"A New Thing"

When this time of year rolls around, I think of Isaiah 42:9, in which God says, "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you."

The first part of that verse speaks volumes: "See, the former things have taken place." God is asking us to "see", to recognize, to take note of what has taken place. Sometimes we run so fast through life that we do not pause to look back and see what has transpired in a day or a year. What do you look back and see in 2009?

"The former things have taken place." All those things you can see when you look back have taken place. It is what it is. Look back to see them, but don't look back to try dwell on them. I don't know about you, but sometimes I hold onto what was as though it still is. Acceptance is the healthy way of handling the past. Acceptance sees the pleasant moments of the past, smiles and says, "Those were good days. Thank you, God, for being with me in them!" Acceptance sees the unpleasant moments of the past, cries and says, "Those were difficult days. Thank you, God, for being with me through it." Acceptance allows life to be what it is, sometimes wonderful and sometimes horrible, but it refuses to hang on to either one as though it will always be...it simply acccepts what was as it was.

Then, acceptance opens the door to embrace a new thing. It is hard to receive something new from God when I insist on holding on to something old. OUr God is a God of the new! New beginnings, fresh starts and clean slates are his expertise. Let him speak to you through these words, "and new things I declare." He wanst to declare a new thing for you! Will you let him? Will you give yoruslef permission to anticpate what new thing God has for you this New Year?

"Before they spring into being I announce them to you." God has already set them in motion...they are coming...he is telling you so your heart and mind and hands can be wide open to receive them. Expect..Hope...Pray...Seek...and then watch God do what he does best...He brings about the new! Happy New Year!

"I Believe"

Luke 1:37 says, "For Nothing is impossible with God." If you have been around Living Hope anytime at all you know that is one of my favorite verses from the Bible's Christmas account. But you probably do not know that every once in a while I ask myself, "Do you really believe that?" It may sound odd for a Pastor to ask such a question, but the truth is in my position it is dangerously easy to do get so use to saying the right thing that you say it more than you believe it.

When Living Hope began 10 years ago, I had no choice but to believe that verse. I was single, fresh out of college, 25 years old, with no experience. My resume showed several years of janitorial and lawn mowing, but nothing to do with leading a church let alone starting one. I was scarred into believing that verse. But I believed it. Every night, when I would lay there unable to sleep thinking of everything that had to be done that I did not know how to do, I would cry out, "Lord, I believe that nothing is impossible with you." All I can say, is that I watched God do the impossible! He is amazing! Praise Him!

Ten years later, to be honest, I often find myself just as scared. Now, I look back and think I was more equipped to start a church from nothing than to try to Pastor the great church you all are and will become. Now, I am driven to believe in that verse not out of fear, but out of necessity. This verse reminds me to work hard, do my best and then step aside and let God do what no amount of work and my very best could ever do and that is let him change our lives and then let him move through us to change the lives of others in our community, country and world.

I do not know why I am rambling on about this...this is truly some "random thoughts" today. I guess I have just been thinking a lot about the Christmas story and how God's coming to save the world required a few key, but extremely ordinary people like a Priest in the temple and a virgin teenage girl from Nazareth to be willing to believe, "For nothing is impossible with God."

And every Christmas, God seems to ask us again, "Do you believe? Do you still believe?" That is a question you will have to answer for yourself. As for me,all I can say is that the more God gives me the courage to believe that with him all things are possible it is amazing how much more I see God overcome the impossible. Merry Christmas!

"Unfriend"

The publishers of New Oxford Dictionary have deemed "unfriend" as the 2009 new word of the year. To unfriend means to remove someone from your friend list on a social network like Facebook or MySpace. Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford's US dictionary program said it is an excellent choice because of the word's, "currency and potential longevity." Now, we not only have a legitimate word for ending friendship, we also have the convenience of doing so simply with the click of a button. "Unfriending" someone in cyberspace is much less messy than having the guts to do so face to face.

And why would we ever unfriend someone? The answer to that question is easy enough. I unfriend someone who sees the world contrary than I, someone rubs me the wrong way or simply annoys me by their status updates. To unfriend someone Facebook or MySpace gives me permission to make friendship all about me. As long as the friendship gives me what feels good, then I keep you on my list, but say the wrong thing and without you even knowing it, I will unfriend you.

Now, I am all about healthy boundaries. And to be frank, there are some "friends" that are so unhealthy that they should have been unfriended a long time ago. However, one has to wonder if our culture has so turned friendship into "what's in it for me" that we are missing out on a key element. The true value of friendship is not just receiving what feels good, but being able to learn to love someone and be loved by someone even though our opinions differ, our personalities clash and view points are polar opposites. It is very interesting to me...in a day that so espouses the value of tolerance, we seem to be increasingly intolerant. Rather than see our differences as something to either work through or to learn to accept and still love one another, we have now created a word to legitimatize only keep friendships that always make me feel good or never challenge what I think.

While they New Oxford Dictionary may name "unfriend" the word of the year, the Christmas story of the Bible tells me that in God's vocabulary there is only one word that ever deserves to be named word of the year...if God was allowed to truly be in control of this world, our lives and of the church, then the same word would be named word of the year every year, "LOVE." The kind of love that loves like this: "You have heard that it was said 'Love your neighbors and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons and daughters of your Father in heaven," Jesus in Matthew 5:43-45. Well, when he puts it like that, it does not give us much room to leave the 2009 word of the year in our vocabulary, does it? At least not if we want to consider ourselves His sons and daughters.

"Dirty Windows"

The windows in my car have been dirty for over a year. I am not talking about the exterior, I mean they were dirty on the inside. How dirty were they? They were so dirty that even on a bright sunny day it looked like it was foggy and dreary outside. For over a year now, every time I would get in the car, I would think, "I have got to clean these windows." It was getting to the point that it was actually dangerous to drive at night...Yes, the windows were that dirty. I even told Kimberly, "I have got to clean these windows before it causes an accident."

And do you know what I found? This is very interesting...All my talking, all my promises, all my intentions and even me sharing this situation with my wife did not clean my windows. No matter how much I talked or thought about it, my dirty windows remained dirty. The only thing that cleaned my windows was when I stopped off yesterday to have my car washed and made the decision to have the inside of my car cleaned as well. When I left the car wash it was as though I was driving in a brand new car and seeing the world for the first time. I could actually, clearly see out my windows. I have to say I enjoyed driving a whole lot better, with clean windows. But again, for a year all my talking and thinking about it did not clean my windows. The only thing that cleaned my windows was when I made the decision to do something about it and then did it!

From where I sit, I see a lot of people who want to talk, think and even pray about their "dirty windows." They have dirty windows that they know are ruining their vision and dampening, if not destroying their lives. They are ready to recognize it and talk about it, but then Weeks, months, years go by and 20 years later they find themselves still talking about how they need to clean their windows, but their windows are dirtier than ever. And then, together we cry and say, "I have had dirty windows for 20 years, when is this ever going to change? Why won't God clean my windows?" The truthful answer is, "He never will. He won't clean your dirty windows as long as you are doing what I did with mine...talking, thinking, sharing, but making the decision to do nothing." James 4:17 puts it this way, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." To know that it is time to have our windows cleaned and make a decision not to is simply sin and all sin does is separate us farther and farther from the very one who can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. To be very honest, this side of ministry gets very discouraging...it is exhausting to see people you care about choose to live with dirty windows even after they have long since realized this is less than God's best for them.

However, what keeps me going is that for every person who chooses to live and perhaps even die or be killed by dirty windows, there are folks every week around here who stop talking about it and make the decision to pull into the car wash and do what they can so God can do what only he can do to clean their windows.

That is what this Friday night is about here at Living Hope as we are invited to gather with Celebrate Recovery for two hours of help and hope. This Friday night is for people like you and me who are honest enough to admit we have some dirty windows and are tired enough of living with them to make a decision to do something about it. And for those who make that decision...interestingly enough...positive change from God always comes...it may not be easy or fast, but those who make a decision to to what they need to do so God can do what he can only do always see God work.

So, how about you? Tired of trying to see through dirty windows. Join me and others this Friday at Living Hope from 6-8 PM (come anytime you can; child care provided). I'm telling you...it is so much better driving with clean windows!

"Give Thanks"

Thanksgiving is not something that comes naturally. I have never heard of a child for whom their first word was "Thank you." That was certainly not the case for my children. No, children have to be taught to give thanks. And so parents, like a broken record, say to his or her young child, "What do you say?" and then the child looks at the parent as though they are from a different planet, speaking a different language and the parents ask again, "What do you say?" Then to save both themselves and their child from further embarrassment, the parents prompt the child with, "Say,'Thank you'." Finally...hopefully...the little one, at least, pretends to mean it when he or she says,"thank you," right before dashing off to the next item on his or her little agenda.

The point is thanksgiving is something we must learn, if we are to learn it at all. In fact, I think it is something that we adults must continually learn and re-learn as we make this journey called life.

You can always tell the difference between the folks who have learned to put thanksgiving into practice and those who have not. Those who have are not optimistic, they are realistic...they see the difficulty and pain of life, but they never loose sight of all the reasons they have to give thanks no matter how small those reasons might seem to others. Thankful people are incredibly resilient people because instead of seeing every challenge as the end of the world, they maintain a perspective that there is more to life than this new problem. Thankful people are just more pleasant to be around...when you leave them you feel like you have been filled up rather than having had the last drop of life sucked out of you.

But again, thanksgiving is something we learn. Regardless of your personality or your present life situation, thanksgiving is something we can learn. In fact, as followers of Jesus, it is something we are commanded to learn. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." It does not say give thanks "FOR", but "IN" all circumstances. This is something we can learn to do and we are given good reason to learn it..."this is God's will for you." If you have any kind of genuine relationship with Jesus at all then you know that God's will is not to make you miserable. Jesus said God's will is that we might have life and life abundant. Therefore, the command to learn thanksgiving is one of the keys that unlocks God's promise of abundant life in our lives.

I am grateful that we live in one of two countries in the world that have Thanksgiving as a holiday. Once a year, we are specifically and intentionally reminded that thanksgiving is something for which is worth stopping everything! I encourage you, brother and sister in Christ, re-learn to give thanks this thanksgiving...Be intentional about it...Be out loud about it...Make it personal... Make it real. "Give thanks for the Lord is good", Psalm 136:1.

"The Waiting Room"

The last few days I have spent a lot of time in waiting rooms. Where your loved one is, while you wait in the waiting room, much is being done…medical staff is prepping and doctors are working, but from where you sit in the waiting room you can see none of that. All you can see is the clock’s hands moving painlessly slow. In the waiting room there is nothing you can do for the one you love. You can pray, but by this point all the words you can think to say have already been sent up to God. No, the waiting room is appropriately named because all you can do is wait.

I am no fan of waiting rooms…I am much better at doing than waiting. I am less likely to stop and smell the roses than I am to plant, prune and weed the roses. However, life seems to not care what my personality type prefers. At times, life forces us all to take a seat in the waiting room. Sometimes life forces us to sit in an actual doctor’s office waiting room…waiting to see how things go for one we love or waiting to hear from a doctor what the tests revealed…there we all hope for the best as we fight not to think of the worst. Sometimes life puts in a waiting room that we cannot see, but certainly can feel…waiting for someone to at least acknowledge they received your résumé as you wait in the unemployment line…waiting for your child to see that you don’t exist to make them miserable, but your rules are out of love…waiting for that someone to show up in your life to move you from being alone to being with someone who wants to be with you…waiting to see God answer prayer…waiting for answers, waiting for help, waiting for direction, just waiting…

The waiting room is not an easy place to sit because the rules of the room are clear…in the waiting room the one thing you are suppose to do is wait. Don’t act, don’t think, don’t worry, don’t try to fix anything...just wait…wait in the waiting room and you have done your job. Are you willing to receive that assignment from God? Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who wait upon the Lord renew their strength; they mount up with wings as eagles...they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Waiting on God is not a waste of time; it is the best use of time. Because the more I learn to wait in the waiting rooms of life, the less I will interrupt what God is doing that I cannot see.

For instance, if you were in a hospital waiting room and grew so impatient that you barged into the surgery room, you would delay if not prevent the surgeon from doing his job. The same applies in our relationship with God. When God tells us to wait, he asks us to trust that he is working even when we cannot see it. If we will be still and wait upon the Lord, eventually we will see God’s work come to completion. But if we jump out of our seat and barge in and try to do what we cannot, could we delay or possibly even prevent God from working? I don’t know, but by his grace, I am learning the very hard lesson of simply staying in my seat and waiting when I find myself in the waiting room.

"Remember"

Today is a day of remembrance. The speaker at Centerville's Veteran's day ceremony put it well when she said, "Veteran's day is not a holiday it is a memorial day." It is a day to remember what others have given to gain and preserve our freedom as a Nation. As we remember the service of our veterans we naturally turn to gratefulness for their service. So, today we remember and thank our veteran's.

On another day, some two thousand years ago, Jesus called his disciples to remembrance. He took the cup, broke the bread and said, "Do this in remembrance of me." Every time we participate in Communion we are invited to remember that Jesus' body was broken and his blood was spilled out so that through his act we can come into and live in relationship with God. Our remembrance then most naturally turns to gratefulness. As Romans 5 says, "God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners he died for us." Praise be to God!

So, where are you today? Has this been the best day of your life or the worst or just another ho-hum day of routine. I urge you to stop and remember. Remember Jesus. Remember his sacrifice. He loved you so much he received a punishment for which he was not guilty, he experienced pain he did not have to go through and he died so you could live. Receive his love for the first time or for the 1000th time as though it is the first. Then let your remembrance turn to thanks. Thank God out loud for his love for you. Thank God for his faithfulness in your past. Thank God for the fact that he will make a way for you in your future. Thank God for being with you and promising to never leave.

When we make time to remember it leads us to gratitude and where we find reason to give thanks we remember what makes life worth living!

"The Town's Spring"

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a town that sat along a natural spring. The town was a nice place to live and its natural spring made it beautiful. A path was created along the spring so that the people could enjoy the view of the spring with a stroll, a bike ride or a jog. Everyone loved their town and everyone enjoyed the spring. Of course, everyone also knew that the spring was poisonous. Decades ago the town's founding father's recognized that even animals did not drink from the spring and when one of them drank it to find out why, he soon grew very sick. Had he drunk more, he most certainly would have died. Nevertheless, what the spring lacked in function it more than made up for in beauty.

However, one summer grew hot. It was hotter and dryer than even the oldest citizen of the town could ever recall. It was a drought like none other. Farmer's fields shriveled up, the ground was parched and cracked and worst of all their drinking wells were quickly growing shallow. It was a desperate situation. People were hungry....people were thirsty...everyone wondered what they should do...how would they survive?

Oddly enough, the spring, still ran deep and cold...The local Mayor said, "It was a reminder that this too shall pass."

As it normally happens at times like these, leaders emerge form the background to the foreground. In this town, two well-respected men came to the town meeting each with a different plan.

The first man stood and said, "Fellow citizens these are difficult times. The drought is hot, long and the end seems to be far off. I suggest we all pull our resources. We collect our water and ration it. Instead of every farmer trying to save his own farm, we count them all a loss, but one and from its land have food for our families. The times are tough but together we can get through it."

The town people nodded their heads in agreement. "That makes sense," they said, "Together we can get through this drought."

Yet, one man disagreed. He stood and said, "My friend is right. The times are hard. The drought is hot, long and the end seems far off. But we are overlooking the most obvious solution. The spring. The spring has plenty of water to fill our wells and irrigate our farms. Even in this drought our spring has proven faithful. Let's turn to the spring and let it bring to our town all that we have lost."

The other man was quick to respond, "What are you saying? This is crazy. The spring is poison. Even animals know better than to run to it to quench their thirst. Not even grass survives where the spring flows. It is a beautiful, but it is deadly. Have we forgotten the lesson of our grandfathers?"

The other man rebutted, "Fellow citizens. Now is no time to hearken back to the days of superstition. Let's be realistic. Without the water we are all going to die any way, at least this water can get us through. If we are careful and we monitor how much we drink, any damage will be far outweighed by the benefits." And to make the point, the man drank a small glass of the spring water himself.

The towns people had quite a discussion, but in the end they believed the best option was to drink from the spring. The man who voiced the idea became the local expert. He created charts and measurements for how much a person could drink based upon their weight and size. And so, in the hot, dry drought, the people found a cool, refreshing supply. The truth was the water tasted good. People laughed and said, "Why did we go so long without drinking from our beautiful spring?" And so it seemed all was well.

Until about a month later a cry broke forth in the midnight sky. A cry of anguish. A cry of a mother whose little boy had died. "Its the water she cried...the spring killed my boy..."

The people were sorry for her loss, but no one could believe that the spring had killed her boy and if it had then it was her fault for the good man with the idea carefully prescribed how much was too much.

But then another grew sick and then another and then another until one after another the good people of this good town by this beautiful spring watched the spring prove not to be their savior but their murderer.

Disillusioned, heart broken and physically weak, the people of the town came to the man with the other idea and said, "You were right. The water is poison. The end did not justify the means. Tell, us friend, is it too late, can we turn back."

The man with the other idea, looked down. his eyes filled with tears. Though he wanted to give the people good news, he had none. It was too late to pull their resources for everyone but him had filled their wells with the poisonous spring water and everyone but him had water their fields with it. So, what they had to offer was poison and what he had to offer was not enough.

Now many years later, there is a beautiful spring where once sat a nice little town.

"The Fear Factor"

Wouldn't life be wonderful if all we had to fear were werewolves, vampires and the occasional witches brew? That would be nice, but we have much greater things to fear. Let's see...where do I start? Well, there is H1N1 that experts estimate will infect 65% of the population...and then there is the ongoing economic and unemployment threat...Terrorist are still blowing up cars and we are all too aware that their eye is on bigger targets that will cost a greater number of lives...North Korean and Iran are just fascinated with testing nuclear missiles...and, then there is Jon Gibson, at least he frightens me sometimes (Just kidding, Jon...well...no, I am kidding)and those are just global fears not mention more local and personal fears.

With all these things to fear in our world, it makes me wonder, how much of what I do or don't do is driven by fear? Before we are too hard on fear, let's be thankful for fear. Fear can be healthy. For instance, I want my kids to fear sticking their finger in the light socket. However, it is very easy for fear to very quickly leave the realm of healthy. You can always tell when fear crosses over to being unhealthy, because when we have unhealthy fear it keeps us from living.

You see, healthy fear helps us live (not sticking my finger in the light socket helps me live without being electrocuted). Unhealthy fear keeps me from living by causing me to withdraw from life and others. Unhealthy fear paralyzes. It isolates. It convinces me the only way to be safe is to stop living in some way...For example, since H1N1 is spreading so quickly, unhealthy fear says, "Don't leave the house." Unhealthy fear says, "Terrorists may high jack an airplane again so never fly again" or "The economy may never improve so cash out and hide your money in a mattress." Unhealthy fear moves fear from serving as a healthy safe guard to an irrational trying to control what we cannot.

Recently, I heard another pastor say, "As the world gets darker, the church ought to shine brighter." Of course, he stole that from Jesus in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before all people, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

In other words, for the Follower of Jesus our response to the fears of this world is not to deny or ignore them, nor to hide from them. instead, we are to shine all the brighter. We are to live life to the full in Jesus and as we live by faith and not fear may others see God and praise him.

"The Point of No Return"

The other night I went through a Yellow traffic light and said, "Past the point of no return." I suppose I said it out loud to some how try to justify that I hit the gas when the light turned yellow rather than slow down (What are you looking at me like that for...Like you've never done that). The truth is I learned that phrase in driving school many years ago. In all reality it is a phrase not of justification but permission. When the light turns yellow and you are already committed to go, it is better for you to keep going that to try and stop after you have gone past the point of no return.

I was thinking about how life is regularly calling us to go past the point of no return; to commit ourselves to going all the way in one thing or another. For instance, when you jump off the diving board you go past the point of no return. You are going in the pool whether you change your mind in mid-air or not. Marriage is going past the point of no return. Dating is easy to get in and out of but marriage makes a spiritual and legal commitment that is costly to end. Major purchases such a house require a past the point of no return choice. No Bank will agree to let you sign a loan that says, "I agree to pay on this House the next 30 years unless it would seem otherwise financially inconvenient". Everyone who does anything valuable at all in their life does so because they make "a past the point of no return" choice...it applies to relationships, jobs, education and 100 small choices every day. The reason we move forward in life is because we hit the gas and go past the point of no return.

The same is true spiritually speaking. If I am to keep moving forward in my relationship with God, then regularly God will bring me to "past the point of no return" choices...some of them are small such as will I incorporate corporate worship into my weekly schedule, while others are as significant as teh decision to be baptized.

Baptism is a choice to go past the point of no return. It is saying, "Father, you went all the way for me and I am ready to go all the way with you." In baptism my faith is no longer merely personal, it is public meaning that God can use my faith not just for my benefit but anyone he should so choose. It means that I am committed to living in his forgiveness and following him wherever he leads. For our spiritual forefather's, this meaning of baptism was nothing to be ignored. During times of persecution, when people made a decision to be baptized they were most literally putting a target on their backs. And yet, they chose to follow Jesus' command to be baptized. That is going way past the point of no return!

Romans 6:1-4 expresses this past the point of no return faith: "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live any longer to it? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore, buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."

So, far 12 people have signed up to go past the point of no return in baptism this Sunday! It is not too late for you to make this decision as well (just email or call me). For those of us not being baptized, our presence is just as important. Their baptism will remind of us of our own. Furthermore, it is our chance to celebrate and support our brothers and sisters in Christ in going past the point of no return in their faith. It is going to be a powerful day of celebration. See you Sunday!

"She Noticed"

Last Sunday he came to worship with a cast on his broken hand. As he stood in line to pick up his child from the Kidz Zone, a little girl noticed his hand. Sierra is her name. (Sierra is a little girl that our society would say has special needs, but around here we just call her special). She signed with her hands to her mom and asked, "What happened?" Her mom asked and he explained he had broken his hand. Then Sierra asked, "Does he need an IV?" Sierra has had to many IV's in her life to keep track of...she has been through so many surgeries and has many more to come, so she was concerned that perhaps he would need one too. He explained he did not need one. Then she asked, "Did it hurt?" He said, "Yes, it did." Then Sierra did something he did not expect...her eyes filled with tears...she hurt for him...with him. Already in her young life she knows all too well physical pain. And because of what she has been through, already she has learned a lesson that many adults fail to learn that when you hurt, it means a lot to have someone else notice. It means a lot to know someone else cares. It means a lot to have someone cry with you. He said to me, "Chad, I just met an Angel" and then he told me the story.

I was going to find a Scripture to go with this, but then I thought, isn't this what the entire Bible is about?

Thank you, Sierra, I needed to be reminded of the powerful ministry of noticing!

"Message in a Bottle"

I read in the news this week about a bottle with a message written by a woman who tossed it in the ocean in 2003 off Cape Ann in Massachusetts. The bottle was recently found 3000 miles across the Atlantic off the coast of France. The message came from Ann Hernandez, a lighthouse keeper on Thacher Island where she had thrown bottles with notes into the water every October on her birthday since 1991. In the note she identified herself and urged the finders to send a card to her. The people who found the note in the bottle tried to fulfill that request but learned that she had died unexpectedly last year at age 61 from complications from surgery.

Obviously, I never knew Ann Hernandez, but as I read the story something inside of me hoped that she would get her message answered. And then to think that someone did respond but it was too late...for some reason the story left me feeling disappointed for her.

I think I know the reason I felt that...We send out a message hoping that someone will hear, someone will care, someone will respond...We put up a prayer hoping the same thing of God--that He will hear, care and respond. And then we wait...hoping the reply will come before its too late.

To all of you who have sent out a message and put up a prayer and are now in that uncertain time of waiting, The Bible invites us to be certain of this: "The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:5-7.

"How are you Growing?"

This morning at 5:54 AM I was awakened with a little face starring into mine and saying, "Daddy...Daddy..."

"Yes, Anna?" I replied.

"Daddy, can you measure me so I can see how much I 'growed'?"

Well, at 6:15 I finally got up and measured her. I don't know how she knew, but she was right. She had grown a half inch since Kimberly last measured her in August.

We adults have long since given up our interest in checking the growth chart. O, perhaps, we measure our weight but for most of us, myself included, that's usually more out of frustration than excitement, but for children measuring growth is exhilarating enough to get you out of bed at 5:55 AM.

If only God could renew that childlike love for measuring our growth in us. God does not save us from our sin and ourselves so that we can sit on a shelf until we expire. He saves us so that we may grow in the promise of Jesus for the abundant life here and now as well as in the life to come. We are invited to desire, hunger and get excited over the reality that what we have in relationship with Jesus can just get better and better. As Followers of Jesus we ought to expect and anticipate spiritual growth.

One of the best ways, I know, that God ignites that desire for continued spiritual growth in us is through what the Bible points to as one of the number one ways God grows us and that is service. Service inspires us to grow and service grows us in Christ. In fact, to be a non-serving Follower of Jesus is to be a non-growing Follower of Jesus. You cannot be growing in your faith and not at the same time actively involved in serving God by serving others.

This past Sunday was once again a great example that service inspires growth and services grows us. Story after story has come in from you about that reality.

I heard that one child who was serving with her dad asked, "Why do we only do this once a year?" My answer is we do this once a year to remind ourselves and our community of what being a part of the church is to be about everyday of the year.

We have been averaging 451 people for Sunday worship and 351 of you participated in worshiping by serving on Sunday. 70% of you are involved in regular service is some way in the ministry in the church and to the community. I just want to say thank you! Thank you for being a church that understands that service and spiritual growth go hand in hand! May God keep growing us in that truth!

Philippians 2:1-11 reminds us of that:

"1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father."

"The Choice"

Right now, at the start of a new day, I stand a fork in the road. One path leads to serenity, gratitude and hope and the other path leads to just the opposite. Too often I fall into the trap of assuming I have no choice. That is an easy trap to fall into in a society that encourages us to blame others, our circumstances and even God for the path we take. However, the reality is, each day the choice is mine. To be honest, yesterday, I chose the wrong path. I chose to go down the path of focusing on the negative, wallowing in self-pity and half way through the day I had a stress headache the size of Texas. O, yes, what a joyous day I chose.

That evening as I walked into the door of our home, I breathed a simple, yet desperate prayer, "Father, help me not to bring my bad day home. They don't deserve it." (That's the great things about the choice; you can change paths at any time). Right then I heard a little voice cry out, "Da-dee" followed by the sound of little feet on the linoleum floor. My son, who tends to be more like me when it comes to hugs--that is to say he is not real big on them--threw his arms around my legs and squeezed as tight as he could. It was like God cleansed me from my negative choice and gave me a new start even though the day was nearly over.

That is what God does for all of us at the start of each new day. He gives us a new opportunity to choose for this day. We can blame others, our circumstances and even God, but the hard truth is the path we find ourselves on each day is really our choice. Others don't have the power to "make me have a bad day". Circumstances do not have the power to "ruin my day." Even God has limited himself of that power as he loves and respects us so much that he will never violate our will even if that means letting us choose a path that takes us away from Him.

So, today, by God's grace and fully dependent on his help, I choose life.

I choose to let go of yesterday...what's done is done and me holding onto it does not do me or anyone else any good.

I choose to let go of what may or may not be tomorrow...I neither know the future or am guaranteed it, so I might as well fully embrace what I do know and what I do have and that is now.

I choose to speak what is possible with God rather than dwell on what is impossible without God.

I choose to forgive before anyone does anything to offend me knowing that I will need as much forgiveness as anyone else today.

I choose not to expect perfection of myself or others and in that way we will all be a little more free.

I choose to give myself permission to enjoy the little things God will send my way today rather than miss them in my insistence on being sour.

I choose to let God lead me rather than everything else in this world that will lead me if I do not choose Him.

I choose to let God show me at any point and in any way today when I begin to get off course and head back to doubt, cynicism and negativity.

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life..." Deuteronomy 30: 19-20.

What's it going to be today? Life or death? Blessings or curses? The choice is ours!

"I Give Up"

Perhaps Winston Churchill's most famous speech was his shortest. He stood and said, "Never give in. Never, never, never, never, never give in." I deeply admire and respect his sentiment in this speech. His call to perseverance is one we all need to be reminded of in this fallen world where pain, injustice, selfishness and out right evil demand our daily attention. However, I am learning that sometimes the most deeply spiritual step I can take is to just give up. Perhaps you can relate to some of my prayers to this end...

"Father, I give up on depending only on myself. I need you."

"Father, I give up trying to please everyone. I as an imperfect person will never be able to please imperfect people."

"Father, I give up trying to control that which is out of my control. I can control my feelings and behaviors and that of no one else."

"Father, I give up trying to be perfect. Even on my best days my judgments will not always be perfect, my words will not always come across the right way and my actions will not always be received as I intended."

"Father, I give up my right to demand my rights. Who am I? You are God, not I. You know better than I and if what you want is different than what I want then who am I to try to tell you otherwise."

"Father, I give up my right to excuse sin in my life. Whether my sin is to do wrong or not to do the good you tell me to do, it is sin. Sin is nothing less than shaking an angry fist in your face and it always separates me from you. I need you more than my sin."

"Father, I give up my permission to have a negative attitude toward life and others. It is easy to let what others do or say or what life sends my way to give me permission to be negative, but in you I have permission to give praise and thanksgiving in all circumstances."

"Father, I give up putting my security in possessions and money. There is no such thing as financial or job security. What we have today can be gone tomorrow."

"Father, I give up my need to hold a grudge. My unforgiveness does nothing but keep me imprisoned."

"Father, I give up any justification to ever not see everyday as your precious gift. One day life will come to an abrupt end. I would rather live each day living for what matters in death-- faith, family and Friends-- than get to the end and wish I had."

You see, I have found that while there is a time to hang on, there is a time to give up. Is God inviting you to give up in any way today? Resist the temptation to fight him...just give up...and then don't be surprised when you see God come through! Its what Jesus taught us to pray in what we call the "Lord's Prayer"..."thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

"Morning is Coming"

"My soul waits for the Lord more than watchman wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning." Psalm 130:6

On ancient city walls, watchmen stood guard through out the night. While others slept, they kept watch. Their shift did not end until dawn broke through the night. No matter how long and how dark the night was, they knew morning would come.

Using that imagery, the Psalmist says in the same way that the watchman knows morning is coming, so I am waiting on God to break trough the darkness of life. It is a courageous confidence not in the circumstances of life but in the character of God. God will come through. As certain as we are that night will pass and morning will come, so are we that the darkness life can bring will give way to God's light. God's light will overcome our present darkness.

It is such a simple cliche, and yet, it is so very true..."this too shall pass." When you are on guard during a night time experience of life, it is easy to think, "This is never going to end...this pain, this struggle, this problem...is never going to pass." But our hope is not in the circumstances, it is God alone. And in him, we have the same certainty that the watchman had in the middle of the night..."It may be dark now...the night may be long, but if I keep my eyes open, I will see the sun rise."

I don't know who this is for today...but whoever you are, I urge you...hang on...don't give up heart...the Morning is coming!

"New Name"

Yesterday I was sitting in court. I was there as a witness for an adoption. When Levi was 7 months old he was brought to the home of foster parents Mark and Sue Atherton, who are a part of our church family (you know, Mark from preaching while I was on sabbatical). Levi was considered a "special needs" case because of his birth-home environment. But, to Mark and Sue, he has always just been special. Levi is now four years old and the only Mom and Dad he has ever known is Mark and Sue. As far as he was concerned, Christopher, has always been his big brother. Step by step, this family followed God's lead to love and yesterday the court put on paper what had already happened in their hearts...Levi became their legally adopted son.

When the judge announced, "Your name is now Levi Ewing Atherton, " Levi lit up. I wish you could have seen his reaction! It was so cool! His hands shot up in the air in excitement and he looked straight at Sue. She nodded her head as if to reassure him that it was true. He now had a new name. He has the Atherton name and that means he is in their permanent care and responsibility. What is theirs is his.

Through adoption, Levi became the fully legal son of the only Mom and Dad he has ever known. Afterwards, Levi, with eyes wide open and a big smile on his face said to everyone, "I've got a surprise for you...we have cake and ice cream back at my house!" "My house"...that's right Levi...you now don't just have a place to stay, you have a home. Thank you Mark and Sue for giving me a picture of what Being the church looks like. It is one of those moments I will put down as one of my top ten best days of being a pastor.

As I was driving back to Living Hope, I prayed, "Father, thank you!" You see, as Levi was adopted, I couldn't help but remember what Jesus did for me when I was seven years old. I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my life. That day I was given a new name. I was no longer just Chad Arlen Current. I was Chad Arlen Current, son of THE KING of kings. He put me in his family and has taken on permanent care and responsibility for me. What is his, is mine! And some day, when this life ends, he will take me by the hand and say, "Earth was a only place for you to stay for while, but now you have a home."

Have you been adopted by the Heavenly Father, yet? Have you made a decision to not just know Jesus but to walk in daily relationship with him? Do you want to know more about what being adopted by him means? I am always available to talk about that.

The Bible says in Romans 8:15-17, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Daddy." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

"There He is Again"

At 2:27 AM, Seth woke up screaming. Earlier the day before, we discovered he had a double ear infection. The little guy was in pain. Kimberly checked on him the first time and I did as any Dad who has half a brain learns to do...act like you are still asleep so mom can get him...hey...don't judge me! :-) Anyway, it did not work. Kimberly came back in our room and said "He's calling for you" (touche`, Kimberly, touche`...:-)

So, I drug myself out of bed and went to his room. It quickly became obvious that his discomfort made him want my presence. First I tried holding him and then putting him back in bed, but that just upset him all the more. Then I tried him in our bed, but he was too curious in this new setting to sleep. Finally, I took him downstairs to our recliner...the kind that is big enough for even a guy my size to sleep in. We laid back and, it was like, when Seth realized that I was in it for the long haul and that where he slept I would sleep, he allowed himself to relax and drift back to sleep...and as he slept so did I.


Your Father in heaven is in it for the long haul. He is not rocking you just so he can leave you and get back to his own bed. I may do that, but he is not like we earthly Father's. No, he says "I will never leave you or abandon you." Let that truth sink in...let that truth become a part of you. When that truth moves from factual knowledge to experiential reality, then you too will be able to allow yourself to lay back, relax and fall asleep in the arms of the One who keeps the whole world spinning so you can rest.

Thanks, Seth, for waking Daddy up the other night. I needed to see God in that way.

How about you? Where have you seen God this week? Send me an email and let me know.

"God Seen at Lemonade Stand"

The next time you happen by a child's lemonade stand be sure to slow down and take a good look...you may just see God!

On Sunday, after the worship service a Mother walked up to me. Her two daughters Caitlyn and Yelsa (I believe they are around 5 and 6 years old) were hanging on to her legs. It was obvious the girls wanted to be a silent part of the conversation that was about to take place between their mother and me. Their Mother put a small jar in my hands. Then she explained: "We had a garage sale this week. My girls insisted on having a lemonade stand. They said they wanted to get money for the orphans in Ukraine. So, here is what they raised, $34.58."

$34.58 does not sound like too much to us, but to a five and six year old that's enough to buy a brand new toy or a several trips to Dairy Queen. But these little girls, not prompted by any adult, but certainly prompted by Jesus, found a way to do something for orphans. I shared with the girls that it takes $10 a day to feed the orphans in Ukraine. That means their money will feed an orphan for almost three and half days. They did not just find a way to help...they made a way...and then when the money came they resisted any temptation to keep any for themselves. They gave it all away!

As I praised God for speaking to children and being a part of a church family where children are prompted (and parents allow their children) to BE the church and love the likes of orphans not just with words but actions, I also found myself saying, "God forgive me." If a 5 and 6 year old can find a way to help the helpless what excuse do I have...what excuse do you have? The fact is, we are without excuse.

To love God is to love others...This is true religion, James, the half brother of Jesus said, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 2:27). In another place James says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" (James 4:17). It does not say he who has a means or she who feels comfortable...or they who have no problems of their own...rather it says "Anyone"...I think that includes us all..."who knows"...that means not one's present life-season, situation, skill set or financial standing, but merely one's knowledge of a need is what qualifies us for and requires us to do good.

I don't know about you, but I just saw God at a lemonade stand...its funny...I never thought of God showing up in the appearance of two blond haired little girls, but I guess God is willing to show up whenever and however we will let him. Thank you Caitlyn and Yelsa for letting me see God through you!

Do you have a God-sighting story this week? Please send it my way!

"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!

"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!

"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!

"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?"

"Sometimes God is Crazy"

For my personal Bible reading time, I have been reading Hosea. Hosea was a prophet during a time when God's people had lost focus of everything that mattered in life and death. They were increasingly becoming self-absorbed, treating others as objects and pushing relationship with God farther and farther to the unimportant margins of their lives. The situation was desperate and God was willing to take extreme measures. He told a preacher named Hosea to marry a well-know prostitute named Gomer.

Think about that a man of the cloth marrying a prostitute..not a used-to-be- prostitute, but a presently-is-prostitute! Do you think Hosea felt comfortable with that? Do you that he did not have some friends and family say, "Are you out of your mind?"

It was no small request, but Hosea did it. He married the prostitute and had children with her. Why? Because God had a point to make and he knew it would take something drastic to get his people's attention. So, he had Hosea the preacher marry Gomer prostitute to help his people see that they had been unfaithful. They had been acting like a whore, sleeping with false gods and marrying the culture's way of self-indulgence. Through Hosea and Gomer the people would receive a message that they could not miss.

I read that story and I thought, "What if God had asked me to do that? When we started Living Hope, I was single? Would I have been willing to marry a prostitute to help others know God's love?" That would be crazy!

You know what? Sometimes God is crazy! So crazy is he for his creation to live in a life-changing, loving, healing, freeing relationship with him now and forever that he is not above having preachers marry prostitutes and asking his own son to die for the sins of others. God is crazy in love with you and he will do what ever it takes to get you and me to recognize that.

Once I recognize and receive God's love for me, he then expects...commands me to do whatever it takes to help others I know come to know Him. He has not asked me or you to marry a prostitute, but he does ask us to do some crazy things at times. Crazy things like giving God credit even though it would be easier to say, "I was lucky." Telling a hurting co-worker that you will pray for him or her instead of just telling him or her that you are sorry for their struggle. Going out of your way to help someone in need before they even ask. God is crazy and he will ask us to be crazy too, when it comes to doing whatever it takes to help people know him.

For instance, what if God said cancel Sunday morning services and have church at the pool! That would be crazy! I know...so let's do it and see what God can do when his people are willing to try something crazy!

Pray with me for our church at the pool on Sunday, July 5, 7:30 PM at the Miamisburg pool. I have 7 people I am inviting. I do not know if they will come or not, but I will only find out if I invite them. And what if...as crazy as this seems...what if they do come and what if...as crazy as this sounds...A pool is where he or she finds just how crazy in love God is with them...then I would say, "Crazy is worth it!"

"Fix"

My drive to work each day is always a good time for me to listen. Today the cool, refreshing breeze pouring in my open windows seemed to help me to be better prepared to listen than usual. If it is OK, I think I will share with you what I heard on this morning's drive...

The thought popped in my mind that I have what some would call a "Melancholy personality." Among other positive and negative traits about such a personality, is that I tend to be more naturally prone to discouragement. Once that thought about myself came to mind, I prayed, "God, why do I have to be so prone to discouragement? Why does it have to be such a fight on some days?" Then I was just quiet and drove on...no reply seemed to come and finding myself uncomfortable with the silence, I flipped on the radio. I did not pay any attention to the music, but continued to think about this personality defect. Suddenly, one phrase of one verse of the Bible came to mind...loud and clear it came..."Fix your eyes on Jesus."

I recalled the context of those words. They come from Hebrews 12. The book of Hebrews was written to a church on the verge of being overcome by discouragement. They were tired of the persecution and the never ending threat of being jailed, humiliated, beaten, having property confiscated and even being killed for their faith. They were to the point where they were seriously starting to wonder whether or not perseverance was possible, let alone worth it.

To this discouraged church the writer of Hebrews replies with a call to courageous faith. In Hebrews 12 (after having reminded them of the heroes of their faith in chapter 11) he calls them to "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy Set before him endured the cross and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Why am I so prone to discouragement? May be it has less to do with my personality as it does with where I fix my eyes. There are a lot of things we can fix our eyes on that will give us reason to lose heart.

Fix your eyes on one's circumstances and often you will find reason to be discouraged. Fix your eyes on other people and they will let you down. Fix your eyes on yourself and...well...no good comes of that. Fix your eyes on your problems and you'll certainly be depressed. Fix your eyes on your past and you may very well become oppressed. Fix your eyes on anything else and eventually discouragement will step up and introduce itself.

But Hebrews 12 steps up and says, "Let us"...that's an invitation and an invitation requires a choice...will I or will I not? It's up to me and its up to you...will we "let"? Let what? "Fix our eyes"...to fix is to set, to stare, to allow all our focus to be...will I let my eyes be fixed on what? Jesus...no vague, ambiguous, Sunday school picture of Jesus, but will I fix my eyes on Jesus who is the author and perfecter of my faith? In what way is Jesus the author and perfecter? The next line fills in the details..."Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men..." Let us fix our yes on Jesus on the cross...he's bleeding, he's hurting, he's struggling for every breath, he's dying, he's dead, he in the tomb, he's fighting all of hell, he's moving, he's doing the impossible, he's breathing, he's living, he's rising, he's reigning...consider him!

"Fix your eyes on Jesus" is my breath prayer today. By God's grace, all day long, I will periodically breathe this prayer and do what it says. As I do, what should I expect? The promise of this verse is what I expect..."so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Any body feel weary? Any body losing heart? "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..."

"What would they do for 3?"

Jesus said, "Count on it--there's more joy in heaven over one sinner's rescued life than over 99 good people in no need of rescue" Luke 15:7.

This past Sunday three people made decisions for Christ...this past church year (our church year runs from June-May each year) 86 people entered into a personal relationship with Christ. If all of heaven stops to rejoice over one, think how much wilder the party gets for more!

Everything we do and are inside the church building and outside its walls is about seeing people be found by Jesus and then celebrating like crazy when it happens! Every once in a while I need to be reminded of that. And this past Sunday did just that. Thank you to all of you who dedicated your children and were baptized. God used you and I am still celebrating with you!

"Wake Up"

I do not set my alarm clock, but I am always up on time. I have a human alarm clock named Anna. My three your old daughter wakes up ready to go every morning between 5:30-6 AM. We hear her door open, then the sound of her little running feet and the next thing we know her brown eyes are starring into ours.

On Saturday morning, I say, "Anna can't you go back to sleep?" To which she giggles, certain that I must be joking...after all the sun is up and so we should wake up too! As long as I have Anna, I don't need an alarm clock and as long as we have Jesus, his Light will shine on us no matter how dark it gets!


Ephesians 5:8-14 reads, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

Bible scholars believe that the end of verse 14 was an early church baptism chant. As the person would go into the water they were reminded that we are all asleep in our own selfishness and sin. But because of Jesus' death and resurrection everyone is invited to rise from that death and receive the promise, "and Christ will shine on you". That is rich promise of baptism and of our relationship with Jesus: No matter how dark it gets, you are promised Jesus, the Light, to guide, strengthen and empower you so that you his light in you will put darkness on the run!

It is always humbling for me to think about what baptism meant to the early church. In baptism they were publicly proclaiming their faith in Christ during a time and culture in which people were being killed, imprisoned, having their personal property confiscated and beaten for their faith. And yet, their faith in Christ was more valuable to them than their own well fare, which was demonstrated through baptism. Our faith ancestors truly lived as children of the light.

Of course, we also know that more Followers of Christ died for their faith in the last century than all other centuries combined. As I type these words, a brother or sister in Christ will die simply because they profess Jesus as their God. Baptism for the Church in other parts of the world today is more than symbolic, it is truly an act of full surrender to Jesus.

This Sunday as we gather for our baptism celebration, there will be no hint of fear; no worry for one's welfare. However, the meaning of baptism is no less. In baptism our personal faith is made public. It is drawing the line in the sand and saying before the whole Body of Christ, "The old is buried and through Christ a whole new creation exists." Through the act of baptism God's grace of assurance is given to us as we are minded that as long as we live for him, his light will shine on us. And the Bible says when one person turns from self to Jesus all of heaven parties.

This Sunday come ready to celebrate...come prepared to praise...come expecting God to shine on us and make himself known and be ready to wake up to something new from God. Please join me in praying and expecting for this Sunday!

"WOW!"

I just left one of the most deeply spiritual, meaningful and moving events I have been a part of since Living Hope started ten years ago. No sermon was preached and no songs were sung, but from start to finish it was it a holy moment of worship. I wish all of you could have been here because had you been I believe you would have encountered the presence of God over pizza and cake, just as I did. WOW!

What I am describing is an appreciation lunch that Food 2 Go put on for Elk Enterprize (the CHS special needs students who help run Food 2 Go). Around 20 students were bussed to Living Hope. As they came into the building most of them were friendly, but hesitant and shy. But it was not long until their glance shifted up from the floor.

Mayor Kingseed addressed the students with words of thanks and appreciation on behalf of the community for their part in ending hunger for children in our community. I was honored to offer a prayer of blessing and encouragement over the students. Then pizza and drinks were served much to the students' delight. As we walked around the tables meeting the students and staff, we all began to feel more at home with one another.

Then, for me, the whole event came to its climax as we called each student up to the applause and cheers of us all. Each made his or her way to the front of the room to be recognized. Their faces beamed and their eyes lit up as they received a Centerville-Gold Food 2 Go T-shirt and certificate with their name on it.

Then cake was served and it was over, but one thing was significantly different...they entered friendly but hesitant but they left with their heads hung high addressing us as though we were long-time friends.

Lily hugged me and said, "I can't wait to show my mom." Nathan begged his teacher to let him go in the restroom and put on his t-shirt. Patrick held up his certificate and yelled, "Look at this!" Michael was so excited I thought his feet would leave the floor as he clapped for himself. Laura said "Thank you!" An Aide said to me, "In all the years I have worked with our special needs students, I have never known them to be given an award for anything."

And as they left, I heard one more voice...it was the voice of one who was unseen but just as present as any student...I heard the still small voice of God whisper, "and that is what it is all about!" Try as I might, I cannot put to words what has just happened here around pizza and cake. All I can tell you, is that is why I am a pastor and in that moment I encountered the spirit of God as though it was the first time.

Thank you to all our leaders and helpers for Food 2 Go. You did a great job and we are excited to feed children in now six schools in Centerville next year. We are praying for the churches in Miamisburg and West Carrollton who are starting their own Food 2 Go. Thank you Living Hope Church for doing more than just saying you care and for BEING the Church. You are church that is poured out! Praise God! WOW!

"How Far"

Last night, I visited a home that our Home Repair Team and others have been working on since last fall. It all started with Becci Pryor driving by the small house and noticing that the front window was badly cracked and broken. Each time she drove by, she felt all the more compelled to inquiry about the window. Finally, she got up the courage to knock on the stranger's door. A small woman less than 5 foot nothing answered the door. She had long silver hair and she couldn't have been much more than 90 pounds wet. Her name was Elsie.

Elise had lived there for too many years to remember and as she hesitantly introduced herself, Becci saw that Elsie's need was much greater than a new front window. Elsie's deceased husband was a "pack rat". He filled the house and the yard with his garage sale and flee market finds. There was a path from the door to the only chair which Elise has and which she uses to sit and sleep. The only heat she had was an old Kerosene heater that has turned the ceilings and walls black over the years. She cooked on a small stove outside, which was also where her refrigerator was. The font porch was severly damaged and pouring water into the house. Becci came to ask about a window and left seeing a fellow human being living in conditions that no one should and from there the journey began.

On our "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church Day," a team began the project by replacing the broken window and clearing the yard. The improvement was so noticeable that the Mayor caught wind of the transformation and stopped by along with neighbors to thank the team.

This month the project picked up a gain by removing the porch that was leaking into the house and full of mold. And then, Elise, invited us into her home (This shows hom much she has come to trust Dave and Becci. Our Home Repair team is no longer merely fixing a house they are building a relationship). Last night I watched as the team filled up the third large dumpster and a trailer of trash. Elsie no longer has to step over her deceased husbands "treasures". She will now have the space to even have a bed...after only God knows how many years, she will be able to sleep in a bed. Of course, as the trash went out, it uncovered more work to be done... the floor in desperate need of repair, walls need to be redone and the ceiling needs to be patched.

How far do we go, "Becci asked me?" In a project like this, that is no small question to ask. For now, we decided we would clean out the main living area and not even open the door to the two bedrooms which are filled with items from floor to ceiling. Instead, now that a good relationship has been built with Elise we'll see what she can afford and what she wants to do about making the main living area, clean and livable.

When I met Elsie last night, I saw a little, elderly lady with a bright smile and a good sense of humor. It would be easy to look at Elise and assume we have the right to judge her for the condition of her home, but I guess the more you follow Jesus the more you realize that the right to judge is something you and I are called upon to release to Jesus. After all, I can look at Elise and assume what and why, but only Jesus can look at Elise and know what and why. Instead of judging, I greatly respect our Home Repair Team's decision to see a need and go far!

How far do you go, Becci? I guess as far as your team will help you? How far do we go to help others see, touch, and hear the love of Jesus where they live? I think Jesus summed it up best..."If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

To learn more about how you can go the extra mile for Elise contact Becci Pryor at BBCOVEFARM@msn.com and thank you to all of you who already have!

"The Other Side"

Luke 8:

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!"

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."

The Sea (Lake of Galilee) is a very moody body of water that can be given over to quick and fierce storms. For instance, in the 1990's it produced 5-7 foot waves...that is huge for the small body of water it is. One day Jesus and his disciples were crossing the lake and storm like that broke loose. Even though the waves tossed the little boat all around Jesus slept. Finally, the disciples wake him up saying, "Do something or we are all going to die!" Jesus wakes up, asks them where their faith is and calms the storm.

I relate to the disciples. How about you? The storms of life come and I react..."O, no...What are we going to do? What if the worst happens? We're all going to die!" Panic, worry, fear, stress, irritability...these are familiar emotions when our little boat is being mercilessly tossed to and fro.

And then, there is Jesus...sleeping...(ever feel like Jesus is sleeping when he should be doing something? ...Me too). Jesus is sleeping...why? Because he knew what he told the disciples, but they forgot. What did Jesus tell them before they boarded the boat? Look at verse 22 again...One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake."

Did you catch that? That is why Jesus slept in the storm and that is why the disciples did not have to panic. Why is that? Because Jesus told them before they left that they were going to go to the other side. Before they set sail Jesus confirmed that they would arrive at the other side. The storm did not change the promise of God...storm or no storm Jesus said they were going to the other side and that meant they were going to the other side.

However, the disciples forgot that. When the storm came all they could see were 7 foot waves, dark clouds and them sinking to the bottom of the sea. And so they panic and in turn Jesus asks, "Where is your faith?" He had told them they were going to the other side. Why did they trust the threat of the storm more than the promise of his word? May be that is a good question for you and me? Why do we trust the storms of life more than the promise of God's word that says, "Storm or no storm with him we will always get to the other side." It does not mean bad things won't happen. It just means that we have God's promise that if we follow him then no matter what happens some way and some how he will get us to the other side.

The next time you find your self struggling in the midst of a storm, even though it is difficult, ask God to help you remember what he said before you set sail, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." Jesus would not have told you he was going to take you to the other side if he did not intend to fulfill his promise.

"No More Chipmunks"

This past Christmas, I was feeling nostalgic so I purchased the Chipmunks Christmas CD. I figured the kids would enjoy it and I would enjoy the trip down memory lane.
At first, I did enjoy it. Their high pitched singing took me back to when I was a child. The kids really, really enjoyed it! Every time we got in the car we had to listen to the chipmunks. I was fine with listening to the chipmunks sing the Christmas song in December and even in January...but Anna continued asking for it in February, March and April. We would still be listening to the Chipmunks if I had not finally said, "Anna, the Chipmunks are gone. I am sorry but they sing Christmas songs and they cannot sing them again until next Christmas." I think she is finally past denial and has begun to accept that the Chipmunks are gone until next year, but it was not easy for her to accept.

Its not easy letting go, is it? Most of us have accepted by now that life is always changing, but that does not mean we don't resist it. We want to keep the Chipmunks singing "Silver Bells" in May. We want the family gatherings to be like they were 20 years ago...we want our bodies to feel like they did 15 years ago...we want to play our favorite CD over and over...and for good reason...its what we know, its familiar, it feels comfortable. But the hard truth is, "Its May and Christmas is over!" As long as we are holding onto what was, we cannot embrace what is. God has something for you right now. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may not be. Will you and I receive what he has for us today?

To receive God today means that I must be willing to accept the changes that life brings my way. Resistance to change is really our futile attempt to be in control. When we are able to stop resisting change and accept it, we give up the need to be in control and find ourselves resting in the hands of the only One who is in control. "AAAHHHH!" What a place of rest...the whole world is changing and yet God holds me. I don't have to hold onto what I have always known--be it good or bad--because I am now held by Him.

In John 10:10 Jesus says, "I have come to give you life and life to the full." Let go and let God hold you and instead of losing you find yourself full.

"Who?"

Last Wednesday, I was talking with someone and reminded of one the truths from the Bible that has been an on going point of reference. Galatians 1:10 says, "Am I now trying to win the approval of people or of God? Or am I still trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ."

I don't know about you but regularly I must determine the who? Who am I going to try to please?

I believe that a large majority in our culture would answer, "You can't please everybody so you might as well please yourself." Our culture has managed to make selfishness sound positive as it encourages us to go after our heart, which is largely just an excuse for self-indulgence, but putting it in terms of "heart" makes it sound so much more pure.

Of course, for others the who question is not at all self-liberating. Some of us are so ridden with the need to win the approval of others that we have long since lost sight of what is our responsibility and what is that of others. So, we spend our lives still trying to keep everybody happy as if we will one day have the title of the first person who managed to do this impossible task. Think about it...even Jesus couldn't make everyone happy...of course, then again, Jesus was never interested in making people happy.

So, who will it be for you and me? Will we chase after the cultural deception of making ourselves the who we are to please or will we fall into the trap of making the who other people that we try to please in order to try to have some empty spot in ourselves fulfilled?

Galatians 1:10 presents another option. Actually, it seems that the truth God is giving us here is not an option but an ultimatum. Please God or please people...who is it going to be? Do I have to please myself even if what I want is contrary to what God wants? Then I am not serving God no matter what I do on Sunday. Do I have to please others, then I am not a servant of God? Its not a condemnation...its a freedom... make God who I please and I find out what I really want and I am free to live for what is best irregardless of who else approves. Who is it going to be for you?

"Normal"

The doctor's office just called with the results from Anna's test last Friday. The results show that everything is "normal." I have never been so happy to hear "normal." We are so grateful! Praise God! Thank you for caring!

The last several days have been an incredible journey of receiving the "WITH" of God (see Sunday's service if that does not make sense at www.elivinghope.com). God allowed us to experience his peace before we knew the results. That does not say anything about us (we wrestle with fears and doubts just as much as anyone), but it does say a whole lot about our Father in heaven. God did not give us the answer before the doctor did. He did not tell us the results before the results were read. Rather as our fears were faced he asked us, "Do you trust me?" He gave us a choice...trust him or not trust him?

Everyday in the scares, struggles and circumstances of life we are faced with that question...do we trust Him? Will we receive his WITH during the time of uncertainty? Will we acknowledge him as the giver of all good things when the results are good? Will we continue to trust him when the results are not good? Its no easy question and no easy choice, but more than anything else Jesus wants us to live alive to his peace no matter what life does or does not bring. The question is will I invite him into the places of my greatest fears and biggest questions and before I receive any answers and before anything changes, will I trust him?

This was not the first time life has made me hear God's question, "Do you trust me?", loud and clear and it won't be the last, but I know this...I would rather live in the peace of his presence than locked up in fear. What about you?

See John 20:19-22.

"I Quit"

Welcome! It is good to have you; you, who live with me in the land of the Quit. In this land to quit is to live...to quit is to be free...to quit is to be happy...Here, in our most precious land, to quit is the door that opens whenever life becomes uncomfortable. All hail the powerful hope of the Quit!

To all you who are weary and burdened, just quit! Is your battle with addiction too hard? Just quit. Is your marriage too ugly? Just quit. Is your job a hassle? Just quit. Is it too hard to find a job? Just quit. Is your church less than perfect? Just quit. Is parenting more work than fun? Just quit. Is dealing with your diagnosis to overwhelming? Just quit. Do healthy relationships take too much time? Just quit. Is Following Jesus too costly? Just quit. Is becoming healthy in body, mind or spirit too tiring? Just quit. Is life itself too unfair? Just quit.

All hail the Quit! Just quit whatever is hard, not fun, uncomfortable...just quit. It is our way out. It is our escape. Its our choice. If you just quit, then you won't have to deal with it any more. Pay no attention to the fact that there will always be something else to deal with waiting for you on the other side of the door called quit. That's looking too far ahead. No, no, no...just quit! No one will judge you in the land of quit for quitting. It is completely acceptable here...its expected really...its even applauded...after all, our personal comfort and happiness is the reason the world goes 'round. So go ahead...stand tall...look your struggle in the eye and tell it, "I quit!"

But for those of you who dare to commit treason in the land of the quit...to you ridiculous few who look struggle in the eye and with fire in your eye, say, "I will never, never, never quit!" To you crazy few, I give you a promise that the those who take up residence in the land of quit will kill you if you repeat it. No, for your safety, in this land, I tell you, please do not repeat it. But there is nothing they can do to you, if you simply hear it, receive it, believe it and live it. Its what the Quit does not want you to know. For if you know this, then you will not need the quit. And if you no longer need the quit, then to you it means you will have received hope that looks beyond the present struggle, you will have seen the purpose in the struggle, you will have seen One who makes every struggle worth not quitting. Hear this, you radical rebels:

⁷"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken."^b]">[b]With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. ¹⁵All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4.

"Stop Swinging the Sword"

"Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus)." (John 18:10).

I have heard some preachers say that the reason Peter cut off Malchus' ear was because he was swinging for his head and missed. However, I would think it would be easier to cut off a head than an ear.

Actually, it would seem Peter was very deliberate in his action. In the first century slaves were identified by cutting off the lobe of the ear. Furthermore, Jews believed that if you were buried with part or all of your ear cut off that you would be doomed to be a slave in heaven. So, Peter picked out the high priest's servant to make a pretty strong statement. In essence he said, "Mess with us and you'll be nothing more than our slaves some day in the afterlife."

"That-a-boy, Peter...that will hit 'em where it hurts. These who use their faith to judge will get caught in their own judgement. Now one of their own will be a slave forever. If you can't win the war at least you can make a point!," I say. I completely relate to Peter's action and appreciate his style. After all, his action was justified. Jesus was innocent. Somebody ought to put up a fight. Somebody ought to say something...do something...he had every right to take a stand.

So, do we...right? "Don't take anybody's crap," we say. "Stand up for yourself!" "You've got your rights." Right?

Enter Jesus...He picks up the ear and places it back on the man. Thus saying, "Mess with me and I will still forgive you...I'll even heal you." The one who was innocent refused to demand his rights. No one took his life. He gave it up freely. And while they crucified him and hurled insults at him, "Father forgive them," was his come back.

I don't know about you, but I've got a lot to learn. I've learned to well how to stand up for myself and demand my rights. I know how to fight. I've got my comebacks and they sound nothing like, "Father forgive."

What if from now until Easter all of us committed to stop swinging the sword...to giving up our right to be right? What if for these next few days we chose the path of voluntary self-denial in honor of Jesus self-sacrifice? What could that look like? It could be as small as refusing to complain or even say a word if our food is prepared wrong at the restaurant or we could give up the close parking space and park far away to give someone else the spot. It could mean that we forgive a debt someone owes us and refuse to ever hold it against them again. It could mean a husband and wife call a truce for a few days and instead of trying to make the other see things from their perspective, they spend the next few days trying to see things from their spouses perspective. It could mean I give up my right to criticize, judge and look down upon. I don't know what it might look like for you, but I can imagine that if all of us spent the next few days giving up our right to be right that Jesus would be lifted up. We might just get a taste of what it is like to be so free in Christ to offer healing to those who intend our harm that we may never want to pick up the sword again.

I know...this is too idealistic...unreasonable even in this world...I agree...but, then again, is anything any more idealistic and unrealistic than God dieing for somebody like you and me.