In these thirty four years of my life, I have only played on any kind of organized sports league for about three years. In fourth through sixth grade I played Miamisburg Rec. League Basketball. As I look back on those years of discovering my unathletic ability, I remember that I always like playing defense better than offense. I liked defense better because I was always better at blocking a ball ( I was tall for my age, so that helped) than I was at shooting the ball. In fact, I remember praying during the game that no one would pass the ball to me. And that is not the only time I have prayed on the defense.
Tonight during the men's accountability group we were looking at Acts 4 in the Bible. Acts 4:23-31 records the prayer of Christ Followers as they were facing there first onslaught of threats of persecution. The powers to be had told them in no uncertain terms to stop worshipping and preaching Jesus Christ. So, the Christ Followers all gathered for prayer.
What would I pray, if people were threatening to make me stop preaching Christ, if I did not stop my own? I can tell you what I would pray...I would pray for God to protect me and stop them. In other words, I would pray on the defense.
However, the Christ Followers in Acts, prayed just the opposite...they prayed on the offense. Listen to their prayer in Acts 4:29-30, "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." That is no prayer of defense...it is a prayer of offense! They don't pray for God to stop the threats but to give them courage in the face of the threats. They don't pray for the enemies of God to shut up, but for the people of God to speak up. They don't pray for the hand of Satan to no longer to be seen, but for the hand of God to be seen all the more clearer in the presence of evil.
In response to their prayers, the Bible says in verse 31, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
Do you want to see God shake things up? Instead of being filled with worry, fear, stress, sadness and weariness, do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Instead of cowering on the defense, do you want to be bold in your faith? Then don't just play offense, pray it!
Instead of praying for God to put prayer back in school, let's pray for God to raise up students who are so on fire for God that nothing can extinguish what God will do through them.
Instead of praying for legislation to be passed to uphold our morals, let's pray for we the Church to shine so bright with God's love that those who are around us can't help but be transformed by the love of Christ.
Instead of praying for God to protect us from evil, let's pray for God to use us to put evil on the run.
Instead of praying for God to make our lives so easy that we never have to deal with any trouble, let's pray that even in the face of trouble God would make us courageous in him.
That is one of the reasons I love Baptism and Child dedication Sunday (this Sunday, October 26, at 11 AM). In Child dedications, parents are saying, "We know that we live in a broken world, but by faith we believe that He that is in us is greater than that which is in the world." Child dedication is an act of praying on the offense on behalf of a child. Baptism is also a bold and offensive move. It is a Follower of Christ making the decision to no longer allow his or her Faith in Christ to remain private. It is a courageous step of publicly proclaiming that without Christ I am dead even while I live, but with Christ I am alive even if I die! This Sunday, is going to be a powerful day of praying on the offense. I want to invite you to be with us...show up and I believe together we see God shake us up, fill us up and send us out with a renewed sense of boldness.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
"Sleeping in the Trash"
Sunday afternoon I was taking some trash to the dumpster. I opened the lid, tossed in the trash and then I jumped and ran! I was expecting to find trash in the trash, not two eyes starring back at me followed by a mean sounding "hiss." I am not too big of a man to admit that I about wet myself...it scarred me half to death.
Of course, God never lets me have moments like those by myself. Two other men were walking by just as I was startled. They got a good laugh and the brave one looked in the trash, poked around and said, "Its just a raccoon sleeping. You know they sleep during the day." I could think of a lot better places to sleep, but apparently the raccoon was quite comfortable in the trash.
I can't really judge the animal for its sleeping arrangements because I too have too many times found myself comfortable enough with trash to sleep in it. We can get so good at denial, justification and rationalization that pretty soon we make ourselves feel good enough with trash that we sleep in it. The sin that use to bother us now doesn't even make us flinch. The unethical business practices are just business as usual. The unhealthy relationship has gone on so long that as far as we know and our kids know that its just normal family life. We spend so much time blaming others for our problems that we are convinced that our problem is everybody else's problem to fix. We treat our bad habits as though they are an unchangeable part of our DNA. Bottom line, we might as well crawl in the dumpster and sleep with the raccoon because we are sleeping in the trash.
Scarier than finding a raccoon in the dumpster is finding ourselves reaching the point where we are so out of tune with the Spirit of God that we are OK with making a bed in trash. Friends, God has better for you and me than trash. The Bible says, "Godly sorrow leads to repentance that leads to life."
If you wake up In the trash today or any day, don't roll over and hit snooze. Get up. Let Godly sorrow fill you in such a good way that you are ready to turn away from the trash to more fully receive all that Christ has for you and you'll be amazed at how much better you sleep!
Of course, God never lets me have moments like those by myself. Two other men were walking by just as I was startled. They got a good laugh and the brave one looked in the trash, poked around and said, "Its just a raccoon sleeping. You know they sleep during the day." I could think of a lot better places to sleep, but apparently the raccoon was quite comfortable in the trash.
I can't really judge the animal for its sleeping arrangements because I too have too many times found myself comfortable enough with trash to sleep in it. We can get so good at denial, justification and rationalization that pretty soon we make ourselves feel good enough with trash that we sleep in it. The sin that use to bother us now doesn't even make us flinch. The unethical business practices are just business as usual. The unhealthy relationship has gone on so long that as far as we know and our kids know that its just normal family life. We spend so much time blaming others for our problems that we are convinced that our problem is everybody else's problem to fix. We treat our bad habits as though they are an unchangeable part of our DNA. Bottom line, we might as well crawl in the dumpster and sleep with the raccoon because we are sleeping in the trash.
Scarier than finding a raccoon in the dumpster is finding ourselves reaching the point where we are so out of tune with the Spirit of God that we are OK with making a bed in trash. Friends, God has better for you and me than trash. The Bible says, "Godly sorrow leads to repentance that leads to life."
If you wake up In the trash today or any day, don't roll over and hit snooze. Get up. Let Godly sorrow fill you in such a good way that you are ready to turn away from the trash to more fully receive all that Christ has for you and you'll be amazed at how much better you sleep!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
"Beyond Ordinary"
"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13.
The context of the above verse is that Peter and John are telling others about Jesus Christ. The two men knew that to do so meant they were painting a target on their backs. However, they did not let that stop them. Their love for God was greater than their fear of the opinions or negative actions of others. Those who opposed them noticed their courage. And they noticed something more...yes, they were unschooled and they were ordinary, but something set them apart from other men...what is it? What is different about them? Then, "They took note that these men had been with Jesus." That was the difference...they had been with Jesus. Being with Jesus took ordinary men beyond ordinary.
Do any body where you or I live, work and play take note that we have been with Jesus? Do we want others to take note that we have been with Jesus? What will it take for us to be with Jesus in such a way that others recognize that we have been in his presence?
The context of the above verse is that Peter and John are telling others about Jesus Christ. The two men knew that to do so meant they were painting a target on their backs. However, they did not let that stop them. Their love for God was greater than their fear of the opinions or negative actions of others. Those who opposed them noticed their courage. And they noticed something more...yes, they were unschooled and they were ordinary, but something set them apart from other men...what is it? What is different about them? Then, "They took note that these men had been with Jesus." That was the difference...they had been with Jesus. Being with Jesus took ordinary men beyond ordinary.
Do any body where you or I live, work and play take note that we have been with Jesus? Do we want others to take note that we have been with Jesus? What will it take for us to be with Jesus in such a way that others recognize that we have been in his presence?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
"Singing in the Rain"
A while back my neighbor that lives across the street from me said, "Chad, did you hear the rain early this morning?"
"Yeah," I said, "It woke me up."
"Did you hear anything else?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"The birds," he said, "The whole time it was raining the birds were singing. When was the last time you sang in the rain?"
What about you? When was the last time you sang in the rain? I have cried in the rain...I've thrown adult-temper tantrums in the rain...I've shouted in frustrated, "It's not fair...why me?" in the rain...I've withdrawn into a dark and lonely place in the rain...but sing...? I wonder what birds know that I don't? I wonder what would happen if I gave their response a try to the rain in my life?
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God , and the other prisoners {Did you catch that? Paul and Silas are singing in prison} were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison door's flew open, and every body's chains came loose. The jailer woke up and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!' ...the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:25-30).
That's what happened when Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding in prison, sang songs of praise to God! First of all, singing to God got their focus on something greater and more hopeful than their own negative circumstances. Next, when we focus on God we put ourselves in a position to let God open doors for us that we could never open on our own. Third, God uses people who sing in the rain or in the prison cell to help others hear and receive his love now and forever.
Birds singing in the rain...Men singing in a prison cell...I wonder what they know that I don't? I wonder what would happen if I gave a their response a try?
Is it raining? Why not try singing?
"Yeah," I said, "It woke me up."
"Did you hear anything else?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"The birds," he said, "The whole time it was raining the birds were singing. When was the last time you sang in the rain?"
What about you? When was the last time you sang in the rain? I have cried in the rain...I've thrown adult-temper tantrums in the rain...I've shouted in frustrated, "It's not fair...why me?" in the rain...I've withdrawn into a dark and lonely place in the rain...but sing...? I wonder what birds know that I don't? I wonder what would happen if I gave their response a try to the rain in my life?
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God , and the other prisoners {Did you catch that? Paul and Silas are singing in prison} were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison door's flew open, and every body's chains came loose. The jailer woke up and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, 'Don't harm yourself! We are all here!' ...the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:25-30).
That's what happened when Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding in prison, sang songs of praise to God! First of all, singing to God got their focus on something greater and more hopeful than their own negative circumstances. Next, when we focus on God we put ourselves in a position to let God open doors for us that we could never open on our own. Third, God uses people who sing in the rain or in the prison cell to help others hear and receive his love now and forever.
Birds singing in the rain...Men singing in a prison cell...I wonder what they know that I don't? I wonder what would happen if I gave a their response a try?
Is it raining? Why not try singing?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
"For theTroubled"
We all know that in this sin-fallen world trouble is bound to find us. Yet, when it does, knowing that does not make us feel any better does it?
You watch as the floor of our financial market appears to fall out and you here your future retirement funds saying, "bye, bye." You watch everybody else get their power back on while yours stays off. Somebody rams you in the rear end and puts your car in the shop. A loved dies unexpectedly. A friendship is on the rocks. Do I need to go on? Of course not, we are all familiar with trouble.
So, what words do I have that will change your life in the face of trouble? I have none to offer of my own. But what I do have to offer is better. This week I read a promise from God's word that I have been holding onto. It is real to life and yet it presents great hope. Psalm 137:8 says, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life."
Is trouble real? yes. Will you and I walk through our share of trouble in this life? Yes. Does trouble have to destroy me? No. Does trouble have to have the final say in my life? No.
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you, O, Lord, preserve my life." Are you in the midst of trouble? Why not take a moment right now to meditate on that sentence? Repeat it over and over in your head. Say it out loud. Then ask Jesus to show up and reveal anything he especially wants you to hear from him about your trouble and his power.
I am praying for you. Any trouble I can pray specifically about with you?
You watch as the floor of our financial market appears to fall out and you here your future retirement funds saying, "bye, bye." You watch everybody else get their power back on while yours stays off. Somebody rams you in the rear end and puts your car in the shop. A loved dies unexpectedly. A friendship is on the rocks. Do I need to go on? Of course not, we are all familiar with trouble.
So, what words do I have that will change your life in the face of trouble? I have none to offer of my own. But what I do have to offer is better. This week I read a promise from God's word that I have been holding onto. It is real to life and yet it presents great hope. Psalm 137:8 says, "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life."
Is trouble real? yes. Will you and I walk through our share of trouble in this life? Yes. Does trouble have to destroy me? No. Does trouble have to have the final say in my life? No.
"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you, O, Lord, preserve my life." Are you in the midst of trouble? Why not take a moment right now to meditate on that sentence? Repeat it over and over in your head. Say it out loud. Then ask Jesus to show up and reveal anything he especially wants you to hear from him about your trouble and his power.
I am praying for you. Any trouble I can pray specifically about with you?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
"And the Wind Blew"
So, how are you doing during "Storm aftermath day 3"? I hope you are well. You have been prayed for and the offer for help from your church family still stands.
The force of the winds on Sunday were pretty incredible. Not realizing how bad it would get, around 2 PM, Kimberly said, "Let's go get ice cream." It seemed that every mile we drove the worst the winds became. We finally made it to the ice cream shop and while we were paying for our order, the wind blew the front door off the store and shattered it on the concrete. At that point I looked at Kimberly and said, "What are we doing out here?" (Of course, we finished our ice cream. I figured if we were going to die, I could think of no better way than spending my final moments with the ones I love eating black raspberry chip ice cream with whip cream on top :-) Of course, that was just the beginning of the winds and the damage it left in its aftermath is still being dealt with by many and probably many of you...debris to be cleaned up, damage to property to be repaired, power to be restored. I just heard that one area may not have power for 5-6 weeks. The wind has come and gone, but its effect will not be forgotten for some time.
As I think about our wind I am reminded that the Bible looks to the wind as an illustration for spiritual truths, such as the following:
Jesus says in Matthew 3:5-8,"I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh and Spirit to spirit. You should not be surprised by this saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." The wind may be invisible, but its effect is powerful. The same is true with the Spirit of God. You may not be able to see it, but what he can do in a person's life is nothing less than powerfully miraculous. Have you been born of the Spirit? Have you received Jesus as the Forgiver of your Sins and Leader of your life? If so, then you will see his work blowing through you.
Ephesians 4:14, "Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." On Sunday some trees swayed with the wind and other trees broke under it. What kind of follower of Christ are you? Spiritual infants are easily blown by every wind that comes along. This section of Scripture goes on to urge us to grow up in our faith so that even if we are shaken we will not be broken.
Ecclesiastes 2:11, "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." These words are written by a man who had it all according to human standards, but reviewed his life and found that all that he had was worth little more than wind in his hands. Am I chasing after anything more?
I do not know what the wind has done to you, but my prayer is that even today, in this moment, you and I would make room in our day for God to blow his Spirit afresh in and through us.
The force of the winds on Sunday were pretty incredible. Not realizing how bad it would get, around 2 PM, Kimberly said, "Let's go get ice cream." It seemed that every mile we drove the worst the winds became. We finally made it to the ice cream shop and while we were paying for our order, the wind blew the front door off the store and shattered it on the concrete. At that point I looked at Kimberly and said, "What are we doing out here?" (Of course, we finished our ice cream. I figured if we were going to die, I could think of no better way than spending my final moments with the ones I love eating black raspberry chip ice cream with whip cream on top :-) Of course, that was just the beginning of the winds and the damage it left in its aftermath is still being dealt with by many and probably many of you...debris to be cleaned up, damage to property to be repaired, power to be restored. I just heard that one area may not have power for 5-6 weeks. The wind has come and gone, but its effect will not be forgotten for some time.
As I think about our wind I am reminded that the Bible looks to the wind as an illustration for spiritual truths, such as the following:
Jesus says in Matthew 3:5-8,"I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh and Spirit to spirit. You should not be surprised by this saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." The wind may be invisible, but its effect is powerful. The same is true with the Spirit of God. You may not be able to see it, but what he can do in a person's life is nothing less than powerfully miraculous. Have you been born of the Spirit? Have you received Jesus as the Forgiver of your Sins and Leader of your life? If so, then you will see his work blowing through you.
Ephesians 4:14, "Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming." On Sunday some trees swayed with the wind and other trees broke under it. What kind of follower of Christ are you? Spiritual infants are easily blown by every wind that comes along. This section of Scripture goes on to urge us to grow up in our faith so that even if we are shaken we will not be broken.
Ecclesiastes 2:11, "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun." These words are written by a man who had it all according to human standards, but reviewed his life and found that all that he had was worth little more than wind in his hands. Am I chasing after anything more?
I do not know what the wind has done to you, but my prayer is that even today, in this moment, you and I would make room in our day for God to blow his Spirit afresh in and through us.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
As Is
If you have ever shopped for a car on a used car lot, you have probably seen a sign in the window that says, "As Is". It is the dealers way of reminding us that the car we are looking at is used not new. Used means the warranty has most likely expired and that wear and tear has occurred. It does not mean that it is not still a good car, but it does mean it is not a new car and therefore we should not expect it to be new. If we are going to buy it, then we must accept it, "As Is"...if it has a scratch on the hood, then we must accept it as is...if it has a stain on the floor and we buy it will still have the stain on the floor when we drive it out of the lot. If we drive it for two weeks and the check engine light comes on, then remember you bought it "as is."
I was talking with someone this week who was sharing that recently they have been dealing with some inner issues from their past that have been stirred up in their present. While the person is letting God work in this area of their life, they said they also are trying to let God love them even before he "fixes" them. The person said letting God do that is just as hard as letting God bring about transformation.
I can relate to that. It is easy for me to understand how God can love me after he has fixed some broken part of my life, but it is hard for me to accept that God can love me before I am fixed. However, that is exactly what God does. Whether you and I accept it or not, he loves us "AS IS"...scratches, dents and all. Who you are right now, is who God loves. Romans 5: 8 says, "God demonstrated his love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." What's that say? It says, God looked at you and me and saw the "AS IS" sign on us and all that it means and in response he said, "I'll take him...I'll take her...As Is." And with the blood of his only Son he purchased us abundant life through Christ now and Forever. The only question left is, will we let Christ love us "as is." Will we fall into his arms and say, "Here I am...this is me...the good, the bad and the ugly," and let him loves us just as we are right now; trusting fully in his love and not in what we could ever do to try to earn it? To all who will receive this love, he freely gives it. It is a love that is like no other...Pure, free, amazing, unconditional love.
And once we let him love us "as is" and we think it can't get any better...it gets even better. God loves "as is", but loves us too much to leave us that way...day by day, year by year until we die he heals, frees, cleanses, transforms us from the inside out shaping us into the beautiful image of Christ. Get to know Jesus and you find there is no limit to his love...it just keeps getting better and better!
O, one more thing...since God loves you "as is" who has he put in your life that he is asking you to love "as is" for him?
I was talking with someone this week who was sharing that recently they have been dealing with some inner issues from their past that have been stirred up in their present. While the person is letting God work in this area of their life, they said they also are trying to let God love them even before he "fixes" them. The person said letting God do that is just as hard as letting God bring about transformation.
I can relate to that. It is easy for me to understand how God can love me after he has fixed some broken part of my life, but it is hard for me to accept that God can love me before I am fixed. However, that is exactly what God does. Whether you and I accept it or not, he loves us "AS IS"...scratches, dents and all. Who you are right now, is who God loves. Romans 5: 8 says, "God demonstrated his love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." What's that say? It says, God looked at you and me and saw the "AS IS" sign on us and all that it means and in response he said, "I'll take him...I'll take her...As Is." And with the blood of his only Son he purchased us abundant life through Christ now and Forever. The only question left is, will we let Christ love us "as is." Will we fall into his arms and say, "Here I am...this is me...the good, the bad and the ugly," and let him loves us just as we are right now; trusting fully in his love and not in what we could ever do to try to earn it? To all who will receive this love, he freely gives it. It is a love that is like no other...Pure, free, amazing, unconditional love.
And once we let him love us "as is" and we think it can't get any better...it gets even better. God loves "as is", but loves us too much to leave us that way...day by day, year by year until we die he heals, frees, cleanses, transforms us from the inside out shaping us into the beautiful image of Christ. Get to know Jesus and you find there is no limit to his love...it just keeps getting better and better!
O, one more thing...since God loves you "as is" who has he put in your life that he is asking you to love "as is" for him?
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