Wednesday, July 29, 2009

"We Interupt Your Regular Scheduled Program..."

You're watching your favorite television show. Its getting to what should be the best part of the show. You are on the edge of your seat. "This is going to be good", you think to yourself. Then, suddenly, the show shuts off and you hear these words, "We interrupt your regular scheduled program for this special announcement." Chances are the special announcement is more important than the ending of your show, but you don't care. You want to see what happened while your still in the moment, but the interruption has a different message for you to hear.

If it were only TV shows that got interrupted in life that would be good, but its not. Best laid plans get interrupted...schedules get interrupted...dreams get interrupted...relationships get interrupted...interruptions are a part of life. And quite frankly, they are not a part of life I appreciate.

Just today, I had everything planned out. I would get to the office and I would get through my to-do-list and then...wam, bam...interruption...not of people but of circumstances and before I know it half the day is gone and not even half of my to-do-list is done.

And about that time Jon Gibson chimes in and says something completely ridiculous like, "Maybe God had other plans for your day." "You know what Jon, you can just keep your little spiritual opinions to yourself...I just want to me mad at having life interrupt me"...that's what I wanted to say...but God would not let me because I knew Jon was right. Why did this interruption bother me so much? Do I get so caught up in what I need to do that I miss what God wants to do? If it is true for TV then I am sure it is all the more true for God...if the special announcement that interrupts the TV show is more important than the ending of the show then isn't that all the more reason to watch for God in the interruptions of life?

So, today, I heeded the word of Pastor Jon. I looked around and guess what...He was right. God did have other plans. The plans I had fell through but his plans for me to build relationship with two folks in the midst of those failed plans were more important.

It made me think of Hebrews 13: 2, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels with out knowing it."

What if what I see as an interruption, God sees as just the angel I needed most. May God help me and you not to miss seeing him even in the interruptions.

Got any God-sighting stories? Have you seen God in the midst of an interruption? Send them my way...I'd love to hear from you!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

"Look Forward"

This evening Anna, my three year old, was riding her "big girl" bike. With helmet on and her blond curls blowing in the wind, she was having so much fun. She would speed ahead of me and laugh at the thought that I could not keep up. She could not resist the temptation to look back to see how far she had out paced me. She'd look back, see how far ahead she was and grin from ear to ear.

The only problem was that every time she looked back she almost wrecked. In fact, at one point I thought for sure she was going to wipe out..."Whoa" she exclaimed as she struggled to regain control. I found myself blurting out these words of advice, "Anna, you can't look back. You have to keep looking forward all the time. If you look back your going to fall."

No sooner had those words left my mouth than something inside of me said, "That's good advice for you to remember too, Chad." And, right there on the sidewalk, walking behind my baby girl as she rode her bike, I had a God sighting. "If you look back, you're going to fall" was the message God was giving me loud and clear as I remembered the words from the Bible in Philippians 3:13-14, "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."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, don't look back or you'll fall! We have to keep looking forward.

Look back at what could have, would have, should have and you'll fall flat on your face and miss what is.

Look back at your mistakes, poor choices, sins and regrets and you'll get tripped up in guilt and shame that Jesus' death broke and the freedom your confession made yours.

Look back at your old life before Christ and self-indulgence and self-centeredness will show you its appeal with out reminding you of its lies and down you'll go.

Look back and second guess the commitments you know God has called you to make and ever so gradually you will find yourself falling away from what matters most.

No, don't look back! Keep your eyes looking forward! Not only will it keep you from falling, but it will let you see God going before you at every turn.

Got any God-sighting stories of your own? I would love to hear them!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

"God Sighting"

I thought I’d share my Random Thoughts early this week.



This past Sunday the book of Ruth challenged us to watch for God. So, today, with my wrist band as a reminder, I kept my eyes open. Guess what?! I saw God.



My God sighting occurred around 6:30 PM tonight. A week ago our prayer chain started praying for 200 kids at VBS. This was a big request considering last year the most we had by the third night was 156 kids. Guess how many kids we had last night…this year’s first night? We had 198 kids! I not only saw God in that number, but in the eyes, smiles, dancing, running of the children. I saw him through the loving action of those in our church family who served.



I specifically saw God working in a little boy in the Bible story time. He, in complete sincerity said, “I heard God is dead.” I looked him in the eye, smiled and said, “He was, but he came back to life. He is alive right now.” He said, “But I can’t see him. Where is he?” I said, “God is like the wind. You can’t see him, but you can see what he moves…what he affects.” His eyes brightened up. He smiled…it was if he was relieved…”Oh” He said. He got it…he received it…God is alive and God is with him. It was as though for the first time, this boy who someone invited learned that God really was alive, well, and with him.



That is why we do this every year…that is why we go all out…because a child is worth it. It would be worth it for one and it is worth it for 198. Kids don’t have to grow up not knowing and living in God’s love, hope and peace. God is giving us a great opportunity and responsibility this week.



However, 198 on the first night means we will have more the next night and that means in order to be effective we need one more adult or teen helper in every class. You do not have to teach or come up with any thing. All you would have to do is be there and help the class teacher and other helpers get the class to each of their activities...and…most important…smile, get to know the child’s name and show them by your presence that there is another adult who says they are worth their time…to be honest some of the kids need that like you would not believe…just being there has the potential of being life-changing to some of the boys and girls God has sent us.



On my way home, I prayed, “God, how can we handle this many kids. “ He said, “That’s what you prayed for.” I said, “I know but now what?” Then I was reminded of Bible example after example where the point comes through loud and clear that God has already given us everything we need. God would not have sent us 198 kids if he did not want us to share the love of Jesus with them. And he would not have sent them if he did not know we could effectively do that.



So, what do you say? We need at least 10 people for the next 4 nights. Just 10 people out of our 450 person church. Will you help? If so, please do not email me. Email Robin directly. Thank you so much for those who will. Thank you so much for those who can’t but will pray hard for this week’s VBS. You are an amazing church! Robin’s email is: rwientge@cinci.rr.com



So, that is my God sighting story for day one of our journey. I would love to hear your stories these next 5 weeks. Feel free to email me with any small or big God sighting!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

"Thinking About What We Don't Have to Think About"

The story comes from Cano, Peru, not many years ago: "Terrorists had killed their pastor the night before. His body was on the floor with some candles around it. Terrorists had also burned the church and seventeen houses--all belonging to Christians. The people had no more church, no more pastor, no more houses. Yet, they continued to gather together fearlessly, about thirty of them. They stood in the muddy street to have their song service." ("Jesus Freaks", 1999, Albury
publishing)

This Sunday, we will worship at the pool with out a second thought. Every Sunday, we gather for worship at Living Hope with no fear of being punished for our faith. However, every day brothers and sisters in Christ around the world will not only suffer but die simply because they follow Jesus. Their stories do not receive mainstream media coverage. Their deaths do not invoke world-wide outrage. No army is sent to ensure their religious freedom or their right to live. And yet...they worship, they believe, they love, and they live for Jesus even if it means they will die for Jesus.

Isn't it interesting that those who risk everything to worship in secret find it easier to be free in Christ than so many of us who live in a free nation? How could a people be asked to give their all--their lives--for their faith and find it easier to give it up for Christ and we who have it all find it so hard to give up anything for Christ?

Many people have died for us to have our religious freedom. Perhaps the best way we can celebrate the freedom they won and others now preserve this Independence Day is for we Followers of Jesus to ask, "I live in a free nation, so what is it going to take for me to have half the courage and commitment of those don't live in a free nation?"