Faith-Day In Day Out

The other day I walked into a restaurant for lunch and I looked around at the crowd. There was an array of folks who were on their lunch break from work, business suits and dresses, refinery jumpsuits, and even the restaurant workers in matching outfits. Does your Sunday morning worship have any relevance during your work week? Is there any connection between the two? This is a question with which I believe most people struggle. Perhaps there are good reasons for this seeming divide.
The world of the Church is about grace freely given by God. On the other hand, the world of the workplace is about production and evaluations which focus on our ability to get our job done and done well. Church is about love and forgiveness given abundantly. Work is about efficiency and effectiveness in order to rise above the competition in an effort to maximize profit. Church is the world where the meek shall inherit the earth. Work can be dog eat dog… a place where only the strong survive. When you think about it, is it any wonder that often there is a disconnect between these two seemingly different environments?
In Luke 16:1-3, Jesus tells this story, “There was once a rich man who had a manager. He got reports that the manager had been taking advantage of his position by running up huge personal expenses. So he called him in and said, 'What's this I hear about you? You're fired. And I want a complete audit of your books. The manager said to himself, what am I going to do? I've lost my job as manager. I'm not strong enough for a laboring job, and I'm too proud to beg. Ah, I've got a plan. Here's what I'll do… then when I'm turned out into the street, people will take me into their houses. Then he went at it. One after another, he called in the people who were in debt to his master. He said to the first, how much do you owe my master? He replied, a hundred jugs of olive oil. The manager said, here, take your bill, sit down here—quick now— write fifty. To the next he said, and you, what do you owe? He answered, a hundred sacks of wheat. He said, Take your bill, write in eighty. Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.”
Going to work is no simple thing! As Christians, Jesus calls us to do more than mindlessly follow the crowd. We are asked to do four things; 1) We must always strive to do our best, 2) build community by being trustworthy and kind to those around us, 3) work for justice by seeing that everyone, including the customer, is treated fairly, and 4) we have to share our convictions about the importance of Jesus in our own lives. If we do these four things we can be assured that our work will relate to our faith. Sunday will be the day when we charge our internal batteries in worship so that we can go out into the mission field to fulfill our calling as disciples. This week, you will be unique. You will be among people whom only you can speak… whom only you can influence. Be faithful and use the tools you are given on Sunday to make a difference for those around you Monday through Friday. Until next time, Blessings!

We Went to Meet Jesus

A few weeks ago, our church took 32 people on a family mission trip to Bogalusa, Louisiana. Our ages ranged from retired to my daughter of 16 months. Before going, I was asked why we were going to Louisiana when there was much work to be done here. And yes, there is much work to be done from Hurricane Rita. And yes, we in the church have and will continue to help. However, before Hurricane Katrina or Rita hit, we had planned to go on a mission trip to eastern Kentucky. Once Katrina hit (before Rita) we diverted and made plans to go to Louisiana. So we went!
I am reminded of the scripture from Matthew 25:31-46 where Jesus discusses who will enter into heaven. In this scripture, Jesus says people will be divided into two categories, sheep or goats. Jesus says, “Where did we see you Lord?” “ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Mission work is important and while it alone will not save your soul, it is an outward sign of the inner manifestation of Christ in your life.
That is the point of mission work, stewardship, and really most things of which Christ commanded. Do things for others because the kind of heart Christ wants us to have is one of giving. You see, mission work can be done “down the street”, but it is also important at times to get people out of their comfort zone, away from ringing phones (especially cell phones), television, and the bustle of daily life. You can talk about helping someone or send a check, but on a mission trip you put yourself into a time and place where you commit to being in relationship with those individuals in their difficult circumstances. There is a change, the Holy Spirit blows upon both the helper and the one being helped. It is an act of service and yet it is a blessing to serve and humbling for those who are being served. We went to a new place to meet God. That new place for our people was in Bogalusa, a city hit by the high winds of Hurricane Katrina. Thanks to some skilled workers to whom I am indebted, we installed new sheetrock on ceilings and walls, lifted a sagging floor, scraped and repainted, sorted clothes at the Salvation Army, cut trees, and got to know many new brothers and sisters in Christ. The work was… work, hot and sweaty in the Louisiana summer heat, but I don’ think that the heat will be remembered. I think that no one will ever forget the people and personalities that we discovered there. The people we served were wonderful people who were suffering through a difficult situation. We went to Bogalusa to meet Jesus… and He was HOME!

Why Bother With Evangelism?

One of the great preachers of all-time was a man by the name of Dwight L. Moody. He was also a bit of an odd ball. On more than one occasion he would walk out into the streets of 19th century Chicago with a sandwich board strapped across his shoulders with messages on them. One of his favorites was one which said on the front, “I am a fool for Christ” and asked a question on the back, “Whose fool are you?” You see, Moody lived through the Chicago fire of 1871 when hundreds of people lost their lives. He decided that he would always present the gospel message to everyone he could because he wanted everyone to accept their salvation.
Who among us today has such determination to present this message? Moody, while sometimes considered weird made it a practice to interrupt with the gospel message for which he was so zealous. He was told by one particular woman, “I don’t like the way you do evangelism!” To this he replied, “I understand that there are some objectionable ways in which I do evangelism. Tell me, how do you do it?” She said, “I don’t do evangelism.” To this he retorted, “Well then, I like my way better!”
Today all Christians have great opportunities for evangelism. Are we taking those opportunities? If not let me give you reasons for sharing with someone the fact that God loves them and has already made arrangements to receive them into heaven. First, if you had the cure for cancer would you tell anyone who is suffering from such a dreaded disease? Of course you would! In Jesus Christ, you have the cure for the sickness of sin and death itself. Your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances are dying in this life dominated by dread, fear, lust for material goods, and earthly power. Sure it might feel weird or even scary, but have you spoken to anyone about the saving power of Jesus that exists both here and in the afterlife? I think people are hungry to know God and have peace within their life. But to whom will someone listen? Maybe someone has been wondering what it is that makes your life different from theirs. No, it’s not that you are less of a sinner or a “perfect” person. That is false pietism. It is simply the fact that you know who you are and whose you are. You are a fool for Christ! So start acting like it and spread the Good News, not fear of Hell, but the love God has for each and every person. Simply understand that God’s grace is for you and know that God gives life, earthly and eternal to anyone who will accept it.