What do you think of when you hear the word worship? Do choirs, songs, sermons and prayer come to mind? May be you have walked with Christ long enough to have had your vision of worship expanded outside the "worship service" to understand that worship is anything I do for others in the name and love of Christ. For instance, the Bible reminds us that giving a cup of cold water in Jesus' name is worship.
Certainly worship looks up to God and out towards others. But what if there is another aspect of worship that involves both the upward and outward look at the same time? What if God also desires our worship to be witness? What if worship as worship should be should be is as strong a witness as it is anything else?
Would you take some time between now and Sunday to think and pray about your worship being a witness? Perhaps there is no more important day for us to consider this than Easter Sunday. On the day when people who normally do not attend worship suddenly find themselves there, what better day for Followers of Christ to make our worship witness?
To make our worship witness means we outwardly express what God is doing in us. We make sure that even a stranger knows that we believe in a God who so loved the world that he died on a cross and overcame sin and the grave to give us new life now and forever! And because we believe that, we can sing when the world says we should cry; we can praise God when the enemy says to curse God and die; We can celebrate the victory that we have in Christ before we see the victory come to pass.
So, this Sunday, Follower of Christ, do not hold back! Sing loud even if you can't sing! Praise God will all your heart and mind! Put your whole Body into it...that is why often you see me raise my hand in worship...as I sing words that ring true in me, I raise my hand to say, "Yes, yes...I know that is true!" The only wrong way to worship God is to hold back. Make your worship witness this Sunday and just may be somebody sitting next to you will hear a sermon much more powerful than any words I could speak. Don't underestimate the power of your worship both in heaven and in earth.
Finally, why would we do anything less in our worship? After all, Jesus died for you and overcame the grave for you, so why would we hold back? Watch out...I am about ready to shout my praises to God...in fact, I think I will...HALLELUJAH! PRAISE GOD! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH YOU, LORD! CHRIST IS RISEN!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
"I Messed Up"
I blew it. I completely missed an appointment yesterday. I had it in my head that it was next Wednesday. However, it was yesterday. The people came to meet with me and I was no where to be found. I was fulfilling a different appointment. When I realized what I had done, I felt awful. I called the person but only received their voice mail. So, I left a message. I explained my error and asked for their forgiveness. This morning the individual responded to my call. The person was full of grace and mercy toward me. I was extremely grateful for their undeserved understanding.
Other times, I have offended some one with out any knowledge or intent on my part. I have tried to talk with them about the issue and work toward reconciliation, but the door was slammed shut so tight that they will not even acknowledge I am knocking.
That's how it is with us people, isn't it? Sometimes we offer forgiveness when it is not deserved and other times we hold a grudge even when the other person did nothing to deserve it. And guess what? There is really nothing you can do about it. As Romans 12:18 says, the only thing you can do is, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Of course, it is a different story with God. Jesus explains that through the stories in Luke 15. Give these old stories a new read, ask God which character you most relate to and what that means you most need to hear from Him.
Other times, I have offended some one with out any knowledge or intent on my part. I have tried to talk with them about the issue and work toward reconciliation, but the door was slammed shut so tight that they will not even acknowledge I am knocking.
That's how it is with us people, isn't it? Sometimes we offer forgiveness when it is not deserved and other times we hold a grudge even when the other person did nothing to deserve it. And guess what? There is really nothing you can do about it. As Romans 12:18 says, the only thing you can do is, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Of course, it is a different story with God. Jesus explains that through the stories in Luke 15. Give these old stories a new read, ask God which character you most relate to and what that means you most need to hear from Him.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
"Happy St. Patrick's Day?"
It is amazing how over time, meaning can be lost. For instance, I cannot figure out how St. Patrick's day became associated with green beer, leprechauns and the luck of the Irish. It seems that the only true meaning associated with the day that has remained is its namesake. And St. Patrick did not bring to the world an excuse for a drunken search for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Rather, he offered faith in Jesus Christ in place of blind luck.
In fact, St. Patrick was not even Irish. Irish raided his Roman Britain home taking Patrick captive and forcing him to be a slave-shepherd for the Irish King. Though Patrick was raised in a christian home, he had little personal interest. However, long months of isolation as a slave made him take another look at the faith of his parents. As a result, he had his own encounter with Christ. He wrote, "I would pray constantly during the daylight hours and the love of God surrounded me more and more." Eventually, God showed him an escape and he was finally home.
However, 30 years later, God called Patrick to return to Ireland to offer them the love of Jesus Christ. The Irish of the fifth century were a pagan, violent, and barbaric people. Human sacrifice was commonplace. Patrick understood the danger and wrote: "I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved—whatever may come my way." In response to his faith and courageous obedience thousands committed their lives to Christ.
So, whatever your plans might be this St. Patrick's day, I urge you to make them in light of this prayer of St. Patrick:
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
To that I say, "AMEN!"
In fact, St. Patrick was not even Irish. Irish raided his Roman Britain home taking Patrick captive and forcing him to be a slave-shepherd for the Irish King. Though Patrick was raised in a christian home, he had little personal interest. However, long months of isolation as a slave made him take another look at the faith of his parents. As a result, he had his own encounter with Christ. He wrote, "I would pray constantly during the daylight hours and the love of God surrounded me more and more." Eventually, God showed him an escape and he was finally home.
However, 30 years later, God called Patrick to return to Ireland to offer them the love of Jesus Christ. The Irish of the fifth century were a pagan, violent, and barbaric people. Human sacrifice was commonplace. Patrick understood the danger and wrote: "I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved—whatever may come my way." In response to his faith and courageous obedience thousands committed their lives to Christ.
So, whatever your plans might be this St. Patrick's day, I urge you to make them in light of this prayer of St. Patrick:
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
To that I say, "AMEN!"
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
"Why is it so Dark?"
On Sunday morning before the worship service, I heard someone ask the question, "Why is it so dark in here?"
I thought to myself, I bet others are wondering the same thing. Let me offer an answer. It is dark because Lent is a dark time of year. It is a time when we are called upon as Followers of Jesus to take our blindfolds off to just how dark it can get in ourselves, in our lives and in our world. Easter is a time for the LIGHT to breakthrough the darkness, but we cannot see the LIGHT until we first acknowledge how dark it is.
That is what Jesus is doing on the cross. By volunteering to endure the pain and shame of the cross he is challenging us not just to see his suffering, but to acknowledge our own and that of others. He is showing us what sin of every shape, size and form really looks like. Your sin, my sin, the sin of this world only ever paints a bloody, torturous, humiliating, sickening picture. It is a picture we rather not see, but one we need to see both for our sake and for the sake of others.
Associated Press Writer, Jon Gambrell, writes, "The killers showed no mercy: They didn't spare women and children or even a 4-day-old baby, from their machetes. On Monday, Nigerian women wailed in the streets as a dump truck carried dozens of bodies past burned out homes toward a mass grave."
What initiated such a massacre? What awful act had these men, women and children done to deserve this death? Their offense was the land on which they lived and that they would not hide their faith in Jesus Christ. A crowd sang, "Jesus, show me the way," as rubber-gloved workers tossed the bodies into Nigerian mass graves.
Perhaps, you read a story like that and with me find yourself wondering, why is it so dark? The only way I know to answer that question is to say, Look at the cross. That is what sin does to us, to others, to our world. Sin is nothing to laugh at or flirt with...sin only leads to suffering and death as it tears us away from the One who only desires to give us life.
So, yes, the worship area is very dark these weeks because Lent is a very dark time that challenges us to see what sin looks like. But in the darkness, on the cross, the LIGHT that is being snuffed out, burns bright in this truth...a truth that was prophesied 700 years before Christ was even born in a manger....Isaiah 53 says,
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
I thought to myself, I bet others are wondering the same thing. Let me offer an answer. It is dark because Lent is a dark time of year. It is a time when we are called upon as Followers of Jesus to take our blindfolds off to just how dark it can get in ourselves, in our lives and in our world. Easter is a time for the LIGHT to breakthrough the darkness, but we cannot see the LIGHT until we first acknowledge how dark it is.
That is what Jesus is doing on the cross. By volunteering to endure the pain and shame of the cross he is challenging us not just to see his suffering, but to acknowledge our own and that of others. He is showing us what sin of every shape, size and form really looks like. Your sin, my sin, the sin of this world only ever paints a bloody, torturous, humiliating, sickening picture. It is a picture we rather not see, but one we need to see both for our sake and for the sake of others.
Associated Press Writer, Jon Gambrell, writes, "The killers showed no mercy: They didn't spare women and children or even a 4-day-old baby, from their machetes. On Monday, Nigerian women wailed in the streets as a dump truck carried dozens of bodies past burned out homes toward a mass grave."
What initiated such a massacre? What awful act had these men, women and children done to deserve this death? Their offense was the land on which they lived and that they would not hide their faith in Jesus Christ. A crowd sang, "Jesus, show me the way," as rubber-gloved workers tossed the bodies into Nigerian mass graves.
Perhaps, you read a story like that and with me find yourself wondering, why is it so dark? The only way I know to answer that question is to say, Look at the cross. That is what sin does to us, to others, to our world. Sin is nothing to laugh at or flirt with...sin only leads to suffering and death as it tears us away from the One who only desires to give us life.
So, yes, the worship area is very dark these weeks because Lent is a very dark time that challenges us to see what sin looks like. But in the darkness, on the cross, the LIGHT that is being snuffed out, burns bright in this truth...a truth that was prophesied 700 years before Christ was even born in a manger....Isaiah 53 says,
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
"Harder Before it is Easier"
There is a principle of life that we learn early on, but as adults we seem hard pressed to remember. That principle is this: It is harder before it gets easier. As young children we may not be able to say this, but we certainly accept it. None of us would have learned to walk, talk, feed ourselves or to use the potty had we not accepted that it is harder before it gets easier. However, when we become adults it is as though we forget or refuse to accept the reality of this principle. For instance, if you choose to join me in these days of Lent leading up to Easter in taking off the blindfold and seeing what you do not want to see about yourself, your life or your world, you will fully experience this principle at work: Its harder before its easier.
Giving God permission to help us see what we have been trying to avoid and then actually being obedient to what he says to do about it is never easy. In fact, the first step or two you take in that direction will mostly likely be incredibly difficult. You will probably even stir up pain and discomfort that you did not even realize was there and be tempted to put back on the blind fold. But remember, had you done that as a baby you wouldn't be able to walk or urinate by yourself today. Just because it is harder before it gets easier does not mean it won't eventually get easier. It will get easier...change is possible...freedom can be your reality...love wins...truth does set us free, but the difference between those who see it happen and those who don't is the difference between those who accept that it is harder before it gets easier and press on until they see pain give way to healing.
I have heard from some of you this week. You have shared a blindfold you have removed. You have described some initial steps you are taking to see what you have tried to ignore. Now, I encourage you: Don't give up at the first sign of resistance. Resistance always precedes a breakthrough. You had the courage to let God take off the blindfold, so don't settle for less than the truth and freedom God promises you will find at the cross.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:2-4.
God does not want you to lack anything! Keep the blindfold off and press on no matter how much harder it is before it gets easier!
Giving God permission to help us see what we have been trying to avoid and then actually being obedient to what he says to do about it is never easy. In fact, the first step or two you take in that direction will mostly likely be incredibly difficult. You will probably even stir up pain and discomfort that you did not even realize was there and be tempted to put back on the blind fold. But remember, had you done that as a baby you wouldn't be able to walk or urinate by yourself today. Just because it is harder before it gets easier does not mean it won't eventually get easier. It will get easier...change is possible...freedom can be your reality...love wins...truth does set us free, but the difference between those who see it happen and those who don't is the difference between those who accept that it is harder before it gets easier and press on until they see pain give way to healing.
I have heard from some of you this week. You have shared a blindfold you have removed. You have described some initial steps you are taking to see what you have tried to ignore. Now, I encourage you: Don't give up at the first sign of resistance. Resistance always precedes a breakthrough. You had the courage to let God take off the blindfold, so don't settle for less than the truth and freedom God promises you will find at the cross.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" James 1:2-4.
God does not want you to lack anything! Keep the blindfold off and press on no matter how much harder it is before it gets easier!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
"Did You Notice that It Snowed?"
I don't know if you noticed or not, but we have a pretty good snow covering. Have you noticed the snow?
"What kind of question is that?" you ask.
"How could anyone not notice the snow?" you wonder.
"For the past few weeks all we have seen is snow and you ask, 'Have I noticed
the snow?' Of course, I've noticed the snow...all I can see is snow," you
shout back.
Now before you conclude, I have completely lost touch with reality, let me explain. The above question, as you would suspect, has nothing to do with snow. It has everything to do with God. God is as real and present in our life as the snow that we can see everywhere at this moment. And to not recognize God with us every moment of every day is as absurd as asking you if you had noticed that it had snowed.
The psalmist writes, "Where can I go from your presence? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" Psalm 139:7-10.
God is everywhere I can think to go says the psalmist. However, while we can't miss the snow, who doesn't find it hard to NOT miss God's presence in the routine of every day life?
It is for that reason, that I particularly appreciate this season of the Christian calendar. Lent is 40 days of intentional and focused "noticing." It is about noticing God's personal, powerful presence in our every day lives so that when Easter rolls around it won't just be another holiday of family gatherings and egg hunts, but will be truly and undeniably life-changing.
I invite you to join us tonight for our Ash Wednesday service at 7 PM as we begin this journey of noticing. Then walk with us each Sunday morning for our message series, "At the Cross," to discover what is to be found at the cross that we cannot find any place else.
"What kind of question is that?" you ask.
"How could anyone not notice the snow?" you wonder.
"For the past few weeks all we have seen is snow and you ask, 'Have I noticed
the snow?' Of course, I've noticed the snow...all I can see is snow," you
shout back.
Now before you conclude, I have completely lost touch with reality, let me explain. The above question, as you would suspect, has nothing to do with snow. It has everything to do with God. God is as real and present in our life as the snow that we can see everywhere at this moment. And to not recognize God with us every moment of every day is as absurd as asking you if you had noticed that it had snowed.
The psalmist writes, "Where can I go from your presence? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" Psalm 139:7-10.
God is everywhere I can think to go says the psalmist. However, while we can't miss the snow, who doesn't find it hard to NOT miss God's presence in the routine of every day life?
It is for that reason, that I particularly appreciate this season of the Christian calendar. Lent is 40 days of intentional and focused "noticing." It is about noticing God's personal, powerful presence in our every day lives so that when Easter rolls around it won't just be another holiday of family gatherings and egg hunts, but will be truly and undeniably life-changing.
I invite you to join us tonight for our Ash Wednesday service at 7 PM as we begin this journey of noticing. Then walk with us each Sunday morning for our message series, "At the Cross," to discover what is to be found at the cross that we cannot find any place else.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
"Open?"
Today in my personal time with God, I read Matthew 13. When I read the Bible, I watch for a word, phrase or sentence to stand out to me, then I stop reading and spend time talking and listening to God about it. This morning, I focused in on these words of Jesus, "For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would heal them."
In those words, Jesus is referring to the people of God. As a Follower of Christ, I am asked to hear his words to his people for myself. He forces me to consider whether or not I am open to him. Have my ears become shut and my eyes closed to his Spirit? As I prayed about this, he brought to my mind an issue in which I did not want to hear from him. I wanted to deal with it myself. I wanted to think what I thought and not hear what he thinks. It was not enjoyable to have to admit that I was closing myself off to his spirit in that issue of my life. I was strongly resisting him.
Then I read the last line again, "Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would heal them." What was I resisting by not letting God speak to that issue? I was resisting his healing. All Jesus wants to do is bring me healing and I am closing my ears and eyes to that? Why would i ever resist letting God give me something good?
"God, forgive me I prayed. I want to be open. Speak to me." He did. It was uncomfortable...it was difficult...but when it was done, I experienced his peace and freedom. That which had a hold of me was released, so that Jesus could carry me.
Regularly, we must honestly evaluate our present openness to Jesus. Christianity is not a religion we can shelf between Sundays, it is a relationship in which Jesus must be free to invade any part of our lives at any time.
Is there any part of your life in which Jesus is not welcome? Is there any part of your lifestyle Jesus is not given permission to speak to? Is there any relationship that you have closed your eyes to seeing what God wants you to see? Is there any good God is asking you to do that you have don not want to recognize? Are you open to the Holy Spirit's ongoing healing, freeing, maturing work in your life?
In those words, Jesus is referring to the people of God. As a Follower of Christ, I am asked to hear his words to his people for myself. He forces me to consider whether or not I am open to him. Have my ears become shut and my eyes closed to his Spirit? As I prayed about this, he brought to my mind an issue in which I did not want to hear from him. I wanted to deal with it myself. I wanted to think what I thought and not hear what he thinks. It was not enjoyable to have to admit that I was closing myself off to his spirit in that issue of my life. I was strongly resisting him.
Then I read the last line again, "Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn and I would heal them." What was I resisting by not letting God speak to that issue? I was resisting his healing. All Jesus wants to do is bring me healing and I am closing my ears and eyes to that? Why would i ever resist letting God give me something good?
"God, forgive me I prayed. I want to be open. Speak to me." He did. It was uncomfortable...it was difficult...but when it was done, I experienced his peace and freedom. That which had a hold of me was released, so that Jesus could carry me.
Regularly, we must honestly evaluate our present openness to Jesus. Christianity is not a religion we can shelf between Sundays, it is a relationship in which Jesus must be free to invade any part of our lives at any time.
Is there any part of your life in which Jesus is not welcome? Is there any part of your lifestyle Jesus is not given permission to speak to? Is there any relationship that you have closed your eyes to seeing what God wants you to see? Is there any good God is asking you to do that you have don not want to recognize? Are you open to the Holy Spirit's ongoing healing, freeing, maturing work in your life?
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