Three Letters or Four, The Choice is Yours

Today I want to examine two words. But first, let's look at what what makes them different.
In Dr. Seuss' book "Red Fish, Blue Fish", there is a character named "Ish." Ish carries a dish and magically on the dish appear fish. So if you have an "Ish" it will bring you fish on the ish fish dish. Any other Seuss fans?
Well the word "ish" has numerous meanings. Dictionary.com says, “addicted to,” or “inclined or tending to." It, is a word that is usually an add on to words like "freakish, Spanish, or babyish."
The second word is "less." Less is often defined as a smaller amount, but I like another definition, "lower in consideration, rank, or importance."
By now you may have probably guessed the two words I am contrasting. They are selfish and selfless. The definition of selfish is, "devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others." When you look at the definiton of selfless it is simply, "unselfish."
Why am I looking at these two words? Because our culture is filled with an epidemic of selfishness. Just three little letters change everything.
Jesus spoke so often about the subject, I am hard pressed to only give one example. Time and time again, Jesus is clear. Life is not about... YOU. Romans 5 and Philippians 2 tell us that Jesus was all about selflessness. He preached being kind and caring in so many of His stories. He was all about giving and yet, Jesus called people to leave what they were preoccupied with and follow Him.
That has been one of my most sad discoveries. So many people are simply caught up in their preoccupied selfish ways. So many like what they like and by no means should anyone consider asking them to do anything different. I would love to say that those who follow Jesus are different, but I can not.
Some Christians have turned a number of their churches into their own private clubs. Sometimes it's like a country club, other times it is just a club based on whatever those folks have in common, even when the idea that unites them is that they are together in a noble last stand to exist. Denominations may battle against one another over everything from doctrine to practice. Some beleive they are the only ones who do this right or that right.
Beth Moore says that we have to be "intentional" to not get caught up in the consumeristic selfish culture both in and out of the church. But take heart, Jesus battled against it, so who are we to think such things change. I do wonder though... what does a church look like that welcomes anyone... what does a church look like that is always willing to leave 99 to seek the 1 lost sheep... what does a church look like that treats its own people with grace and forgiveness... what does a church look like that is not concerned with what "the membership" wants, but is concerned about getting people to come meet Jesus for the first time... what does a church look like that is about mission and evangelism and not about members and money... what does that church look like? Some church leaders and members are too afraid to really look carefully at those questions? Are any churches aware that they truly operate as selfish bastions of homogeneous folks? That would be radically brave...and unusual (maybe that would be considered a minor miracle). It would take a lot more "less" and a lot less "ish." I pray that as a church leader, I am leading people toward selflessness and away from selfishness. I believe that I am accountable for that and I pray that other churches and church members will feel the same way.

To Pray and To Move

Lent is a time of reflection. It is the spring of the year and a time to re-focus on what is important in life. God created this time as one to stop, think, be quiet, and listen to God’s voice. God doesn’t forcefully take over someone’s life unless they are willing to submit to being taken over. It is God’s way. We are called to regularly reflect upon what God is telling us.
What is God telling you? I hope it is that He loves you.
Indeed as we go forward, we are walking the path to the cross. It is a path filled with difficulty. Jesus said, “Follow Me.” He also said that He came “not to bring peace, but the sword.” Life is full of hard roads and I have often wondered why Christians think their roads should be smooth and easy. The Way of the Cross is one in which so many want to follow, but if you look at the Disciples, none of them were able to go the distance with Jesus. Peter even denied Him in the end. It is that way with us. We cannot follow. We can only want to follow and acknowledge that it is impossible. We can never be “like Christ”, only shadow figures of Him. He is the one who successfully walks the narrow path and goes to the cross. He is the one who takes humankinds wickedness upon Himself and says, “it is finished.” Only Jesus can break the bondage of sin and death in such a way to proclaim life to all who believe in Him and call Him Lord.
Believe me, there is no “luke-warm” in the eyes of Jesus… only commitment. There are no members of the church, just disciples. Jesus gives life in abundance. Isn’t that what we are seeking in Him? I think we want abundant life and a peace for the future that surpasses all understanding that is our need. I think so. Why not grab it? Why not recommit your life to Christ. Pray about it. Make a decision to join in more and get more from life. There are small group studies, Bible studies, even regular worship attendance.
So, pray… reflect… but get moving because God calls us to follow Him,,, and “follow” means to get moving.

An Honest Conversation

One evening I received a call from a friend who didn’t even say “Hello”; he simply asked “Do you know of anyone having an affair with Tiger Woods. At that point, it had become so comical because seemingly every other day another woman was coming forth and claiming a sexual relationship with the greatest golfer on the planet. How did you perceive Tiger Woods before all of the information about his multitude of liaisons became public knowledge? Honestly, I think most people really cheered for Tiger. His amazing abilities on the golf course created the idea that on any given occasion he might do something incredible… and often… he did. Like him or not, Tiger is still the best player on the planet. I suspect that his popularity will never be what it was, but most people will forgive or forget or not care or whatever and move on. The ironic twist is that this very, very, public figure is now seen in a far different light. That has happened before to people like baseball slugger Mark McGuire, former Presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, stock broker Bernie Madoff, O.J. Simpson, and too many politicians to list here.
One of the biggest falls was biblical. King David had it all. He had killed the giant, Goliath, overcome the armies of enemies, and even survived murderous attempts on his own life from his own king, Saul. There he was, reclining on his couch on a day when many were off at war. He saw the lovely Bathsheba and was smitten. Later when he found out she was pregnant, he tried to conceal his actions and even killed her husband in an all out effort to get away with his indiscretions. From that point onward, David was never the same. Israel was never the same. He acknowledged his sin and God forgave him but his legacy was forever tarnished.
What can we learn from the Bible and today’s headlines? First, we know that while God invented sex, God intended it to be a part of the marital relationship. There is a reason that the Bible uses the term “know” when it speaks of sex. “To know” someone is actually knowing a great deal about them. It is an intimate term that is much more than physical. When people fulfill only their physical desires, there is a loss of relationship. People become objects, ceasing to be human beings. It is easy to see how our culture, men in specific, struggles with seeing women (and men) as sexual objects. Sex is used to sell everything from soft drinks to pornography.
Secondly, God wants people to love one another, but, sorry, that doesn’t mean random acts of sex. Tiger Woods may have an addiction to sex, but his behavior may also destroy his marriage. He is not alone in our country. Are we shocked that the divorce rate continues to grow? God wants people to love one another as brothers and sisters, but husbands and wives are to love one another as partners, including sexual partners. The apostle Paul said this many times in letters to Ephesians, Colossians, I Peter, and Corinthians. Sex outside of marriage leaves its mark. Did you know that there are 12 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases each year? Like a child trying to separate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, there is always something remaining. The analogy may not be clear, but I think you get the point! Lives are damaged and emotions are never the same.
Finally, there is Good News. No matter who you are or what you have done, God loves you. Not because you love God, but simply because you belong to Him. You are forgiven. You can always turn around and realize that God will make you whole again. God will allow you to start fresh again. Male or female, we are free to recognize that we have done wrong and start over. I love that about God. Everyone is redeemed through grace, not because of how we act, but in spite of how we act. Sex is not dirty or wrong, but beautiful and fulfilling when used as God intended. I wrote this not for those who are in committed marriages and faithful, but on the chance that it may help someone who isn’t because the church has to have an honest conversation and teach sex education.

Come See

A few weeks ago, I was asked "Didn't you use to preach at another church?" When I realized what was being asked, I understood the confusion. I have been in our area now for nearly five years. When I first arrived, I discovered that the church I was called to serve, the Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, was slowly, but surely, dying. The church had topped out in membership back in the 1980's and had begun a slow deterioration. It was not clear at first, but over time, it was becoming very clear. As the years passed, the church membership was getting older and fewer and fewer young families were joining. When I arrived on the scene, many in the church understood the situation, but, unfortunately, many others did not. It was comfortable. The building was paid for and beautiful, but it was in an area that had become a demographic challenge for the church. To top it off, it was found that the financial secretary had been stealing for many years. After many failed attempts to bring in new members, it was clear that the hurdle of location could not be overcome. The church had to move!

I will never forget that winter of 2007. It was the most difficult period of my ministry. Christians fought against Christians. Harsh words and attitudes were tossed about with ease. Why? Because some people were more concerned about keeping "buildings and stained glass" more than concerned with reaching people for Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "Go make disciples..." He never said, "stay where you are and they will come to you!" Thus, in January of 2008, the church sold its property an moved into temporary space at the St. John Lutheran Church. At that time, the church changed its name to Providence Presbyterian Church.

Fast forward a bit to 2009 and we find our efforts to build a building thwarted by the rising cost of building materials and labor. We were unable to build and remained at our temporary home. In the spring of 2009, St. John Lutheran Church approached us about uniting together to form one church, Providence Church. While that is still in the works, we are finally beginning a building project. Phase One is slated to be a church for "people who don't go to church." We are building a worship center that doesn't necessarily feel like a worship center. It consists of an area for worship that has a modern feel and an area that welcomes kids. It is different! And like the Apostle Philip telling Nathaniel in John 1, we just want to say, "Come See!"

That's what Providence is about, providing a place for everyone to "meet Jesus." If you have given up on "church" but like Jesus. Come see. If you "used to go to church" but stopped, come see. If you think you don't have the "right clothes" or "nobody invited you", I want to say, "come as you are" and "you're invited." Just Come See.

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Beer Joint vs. a Church... Who Has More Faith?

In a small Texas town, ( Mt. Vernon ) Drummond's bar began,
construction on a new building to increase their business. The local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed right up till the week before opening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.
The church folks were rather smug in their outlook after that. Until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means.
The church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise in its reply to the court.
As the case made its way into court, the judge looked over the paperwork. At the hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but as it appears from the paperwork; we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that does not."