly thirty five years since I first preached this message and I still want to get the most out of each day. The best way is to live each moment loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as your self. Life is too short to hold a grudge, be anxious, worry or be afraid. I don’t know when my vapor will flicker out but until it does I will try to make the most of each moment by getting my 60 seconds of happiness. I hope you will do the same. The best time to start is now. GO!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Life Changing Power
Preachers are often asked tough questions. After going to school for many years I thought I was ready for the questions. I could not wait to go to parties or other places and have people ask the tough questions. Once after Church a man approached me and said, “Preacher, I have a question!” I thought, “Here we go…I have studied, I am ready. Put it to me!” He said, “Was the thermostat broken, I thought I was going to freeze to death during church.” Some people like to try to trick you by asking things like, “Where did Cain get his wife?” I quickly respond by telling them I would tell you if I were Able. (And you thought all those years in theology classes were a waste?) Other questions are real as people truly seek answers for life’s difficult struggles. People wonder; “Why do some join the church and drop out?, Why do church members often act so mean?, Why do bad things happen? Why am I, as a Child of God, having all this trouble?” Or as a book for teens so adequately expressed for many of us, “If I Am A Christian, Why Can’t I Get My Locker Open?”
Preachers preach about life changing power. Why are so many things the same? Why do we seem to try our best and struggle so hard with some of the same difficulties? First we must remember that Biblical Christianity is not about following rules, rituals & get blessings. Some struggles are there for our growth & perfection (Hebrews 2:10). Nothing grows in complete sunshine. To have growth there must be some rain. God is in the process of building something eternal. Too often our perspective comes from a short-term worldly and selfish perspective. Too often we give up & believe change is impossible. Human behavior experts tell us after age 30 rarely change. However, we hear about the Gospel being the power to change anything in your life.
I have long been captivated by II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” Notice he did not say ‘in church but in Christ’. Lets look at the way to receive life changing power as we break down the powerful verse word for word phrase by phrase.
“Therefore” - refers to the previous verses (14, 15) as these are additional consequences of identification with Christ in death & resurrection. Christianity not for the casual observer. It requires complete and reckless surrender. “Anyone” – It is available for anyone; no matter their race, gender, pocketbook, past history, background, etc. ANYONE means ANYONE! “In Christ” - a favorite term for Paul. He doesn’t say in church, denomination, movement, experience…in Christ! He is speaking of a personal daily involvement/relationship with risen Lord. In Christ means all things that are Christlike are in you; such as: Truth, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,...(see Galatians 5:22, 23). If the Fruit of the Spirit is not evidenced in your life, there may be evidence of the absence of Christ in your life. One can be in church and be unchanged. One cannot be in Christ and be unchanged! “New”- There are two Greek words for new: NEOS & KAINOS. NEOS means, ‘of most recent production (A Ford purchased in June vs. a Ford purchased in January is neos). KAINOS means new as to form of quality or of a different nature from the old. (My old form of transportation was a bicycle my kainos form of transportation is a Ferrari!) This means there is a completely new set of standards, vision, thoughts (I Cor. 2:15). “Creation”- Construction term (act of establishing, building). A completely new thing or being is established. A person reborn in Christ is the fulfillment of God’s original purpose in creation. We are in His Image. Our lives are a reflection of Christ (Matthew 5:14).
What happens after one become a new creation? “Old Things” (from the Greek word Archia) Archaic, outdated things belonging to past times begin to pass away. This refers to unregenerate ways, acts of sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-20) that are “Passed Away”. According to the Greek tense this is a continuous process. Leaving sin as a way of life. Sinful ways either going or gone. We don’t need them anymore. “Behold” the note of triumph as we move into the life of triumphant changing power. “ All Things Become New” is in the Greek perfect tense which means three things; first, this is action in continuous progress – Not one time event, God not finished yet! Hang in there! Second, your salvation experience is coming to a point of culmination – you will become completely like Jesus in Heaven. Third, it exists as a completed result – Jesus made you new! Continue to reflect Him as you enjoy your walk, loving others as you grow in grace.
Preachers preach about life changing power. Why are so many things the same? Why do we seem to try our best and struggle so hard with some of the same difficulties? First we must remember that Biblical Christianity is not about following rules, rituals & get blessings. Some struggles are there for our growth & perfection (Hebrews 2:10). Nothing grows in complete sunshine. To have growth there must be some rain. God is in the process of building something eternal. Too often our perspective comes from a short-term worldly and selfish perspective. Too often we give up & believe change is impossible. Human behavior experts tell us after age 30 rarely change. However, we hear about the Gospel being the power to change anything in your life.
I have long been captivated by II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” Notice he did not say ‘in church but in Christ’. Lets look at the way to receive life changing power as we break down the powerful verse word for word phrase by phrase.
“Therefore” - refers to the previous verses (14, 15) as these are additional consequences of identification with Christ in death & resurrection. Christianity not for the casual observer. It requires complete and reckless surrender. “Anyone” – It is available for anyone; no matter their race, gender, pocketbook, past history, background, etc. ANYONE means ANYONE! “In Christ” - a favorite term for Paul. He doesn’t say in church, denomination, movement, experience…in Christ! He is speaking of a personal daily involvement/relationship with risen Lord. In Christ means all things that are Christlike are in you; such as: Truth, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,...(see Galatians 5:22, 23). If the Fruit of the Spirit is not evidenced in your life, there may be evidence of the absence of Christ in your life. One can be in church and be unchanged. One cannot be in Christ and be unchanged! “New”- There are two Greek words for new: NEOS & KAINOS. NEOS means, ‘of most recent production (A Ford purchased in June vs. a Ford purchased in January is neos). KAINOS means new as to form of quality or of a different nature from the old. (My old form of transportation was a bicycle my kainos form of transportation is a Ferrari!) This means there is a completely new set of standards, vision, thoughts (I Cor. 2:15). “Creation”- Construction term (act of establishing, building). A completely new thing or being is established. A person reborn in Christ is the fulfillment of God’s original purpose in creation. We are in His Image. Our lives are a reflection of Christ (Matthew 5:14).
What happens after one become a new creation? “Old Things” (from the Greek word Archia) Archaic, outdated things belonging to past times begin to pass away. This refers to unregenerate ways, acts of sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-20) that are “Passed Away”. According to the Greek tense this is a continuous process. Leaving sin as a way of life. Sinful ways either going or gone. We don’t need them anymore. “Behold” the note of triumph as we move into the life of triumphant changing power. “ All Things Become New” is in the Greek perfect tense which means three things; first, this is action in continuous progress – Not one time event, God not finished yet! Hang in there! Second, your salvation experience is coming to a point of culmination – you will become completely like Jesus in Heaven. Third, it exists as a completed result – Jesus made you new! Continue to reflect Him as you enjoy your walk, loving others as you grow in grace.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
When God Seems Silent
In the climactic ending scene of one of my favorite movies, Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman who plays Lucas Jackson goes to an abandoned church to talk to God. After several failed attempts at prayer he feels as if God is giving him the silent treatment. I love the movie for several reasons but this scene truly is one that I identify with. I can’t speak for everyone, sometimes I talk so much I wonder if I can speak for myself but I have had times when I felt as if I was getting the silent treatment from God. I know the feeling of Lucas Jackson of being on his knees in the church, folding his hands, trying his best to pray as he has been taught and hearing nothing then peeking up only to see empty rafters above his head.
There have been times when the voice of God seemed strong, unwavering and direct (admittedly not as often as I would like). There have been times when I felt overcome by waves of grace so strong that it brought tears and I am not one easily given to those emotions (OK, the older I get the sappier I become). However, there have been times when my spirit felt dry as the voice of God seemed silent. What is going on when God seems silent?
There is an old saying, “If you feel distant from God, ask, ‘Who Moved?’” The question reminds us of the omnipresence of God who promises to be with us always, never leaving or forsaking us. However, there are times when God is with us but silent. Before Jesus came to the disciples in a supernatural way, walking on the water, he watched them from a distance as he let them struggle against the wind alone. Another time Jesus was in the boat with the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm. The word used to describe the storm is SIEZEMOS from which we get out word seismograph; the device used to measures earthquakes. They feared for their lives. Jesus was right there with them but he was not doing anything. In fact, he was asleep. Although Psalm 121:4 tells us, “he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. There are times in every life when God seems distant or napping as we cry out to him. What is going on in those times? What do we do?
Often God seems distant because we did indeed move. When the distance is caused by our drifting we need to draw back to Him. The first checkpoint is our connection with Him. Where are we in listening, understanding and following His word? When help is needed in understanding, communicating, connecting and following; do what is necessary to find the help needed. Don’t let pride, bitterness, or laziness get in the way. This is why it is vital to be active in a community of believers.
There are other times when we are sincerely trying our best in prayer & Bible study to commune, connect and draw near to God but he seems silent and distant. These are the difficult days when the Scriptures seem dry as dust and prayers never seem to get past the ceiling. Where is God in these times and why is he silent? First, do not despair; you are not alone in these days. Read the Psalms and you will find prayers from David and writers who honestly cried out with the same questions.
Even when God is silent He is with us. He promised to be with us always and never leave or forsake (Matthew 28:20 & Hebrews 13:5). He often uses silence to allow us to grow in our own faith as we struggle. Jesus left the disciples, in Mark 6, to strain alone for a while but at the right time He came to them, even when it seemed humanly impossible for help to arrive, He literally walked on water to get there. When we need Him, He comes at the right time and nothing can hinder His arrival. Look at the time as Jesus was silent in the midst of the SIEZEMOS storm that they thought would be their demise. Rather than fear they should have interpreted His silence as the mood of faith. They were not in danger. As we often do today, they over exaggerated the trouble. They were not about to drown. The boat was not about to sink. They just took on a little water. In fact they forgot as long as they were with Jesus they didn’t even need the boat. If the boat sank He could walk on the water and carry them to shore. He would teach them that lesson of faith soon enough, Oh if we would just wait and have faith!
Often God’s silence precedes a great event from Him. Remember there were three days of silence before the resurrection. After the last word from an Old Testament prophet there were some 400 years of silence before Jesus entered human history as, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” So next time God seems silent. Grow in your faith as you trust him to do something great in your midst!
There have been times when the voice of God seemed strong, unwavering and direct (admittedly not as often as I would like). There have been times when I felt overcome by waves of grace so strong that it brought tears and I am not one easily given to those emotions (OK, the older I get the sappier I become). However, there have been times when my spirit felt dry as the voice of God seemed silent. What is going on when God seems silent?
There is an old saying, “If you feel distant from God, ask, ‘Who Moved?’” The question reminds us of the omnipresence of God who promises to be with us always, never leaving or forsaking us. However, there are times when God is with us but silent. Before Jesus came to the disciples in a supernatural way, walking on the water, he watched them from a distance as he let them struggle against the wind alone. Another time Jesus was in the boat with the disciples in the midst of a terrible storm. The word used to describe the storm is SIEZEMOS from which we get out word seismograph; the device used to measures earthquakes. They feared for their lives. Jesus was right there with them but he was not doing anything. In fact, he was asleep. Although Psalm 121:4 tells us, “he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. There are times in every life when God seems distant or napping as we cry out to him. What is going on in those times? What do we do?
Often God seems distant because we did indeed move. When the distance is caused by our drifting we need to draw back to Him. The first checkpoint is our connection with Him. Where are we in listening, understanding and following His word? When help is needed in understanding, communicating, connecting and following; do what is necessary to find the help needed. Don’t let pride, bitterness, or laziness get in the way. This is why it is vital to be active in a community of believers.
There are other times when we are sincerely trying our best in prayer & Bible study to commune, connect and draw near to God but he seems silent and distant. These are the difficult days when the Scriptures seem dry as dust and prayers never seem to get past the ceiling. Where is God in these times and why is he silent? First, do not despair; you are not alone in these days. Read the Psalms and you will find prayers from David and writers who honestly cried out with the same questions.
Even when God is silent He is with us. He promised to be with us always and never leave or forsake (Matthew 28:20 & Hebrews 13:5). He often uses silence to allow us to grow in our own faith as we struggle. Jesus left the disciples, in Mark 6, to strain alone for a while but at the right time He came to them, even when it seemed humanly impossible for help to arrive, He literally walked on water to get there. When we need Him, He comes at the right time and nothing can hinder His arrival. Look at the time as Jesus was silent in the midst of the SIEZEMOS storm that they thought would be their demise. Rather than fear they should have interpreted His silence as the mood of faith. They were not in danger. As we often do today, they over exaggerated the trouble. They were not about to drown. The boat was not about to sink. They just took on a little water. In fact they forgot as long as they were with Jesus they didn’t even need the boat. If the boat sank He could walk on the water and carry them to shore. He would teach them that lesson of faith soon enough, Oh if we would just wait and have faith!
Often God’s silence precedes a great event from Him. Remember there were three days of silence before the resurrection. After the last word from an Old Testament prophet there were some 400 years of silence before Jesus entered human history as, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” So next time God seems silent. Grow in your faith as you trust him to do something great in your midst!
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