You pray and plan and hope for the best. Over the past two and a half decades of ministry I have planned numerous events. Many of those events were total flops. Every once in awhile an event is prayed over, planned, and executed with much success. It is like when a batter really gets hold of a pitch hitting it in the sweet spot. You know it is gone when you make contact.
I met with four men over breakfast weeks ago to begin planning our own version of the Amazing Race. We brainstormed and came up with a great plan. We knew it would take much effort to pull the event off. We began casting vision to our students. Several more meetings ensued with parents and the event coordinator to make sure all the details were covered. Our adults really went the extra mile.
We had close to thirty students participate. They composed six different teams. Twenty-four adults helped at some level of the race. Some worked clue stations. Some drove. Some planned the event. Others put together the meal after the last clue.
For weeks the excitement has been building among the students. The race officially started around 12:30 right after church today. It would take teams over four hours to complete the twenty tasks. From the start the blue team jumped out to the lead. In fact they jumped to such a sizable lead I felt the race was all but over before we even reached the halfway point.
There were physically demanding tasks as well as mentally demanding ones. Clues were not easy to find or to figure out. I am amazed how few of the students knew what the word parson meant. At times teams had to go back and redo tasks because they did not read the clues and did not execute the tasks properly.
With two thirds of the race completed I got a text that the first place team was a full two tasks ahead of every other team. I felt for sure the race was over. Then the blue team committed a critical error. They took a wrong turn trying to find a clue and when all was said and done they went from first place to last place. With four clues to go all the teams were even. The race became a nail biter. I could not believe it. Things were going better than we could have imagined.
The last clue involved gathering scrambled letters at the bottom of a pool and then decoding the message. There were two sets of letters because after four hours of racing nobody thought two teams would be that close in the end. Going into the last task four teams arrived at nearly the same time! One team arrived at the pool. Another team who had been in last place up to the point the first place team made the critical error decoded the message first. When I finally arrived and the judges looked over the final station it was determined none of the first teams to arrive executed the task properly. The first team to execute properly turned out to be the team who had been first for most of the race, dropped to last, and then surprisingly finished first! We could not have written a better script where four teams in the end had a shot at winning the race.
Students and adults kept talking about the race afterwards. Memories were shared. Laugher abounded. Facebook began lighting up from people who had watched the race unfold. One mother said her son could not quit talking about the race. Another posted she did not know who had more fun, her driving one of the teams or her son. Students were exhausted. Adults were contented in the exuberance of the students. Some students threw up from eating raw spam, sardines, and chugging chocolate milk. They pushed their brains and bodies to finish. Adults were exhausted from a full day of labor to pull the event off.
I sat back amazed at the work and precision of our adults to pull off such a great event. Every once in awhile you get to be a part of something really special. Every now and then you watch people come together with their gifts, talents, and effort to hit a home run. You watch the sacrifice and diligent work of people who rally around the vision of something grander than themselves. In the end I sat back humbled to play a very small part of something that turned out so amazing. Every once in awhile it all goes right for a huge success.
I take no credit. I applaud the two dozen adults who worked to pull the Amazing Race off. I applaud the students who gave their all for over four hours. No matter what obstacles they encountered they did not give up. They worked together and every team made it to the end. It was truly a team effort. Faith Community Church you continue to amaze me with your ability to come together to pull off big things. I most of all I thank God for building our student ministry and Faith Community Church. Every once in awhile you get to be a part of something really special.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
40 Days to Shake the City
The devotion book I wrote two years ago, 40 Days to Shake the City, is about to be re-released. Faith Community Church will begin these devotions starting on June 6th. Please reserve your copy and believe God to shake the city you live in. To reserve an advanced copy please go to www.forthemaster.com.
Please pray with me for God to use this book all over the world to usher in days of revival in individual's hearts and in the church at large.
Please pray with me for God to use this book all over the world to usher in days of revival in individual's hearts and in the church at large.
In Pursuit
I am in a glorious and magnificent pursuit,
Meditation and prayers my familiar route,
Running hard after Jesus Christ my King,
The pursuit of Him a many splendid thing,
The quest is to climb higher to God's summit,
Following the many others who have done it,
Not in pursuit of an experience or an emotion,
In pursuit of deeper love and a deeper devotion,
In pursuit of Christ - bringing more revelation,
Deepening my affections - higher in elevation,
In pursuit of a God who transforms whole towns,
Where the masses worship and bow face down,
In pursuit of the only One who satisfies my soul,
In pursuit of One who makes the broken whole,
In pursuit of a King, the Lamb, Lord of all Lords,
In pursuit of One worthy to be served and adored,
In pursuit of the Lion who rules from the throne,
In pursuit of the One worthy of pursuit all alone.
Meditation and prayers my familiar route,
Running hard after Jesus Christ my King,
The pursuit of Him a many splendid thing,
The quest is to climb higher to God's summit,
Following the many others who have done it,
Not in pursuit of an experience or an emotion,
In pursuit of deeper love and a deeper devotion,
In pursuit of Christ - bringing more revelation,
Deepening my affections - higher in elevation,
In pursuit of a God who transforms whole towns,
Where the masses worship and bow face down,
In pursuit of the only One who satisfies my soul,
In pursuit of One who makes the broken whole,
In pursuit of a King, the Lamb, Lord of all Lords,
In pursuit of One worthy to be served and adored,
In pursuit of the Lion who rules from the throne,
In pursuit of the One worthy of pursuit all alone.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Everybody Worships
Everybody worships. What I mean is that everybody worships someone or something. For some it is bowing down and paying homage to self in front a full length mirror. Others ascribe worth (the meaning of worship) to the Dallas Cowboys, Paradise Panthers, or some other sports team. Many take it a step further and worship superstar athletes or celebrities. Have you ever seen the reaction of young ladies when they heard the Beatles, Elvis Pressley, or some other recording artist? They swooped, screamed, cried, pressed to the stage to get closer, raised their hands, applauded, and some even fainted. All acts of worship for the dead and gone.
Sports stars like Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Peyton Manning, Brett Farve, and Derek Jeter are continually hounded by cameras, autograph seekers, and people who try to immolate their every move. Compound this with paparazzi chasing movie stars and the multitudes huddled around their televisions hoping to get a glimpse of some celebrity who often makes a poor role model and yet worship continues with posters, sitcoms, fashion clothing, and hair styles.
Some men worship large mouth bass or white tail deer willing to sacrifice sleep, money, and time with family all in pursuit of a trophy for the wall and some very expensive food on the table. Women worship Oprah, Dr. Phil, and other so called experts who suggest how to dress, what to eat, and how to live.
Everybody worships something. What is amazing is that the world can worship their stuff more intensely and authentically than Christians worship the one true God. I know for many (especially for teenagers and college students) worship is passionate and expressive. I have seen them jumping up down, shouting, raising their hands, crying, kneeling, applauding and even prostrate on the floor all in an attitude of worship. Others worship with equal passion but in more subdued ways. I have seen adults worship without ever singing a note of any song, without ever standing, shouting, clapping, or raising their hands, but silently reflecting on, enjoying, and basking in the presence of God. Their worship was just as authentic as the younger crowd.
Sadly, I have sat through more services in more churches than I care to count where the people sat tight lipped and stone hearted through the worship service. The opportunity for worship was given but they chose to sit without ever connecting their hearts to the heart of God. Some blamed the style of music or the fact that songs were projected rather than sung out of a book. The worship wars that have ripped many churches apart must also have rip the heart of God who is supposed to be the object of all that worship to begin with. What a shame that the generations cannot even unify on loving and adoring God through a variety of styles of music. Who are we to day what style God prefers. African worship? Australia worship? German worship? American worship? Even if we were to say American worship I would have to ask which kind? Southern gospel? African American soul gospel? Traditional? Contemporary? How I can say God only prefers my style or my preference. God continues to lead people to write worship music in every generation. What if God loved all of it because it blessed His heart and more importantly made Him the object of worship?
Today I found myself reading and reflecting in the book of Revelation. I was struck by the intensity of the worship of the angels and of the redeemed. Worship never ceases in Heaven. Night and day it continues with a loud resounding and repeating refrain, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, Almighty, who was and is and who is to come.” [Rev 4:8] “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor, and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.” [Rev 5:11]
Over and over again those resounding truths reverberate throughout Heaven. God is Holy. He is worthy. He is powerful, honorable, majestic, and glorious. Nobody jokes in Heaven they do not like that song or they tire of repeating it day and night. This is the original seven eleven song as some say. God is worth the worship given day and night. It never gets old and the intensity never wanes because the revelations of God’s nature never end through out eternity. Therefore, we will be able to worship with fresh hearts continually.
While the volume increases with every verse from the mouths of people from every kindred, tongue, tribe, and nation, [Rev 5:9] the intensity in worship will cause people to throw themselves down prostrate on the floor and to fling their crowns in worship at the feet of the true King of Kings. They will remain before Him who sits on the throne and sing with passion like we have never heard on this planet while ascribing worship with integrity. It will make rock concerts feel like hushed baby nurseries.
There is not always integrity in the worship of the people of God today. Take an old song like “I Surrender All.” How many have sung the words of that old hymn they did not mean nor intend to live. This is hypocrisy. I seek to be mindful of what I am singing to the Lord. If I sing I surrender all I want to at least be willing to surrender all to Him.
I quit sitting on the platform early in my ministry because all the sour looks, scowling faces, and lifeless expression of songs became so discouraging it was actually hindered my worship. It is better for me to sit on the front row with my back to the crowd so I can focus on God and sing for Him, to Him, and in adoration of Him. Many people allow others to dictate how they worship. They are consumed with what other people are thinking they forget their entire focus is supposed to be directed toward an audience of one!
Worship is so much more than we know. God is the true object of worship. There nothing in or under Heaven deserving of worship more than God. Everything else has lesser worth. How much time, energy, and money are spent in worship of things or people that leave us feeling hollow and empty. Watch the reaction of football fans when the Cowboys lose or worse yet have a disappointing season. People can’t sleep, concentrate, and go around moping over a football team. God is the ultimate object of worth and therefore of worship. He never has a bad day, gets it wrong, lets us down, forgets an appointment, or loses the big one. He is the ultimate Universal Champion. He deserves our very best in worship not just on Sundays but in the very way we live every day. He deserves better than the dull and pitiful excuse for worship found in so many churches today. I am talking about white hot, passionate, fervent, expressions of love, adoration, reverence, and homage to the Master, Ruler, and Lord of this Universe.
What or who are you worshipping? What does the object of your worship do for you? God sent Jesus to take the poor choices, the scrapes and bruises from wandering down paths to nowhere, and the oppressive burden of guilt and shame from past mistakes off your shoulders in exchange for your unyielding allegiance to Him and your life long worship. Worship is more about how you live than how well you sing.[Rom 12:1] I urge you today to check the object of your worship and the passion with which you worship and make sure you direct both toward Jesus Christ, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Lord, and Sovereign King. Everybody worships someone or something. I choose to worship Jesus and practice down here so I can get it right for Heaven. What about you?
Sports stars like Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Peyton Manning, Brett Farve, and Derek Jeter are continually hounded by cameras, autograph seekers, and people who try to immolate their every move. Compound this with paparazzi chasing movie stars and the multitudes huddled around their televisions hoping to get a glimpse of some celebrity who often makes a poor role model and yet worship continues with posters, sitcoms, fashion clothing, and hair styles.
Some men worship large mouth bass or white tail deer willing to sacrifice sleep, money, and time with family all in pursuit of a trophy for the wall and some very expensive food on the table. Women worship Oprah, Dr. Phil, and other so called experts who suggest how to dress, what to eat, and how to live.
Everybody worships something. What is amazing is that the world can worship their stuff more intensely and authentically than Christians worship the one true God. I know for many (especially for teenagers and college students) worship is passionate and expressive. I have seen them jumping up down, shouting, raising their hands, crying, kneeling, applauding and even prostrate on the floor all in an attitude of worship. Others worship with equal passion but in more subdued ways. I have seen adults worship without ever singing a note of any song, without ever standing, shouting, clapping, or raising their hands, but silently reflecting on, enjoying, and basking in the presence of God. Their worship was just as authentic as the younger crowd.
Sadly, I have sat through more services in more churches than I care to count where the people sat tight lipped and stone hearted through the worship service. The opportunity for worship was given but they chose to sit without ever connecting their hearts to the heart of God. Some blamed the style of music or the fact that songs were projected rather than sung out of a book. The worship wars that have ripped many churches apart must also have rip the heart of God who is supposed to be the object of all that worship to begin with. What a shame that the generations cannot even unify on loving and adoring God through a variety of styles of music. Who are we to day what style God prefers. African worship? Australia worship? German worship? American worship? Even if we were to say American worship I would have to ask which kind? Southern gospel? African American soul gospel? Traditional? Contemporary? How I can say God only prefers my style or my preference. God continues to lead people to write worship music in every generation. What if God loved all of it because it blessed His heart and more importantly made Him the object of worship?
Today I found myself reading and reflecting in the book of Revelation. I was struck by the intensity of the worship of the angels and of the redeemed. Worship never ceases in Heaven. Night and day it continues with a loud resounding and repeating refrain, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God, Almighty, who was and is and who is to come.” [Rev 4:8] “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor, and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created.” [Rev 5:11]
Over and over again those resounding truths reverberate throughout Heaven. God is Holy. He is worthy. He is powerful, honorable, majestic, and glorious. Nobody jokes in Heaven they do not like that song or they tire of repeating it day and night. This is the original seven eleven song as some say. God is worth the worship given day and night. It never gets old and the intensity never wanes because the revelations of God’s nature never end through out eternity. Therefore, we will be able to worship with fresh hearts continually.
While the volume increases with every verse from the mouths of people from every kindred, tongue, tribe, and nation, [Rev 5:9] the intensity in worship will cause people to throw themselves down prostrate on the floor and to fling their crowns in worship at the feet of the true King of Kings. They will remain before Him who sits on the throne and sing with passion like we have never heard on this planet while ascribing worship with integrity. It will make rock concerts feel like hushed baby nurseries.
There is not always integrity in the worship of the people of God today. Take an old song like “I Surrender All.” How many have sung the words of that old hymn they did not mean nor intend to live. This is hypocrisy. I seek to be mindful of what I am singing to the Lord. If I sing I surrender all I want to at least be willing to surrender all to Him.
I quit sitting on the platform early in my ministry because all the sour looks, scowling faces, and lifeless expression of songs became so discouraging it was actually hindered my worship. It is better for me to sit on the front row with my back to the crowd so I can focus on God and sing for Him, to Him, and in adoration of Him. Many people allow others to dictate how they worship. They are consumed with what other people are thinking they forget their entire focus is supposed to be directed toward an audience of one!
Worship is so much more than we know. God is the true object of worship. There nothing in or under Heaven deserving of worship more than God. Everything else has lesser worth. How much time, energy, and money are spent in worship of things or people that leave us feeling hollow and empty. Watch the reaction of football fans when the Cowboys lose or worse yet have a disappointing season. People can’t sleep, concentrate, and go around moping over a football team. God is the ultimate object of worth and therefore of worship. He never has a bad day, gets it wrong, lets us down, forgets an appointment, or loses the big one. He is the ultimate Universal Champion. He deserves our very best in worship not just on Sundays but in the very way we live every day. He deserves better than the dull and pitiful excuse for worship found in so many churches today. I am talking about white hot, passionate, fervent, expressions of love, adoration, reverence, and homage to the Master, Ruler, and Lord of this Universe.
What or who are you worshipping? What does the object of your worship do for you? God sent Jesus to take the poor choices, the scrapes and bruises from wandering down paths to nowhere, and the oppressive burden of guilt and shame from past mistakes off your shoulders in exchange for your unyielding allegiance to Him and your life long worship. Worship is more about how you live than how well you sing.[Rom 12:1] I urge you today to check the object of your worship and the passion with which you worship and make sure you direct both toward Jesus Christ, Messiah, Prince of Peace, Everlasting Lord, and Sovereign King. Everybody worships someone or something. I choose to worship Jesus and practice down here so I can get it right for Heaven. What about you?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Throwing for the Glory of God
Taylor and I just returned from Jacksboro where the district track meet preliminary running events and final field events were held. We give God glory Taylor came in third over all in the prelims for the JV 400 running his best time by one second to make it into the finals. He will run in the finals on Thursday night in the 400 and the 4X400 relay.
Afterward he threw the shot put. All year he has been asking God to help him throw over forty feet. He has thrown between thirty-seven and thirty-nine feet all year. He has won first place in all the meets except the one track meet he threw against varsity throwers.
Today he prayed again asking God to help him throw forty feet. His first throw went forty feet and two inches. We celebrated and said, "Glory to God." Another boy threw around forty feet in warm ups so we knew the competition would be stiff. Taylor walked over to me on the side and we prayed together asking God to help him do his best while the other guys were throwing. His second throw went forty feet nine inches. Again glory to God.
On Taylor's final throw he threw a personal best throw of forty-two feet and one and three quarter inches. GLORY TO GOD! He won first place and is the 2012 JV district JV shot champ. He acted kiddy on the way home. People kept congratulating him and making a big deal over the distance. I warned him on the way out of the stadium that his flesh would at some point like to steal the glory from God and not to let that happen.
We know God gave him the strength and power to win. We know the Lord increased his throws over four feet in the past month and today gave him his three longest throws ever. Like I said, "Glory to God!" Today we saw [Phil 4:13] and [Eph 3:20] personified.
Afterward he threw the shot put. All year he has been asking God to help him throw over forty feet. He has thrown between thirty-seven and thirty-nine feet all year. He has won first place in all the meets except the one track meet he threw against varsity throwers.
Today he prayed again asking God to help him throw forty feet. His first throw went forty feet and two inches. We celebrated and said, "Glory to God." Another boy threw around forty feet in warm ups so we knew the competition would be stiff. Taylor walked over to me on the side and we prayed together asking God to help him do his best while the other guys were throwing. His second throw went forty feet nine inches. Again glory to God.
On Taylor's final throw he threw a personal best throw of forty-two feet and one and three quarter inches. GLORY TO GOD! He won first place and is the 2012 JV district JV shot champ. He acted kiddy on the way home. People kept congratulating him and making a big deal over the distance. I warned him on the way out of the stadium that his flesh would at some point like to steal the glory from God and not to let that happen.
We know God gave him the strength and power to win. We know the Lord increased his throws over four feet in the past month and today gave him his three longest throws ever. Like I said, "Glory to God!" Today we saw [Phil 4:13] and [Eph 3:20] personified.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
He is Risen
I sit in my recliner on this my 46th Easter morning. My thoughts do not drift to bunnies or eggs. This is my 29th Easter as a devoted follower of Jesus. I think back to my first Easter after being saved. I went to a Son Rise service and was fascinated. The thought of Jesus rising from the dead nearly overwhelmed me that first Easter after I had trusted Christ for salvation. I did not know back then I would stand and preach each Easter about the resurrected Christ. All I knew was Jesus changed my life and I loved Him.
29 years later I still love Him and Jesus is still changing my life. He is alive seated at the right hand of the Father always making intercession for me. I do not serve a dead religion made of up meaningless rituals. I serve Jesus and today I celebrate He is risen!
They tried to kill Him off. They succeeded for a Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. They were not prepared for resurrection Sunday. You see death could not hold Him. The grave could not keep Him. The stone could not contain Him. The cross did not finish Him. His enemies could not silence Him. The religious leaders could not get rid of Him. Mary could not find Him. Pilate could not wash His hands of Him. The Jews rejected Him. The power of God resurrected Him. His Father awoke Him. Hell feared Him. Satan could not defeat Him. Demons were no match for Him. Thomas could no longer doubt Him. Peter no longer denied Him. Many have trusted Him. The multitudes continue to believe in Him. Many others ignore Him. The ages have rejected Him. Atheist deny Him. Pagan scholars cannot explain Him. America has little room for Him. The church still preaches Him. Few really want to follow Him. Fewer are really in love with Him. Even now a remnant wait for Him.
He is my King of Kings. My Lord of Lords. He is my Savior, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, Emmanuel, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is Jesus Christ and today we celebrate He is risen from the dead!
He is not a lifeless statue. He is not a dead revolutionary. He is not a forgotten religious teacher. He is the Messiah and He is risen and alive forever more. He is alive and active. He is still saving. He is still healing. He is still delivering. He is still loving. He is still drawing. He is still answering. He is still working. He is still reviving.
Today I celebrate that truth. His death paid for my sins. I have been bought with a price redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb. I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see. His kindness brought me to repentance and now I am a new creation. Jesus who began a good work in me is faithfully completing that work until the coming of His day. Though I am aging on the outside I am continually being renewed on the inside. Soon the King will come back. Soon and very soon I am going to see the King. Hallelujah. Jesus is alive. He is risen. It is still fresh in my heart 29 years later after I first met Him. Have you heard of Him? Have you personally been introduced to Him? He is risen and He is coming back.
29 years later I still love Him and Jesus is still changing my life. He is alive seated at the right hand of the Father always making intercession for me. I do not serve a dead religion made of up meaningless rituals. I serve Jesus and today I celebrate He is risen!
They tried to kill Him off. They succeeded for a Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. They were not prepared for resurrection Sunday. You see death could not hold Him. The grave could not keep Him. The stone could not contain Him. The cross did not finish Him. His enemies could not silence Him. The religious leaders could not get rid of Him. Mary could not find Him. Pilate could not wash His hands of Him. The Jews rejected Him. The power of God resurrected Him. His Father awoke Him. Hell feared Him. Satan could not defeat Him. Demons were no match for Him. Thomas could no longer doubt Him. Peter no longer denied Him. Many have trusted Him. The multitudes continue to believe in Him. Many others ignore Him. The ages have rejected Him. Atheist deny Him. Pagan scholars cannot explain Him. America has little room for Him. The church still preaches Him. Few really want to follow Him. Fewer are really in love with Him. Even now a remnant wait for Him.
He is my King of Kings. My Lord of Lords. He is my Savior, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, Emmanuel, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life. He is the Alpha and Omega. He is Jesus Christ and today we celebrate He is risen from the dead!
He is not a lifeless statue. He is not a dead revolutionary. He is not a forgotten religious teacher. He is the Messiah and He is risen and alive forever more. He is alive and active. He is still saving. He is still healing. He is still delivering. He is still loving. He is still drawing. He is still answering. He is still working. He is still reviving.
Today I celebrate that truth. His death paid for my sins. I have been bought with a price redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb. I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see. His kindness brought me to repentance and now I am a new creation. Jesus who began a good work in me is faithfully completing that work until the coming of His day. Though I am aging on the outside I am continually being renewed on the inside. Soon the King will come back. Soon and very soon I am going to see the King. Hallelujah. Jesus is alive. He is risen. It is still fresh in my heart 29 years later after I first met Him. Have you heard of Him? Have you personally been introduced to Him? He is risen and He is coming back.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
The Remedy of Faith and Patience
Most people reading this are facing a trial or some form of adversity. It is part of the human plight. Most of the time our response to these trials and adversities is to want to relief and to want it immediately.
While enjoying a Saturday afternoon alone and reading about pastor Charles Simeon and his response to enduring twelve long years of opposition from his flock, he said the following. "In this state of things I saw the only remedy was faith and patience."
The word remedy means something that brings a cure or healing medicine. When we face trials, especially those long and sustained trials, we need the healing medicine of faith and patience. This is the cure of getting through. What we deceptively think is the remedy is to get immediate relief from the adversity and source of our frustrations. Better yet most of us think the best medicine is to avoid the difficulties of life at all costs.
You might be surprised to learn that Simeon remained in that one church for fifty-four years. Eventually the flock quit resisting him but the trials did not stop. For the thirteen years between the age of forty-seven and sixty Simeon suffered something wrong in his throat and ability to speak. At times he could barely speak above a whisper but he never stopped preaching. He endured this for thirteen grueling years. Faith and patience helped him through the dozen early years with his congregation and faith and patience also proved the remedy to his physical sufferings as well.
The healing medicine for Simeon remained in faith and patience. People talk a good deal about faith and I have been known to write about it and preach about it myself. Trials have a way of showing the strength or deficiency of our faith. The word faith means confidence, assurance, trust, and belief. When the adversity comes and when it persists a weak faith will be exposed. We will quit living with God's assurance. We no longer trust or live with the confidence that God will come through. So I guess the real question is how do we continue to strengthen our faith.
In my life I have known only two ways. First and by far and away the most effective way has been scripture reading and meditation. When God's word gets in me it is like protein needed to build faith muscles. Scripture reading and meditation are vital to building and sustaining a strong faith. Faith is the remedy to help to keep living with hope. Faith is the remedy to inspire us to keep praying when we have not seen the long awaited answer for weeks, months, years, or decades. When my mind dwells on the promises of God faith soars and hope abounds.
A second way to strengthen our faith is to read Christian biography and autobiographies. Others lived, suffered, endured, and came through victoriously. We can learn from them. Only second to the scriptures, God has used the lives of other men and women from previous centuries to minister to our generation.
Dig deep in the wells of the scriptures and Christian biographies and autobiographies.
Patience is also a remedy. Synonyms for patience include steadfastness. Some people translate the word patience to mean cheerful constancy. It is one thing to endure with steadfastness and constancy. It is a whole different matter to endure with cheerfulness. We may want our adversities to end and when they do not our joy can ebb like the evening tide. The remedy of patience is a healing balm. Patience helps us keep getting up in the morning, coming to God at the throne of grace in prayer, and doing our duty with joy.
The remedies of faith and patience cannot be underestimated. Regardless of what we are dealing with, if our cups overflowed with the remedy of faith and patience, we could get through anything. These are not character traits we can just will through sheer determination to strengthen. Faith and patience are results of God's grace. May we plead for more of both to be the healing medicine we need to triumph in life come comfort or afflictions.
While enjoying a Saturday afternoon alone and reading about pastor Charles Simeon and his response to enduring twelve long years of opposition from his flock, he said the following. "In this state of things I saw the only remedy was faith and patience."
The word remedy means something that brings a cure or healing medicine. When we face trials, especially those long and sustained trials, we need the healing medicine of faith and patience. This is the cure of getting through. What we deceptively think is the remedy is to get immediate relief from the adversity and source of our frustrations. Better yet most of us think the best medicine is to avoid the difficulties of life at all costs.
You might be surprised to learn that Simeon remained in that one church for fifty-four years. Eventually the flock quit resisting him but the trials did not stop. For the thirteen years between the age of forty-seven and sixty Simeon suffered something wrong in his throat and ability to speak. At times he could barely speak above a whisper but he never stopped preaching. He endured this for thirteen grueling years. Faith and patience helped him through the dozen early years with his congregation and faith and patience also proved the remedy to his physical sufferings as well.
The healing medicine for Simeon remained in faith and patience. People talk a good deal about faith and I have been known to write about it and preach about it myself. Trials have a way of showing the strength or deficiency of our faith. The word faith means confidence, assurance, trust, and belief. When the adversity comes and when it persists a weak faith will be exposed. We will quit living with God's assurance. We no longer trust or live with the confidence that God will come through. So I guess the real question is how do we continue to strengthen our faith.
In my life I have known only two ways. First and by far and away the most effective way has been scripture reading and meditation. When God's word gets in me it is like protein needed to build faith muscles. Scripture reading and meditation are vital to building and sustaining a strong faith. Faith is the remedy to help to keep living with hope. Faith is the remedy to inspire us to keep praying when we have not seen the long awaited answer for weeks, months, years, or decades. When my mind dwells on the promises of God faith soars and hope abounds.
A second way to strengthen our faith is to read Christian biography and autobiographies. Others lived, suffered, endured, and came through victoriously. We can learn from them. Only second to the scriptures, God has used the lives of other men and women from previous centuries to minister to our generation.
Dig deep in the wells of the scriptures and Christian biographies and autobiographies.
Patience is also a remedy. Synonyms for patience include steadfastness. Some people translate the word patience to mean cheerful constancy. It is one thing to endure with steadfastness and constancy. It is a whole different matter to endure with cheerfulness. We may want our adversities to end and when they do not our joy can ebb like the evening tide. The remedy of patience is a healing balm. Patience helps us keep getting up in the morning, coming to God at the throne of grace in prayer, and doing our duty with joy.
The remedies of faith and patience cannot be underestimated. Regardless of what we are dealing with, if our cups overflowed with the remedy of faith and patience, we could get through anything. These are not character traits we can just will through sheer determination to strengthen. Faith and patience are results of God's grace. May we plead for more of both to be the healing medicine we need to triumph in life come comfort or afflictions.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tough as a Redwood - Tender as a Flower
While reading last night I came across a phrase describing the life of John Newton, who wrote the famous hymn "Amazing Grace." He was as tough as a Redwood and as tender and fragrant as flowers. In life we need to be men and women like that.
Why as tough as a Redwood. Redwood trees are massive with enormous root systems. They are sturdy and able to withstand the elements and storms. The roots give them stability and a solid anchor system. Redwood roots typically only grow about ten feet deep but spread out as far as eighty feet. What produces stability for the Redwood is the fact the roots from one tree intertwine with the roots of other Redwood trees giving them stability. Don't all of us need the same thing. We all need to be anchored down to face whatever comes our way. We need this in context of community with family and friends.
Just yesterday tornadoes touched town in Arlington causing a great deal of damage. Much of the area and dozens of houses were damaged. Tree limbs fell onto cars, roofs were torn off, and whole homes were obliterated. Many trees could not stand up against the winds. Those trees were shredded. The mighty Redwood trees can tower over 375 feet tall. As their roots grow and entangle themselves in the roots of others trees they can withstand the elements. They are strong. They are tough.
Not only that but the bark on a Redwood can grow as much as twelve inches thick protecting the tree. Don't you know people who wear their feelings on their sleeves. The slightest opposition, resistance, or remark can send these people spiraling. Many people live their entire lives enslaved to the opinions of others. Politicians do it. Coaches and teachers can do it. School administrators face this same issue. Preachers are not immune either. We need people like Redwoods who do and say the right things whether they are popular are not. We need tough people in places of leadership in our communities who will make the tough calls even when it means they will catch heat for it. We must have preachers who will declare the truth fearlessly. We need people with thick skin.
Yes, we need to be tough people but a person can be extremely tough and extremely hard and insensitive at the same time. The fragrance of such people is death. Conversations with such people can turn into a verbal bloodbath. Such people think they have free license to say and do anything in the name of speaking or defending the truth. These are people who bristle like a porcupine keeping people at distance.
While being tough we must also learn to be tender. As tender and fragrant as a flower. Jesus could be both. He was tough with the Pharisees and tender with the woman caught in adultery. He was lion hearted in proclaiming the truth and yet compassionate when dealing with the leper. Jesus had backbone like steel when facing the cross and yet wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.
Why do we tend to fall to one extreme or the other. I know tough people. Typically these men and women are hard. They are abrasive. I also know soft people who or doormats for people to take advantage of because they are too tender. These soft people wilt under pressure or opposition.
Shouldn't we all want to be more like Jesus. Tough when life calls for it and tender with the people we come in contact with. Strong and fierce in the defense of Biblical truth and yet lovingly compassionate with those we oppose. Firm in our convictions and yet soft hearted for those broken and bruised by life. Tough like a Redwood and tender like a flower. We need more people like that.
Why as tough as a Redwood. Redwood trees are massive with enormous root systems. They are sturdy and able to withstand the elements and storms. The roots give them stability and a solid anchor system. Redwood roots typically only grow about ten feet deep but spread out as far as eighty feet. What produces stability for the Redwood is the fact the roots from one tree intertwine with the roots of other Redwood trees giving them stability. Don't all of us need the same thing. We all need to be anchored down to face whatever comes our way. We need this in context of community with family and friends.
Just yesterday tornadoes touched town in Arlington causing a great deal of damage. Much of the area and dozens of houses were damaged. Tree limbs fell onto cars, roofs were torn off, and whole homes were obliterated. Many trees could not stand up against the winds. Those trees were shredded. The mighty Redwood trees can tower over 375 feet tall. As their roots grow and entangle themselves in the roots of others trees they can withstand the elements. They are strong. They are tough.
Not only that but the bark on a Redwood can grow as much as twelve inches thick protecting the tree. Don't you know people who wear their feelings on their sleeves. The slightest opposition, resistance, or remark can send these people spiraling. Many people live their entire lives enslaved to the opinions of others. Politicians do it. Coaches and teachers can do it. School administrators face this same issue. Preachers are not immune either. We need people like Redwoods who do and say the right things whether they are popular are not. We need tough people in places of leadership in our communities who will make the tough calls even when it means they will catch heat for it. We must have preachers who will declare the truth fearlessly. We need people with thick skin.
Yes, we need to be tough people but a person can be extremely tough and extremely hard and insensitive at the same time. The fragrance of such people is death. Conversations with such people can turn into a verbal bloodbath. Such people think they have free license to say and do anything in the name of speaking or defending the truth. These are people who bristle like a porcupine keeping people at distance.
While being tough we must also learn to be tender. As tender and fragrant as a flower. Jesus could be both. He was tough with the Pharisees and tender with the woman caught in adultery. He was lion hearted in proclaiming the truth and yet compassionate when dealing with the leper. Jesus had backbone like steel when facing the cross and yet wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.
Why do we tend to fall to one extreme or the other. I know tough people. Typically these men and women are hard. They are abrasive. I also know soft people who or doormats for people to take advantage of because they are too tender. These soft people wilt under pressure or opposition.
Shouldn't we all want to be more like Jesus. Tough when life calls for it and tender with the people we come in contact with. Strong and fierce in the defense of Biblical truth and yet lovingly compassionate with those we oppose. Firm in our convictions and yet soft hearted for those broken and bruised by life. Tough like a Redwood and tender like a flower. We need more people like that.
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