Good Medicine

Our three year old son, Seth, often requests me to sing "Twinkle Little Star" to him at bed time. The reason he asks me to sing it is because I can never remember the lyrics. Rather than try to remember, I simply make up words to the song that are silly.

The other night, I was doing this and Seth giggled so hard I thought he might pee himself. His giggling then made me laugh. Then he asked me to sing again, so I made up another silly line and he about fell off the bed in laughter. Then he saw me laughing and decided to get in on the action. He made up a silly line to the song, which made me laugh out loud. We just laid there in his bed and belly-laughed for a good 5 minutes. When I walked out of his room, he shouted, "I Wove you, dad." "I love you, too," I said back.

As I closed his door, I said, "Thank you, Father." I have no doubt that my Father in heaven used my son to lift me up. You see it had been one of those days all day long. I was feeling discouraged and beaten up by some circumstances. Through a silly song with my son, God gave me exactly the medicine I needed. It is the medicine the Bible talks about in Proverbs: "A cheerful heart is good medicine." How true? A cheerful heart allows you to release stress, see things from a fresh perspective and to be reminded of all you have for which to be thankful.

That is one of the reasons I am so excited for this Sunday's celebration! It will be good medicine to rejoice with parents and help them bless their children. It will be good medicine to clap and cheer with brothers and sisters in Christ who will share their fresh stories of God's love and life-change. It will be good medicine to share a meal together and know that by eating some chili or PB&J we will be helping our teens serve Native Americans in need. It will be good medicine to hear the laughter of children as they play in bouncers, have their faces painted and play games. It will be a day of good medicine!

I don't know about you, but I could use some good medicine like that. Who do you know that could use a dose of that? Invite them to join you. Who knows, it may just save their life.

"Do you Believe what you Believe?"

This week, I was writing in my prayer journal. It was the start of a day that had a somewhat stressful looking to-do list. I was already beginning to feel the weight and anxiety. I simply wrote, "Father, I need you to do what I can't today."

No sooner had I penned those words, then I heard this scripture in my mind, "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world."

Then a question entered my mind. "Do you believe that?"

"Yes," I wrote, "I believe that you are greater than anything I will face today."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Yes, I really believe that you are greater."

"Will you live like you believe that?"

I paused. I had to think about that. Now, God was asking this not just to be a verse I have memorized, but a truth by which I would live. What does it mean to live like "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world"?

It means that I will face the day with hope rather than dread. It means I will look away form the negative what ifs and worries and looks to the God for whom nothing is impossible. It means I choose to rejoice to in the day God has given me knowing that my security is in him and not in what did or did not happen that day. It means I choose to put my faith in what God can do rather than what I or others can do. It means I choose to find my worth in him and not in what I accomplish.

It means I have to figure out if I believe what I believe? Do you believe what you believe?

"Failure Isn't Final"

The people of Israel wanted a king like all the other nations had. The prophet Samuel warned the people that they did not want a king. A king would tax them, take their land and force them to serve him, warned Samuel. But the people insisted and so God told Samuel to give them what they wanted. God even told Samuel who to choose as the first king of Israel; a man named Saul.

Saul started out serving God as king, but ended up serving himself. It got so bad that God rejected Saul as king. It is at this point in the story that we pick up in 1 Samuel 16:1, "God addressed Samuel:'So, how long are you going to mope over Saul? You know I've rejected him as king over Israel, Fill your flask with anointing oil and get going. I'm sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I've spotted the very king I want among his sons."

Samuel was moping over the failure. He had done what God told him to do and it it failed. Saul had a free will. His will led him to act contrary to God's will. The "King Saul plan" failed and Samuel was sick over it.

Been there? I have. Just because we do what God asks of us does not mean we will reap success. Sometimes we can be doing everything right and yet still nothing goes right. Some people (we call them Fundamentalists in theological terms) are offended by this. They back peddle and say in order for God to be sovereign he has to determine all that happens in this world--the good and the bad. The truth is other world religions believe this about their God, but we don't. We believe that God has a will, but that our will can divert or detour God's will. That is what Samuel was experiencing as he mourned the failed "king Saul plan".

But God said, enough will the moping, "get going." There is a time to mourn the failure and a time to get up and get going. Just because the will of people can divert and detour God's will does not mean God cannot redeem and reroute all things, even failures, back in line with his good and perfect will. Now that is the power of sovereignty--God allowing free will to ruin his plan and yet God being able to use even what we have ruined to accomplish his will.

I wonder if anyone reading this needs permission to quit mopping and get moving forward from failure. I can relate to that? How about you? The message of God to Samuel and to us is the same, failure is never final where we let God give us permission to quit moping and get going!

Well, enough of this...I am going to get going...

PS I want to thank Dr. Doug Van Nest for sharing these thoughts with a group of pastors today. I know God used it to speak to me.

"Blessed are the merciful..."

This Sunday, through your actions during our "Don't Go to Church, be the Church Day," you will preach the message on Jesus' 5th beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

Jesus explains what is meant by this beatitude in the story he shares found in Matthew 18:21-35:

21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a]

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[b] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[c] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Those who do not show mercy have either never asked for forgiveness and so have not experienced mercy or they have forgotten all the times God and others have shown them mercy and so in their forgetfulness they do not extend mercy to others.

Mercy is not giving one what they deserve. That is called justice. Mercy is about being offered forgiveness and love even though you do not deserve it.

My wife, my kids, my friends and above all else my God have shown me mercy of which I have no right to claim, but for which I am eternally grateful. In view of the mercy I have been shown, how can I not offer mercy to others?

Sunday morning you will be participants in mercy. Whether what you give is appreciated or in your opinion deserved, give out of a heart of love. As you work along one another perhaps someone will say or do something that rubs you the wrong way, instead of taking offense make a choice to show him or her mercy.

As you choose to act out of a heart of mercy, this Sunday will turn into one of the most meaningful worship experiences you have ever experienced and you will understand why Jesus said "Blessed are the merciful..."

Thank you for being the church!

"One Slow Bagel"

On Tuesday, I had a breakfast meeting at Tim Horton's. I meet at this particular Tim Horton's regularly and have come to know the owner on a first name basis. I always compliment him on how smoothly his team handles the crowds that pull through the restaurant in the morning. However, this Tuesday I just kept my comments to my self because there was nothing smooth happening.

I was there when the problem occurred. Right after my order a new trainee started working the bagel station. Apparently, the newbie got the order wrong. Then in trying to figure out was wrong and make the order right, he fell several orders behind. Then in trying to catch up he messed up more orders causing him to fall farther behind. I felt for him.

Actually, I can do more than feel for him, I can relate. It is very easy in life to mess up, fall behind and before you know what has happened stuff has piled up higher than you feel like you can dig your way out. Do I need to make up examples or can you insert your own? I know i can insert my own. Whether it is in relationships, finances, health, spiritual vitality...all it takes is a little mess up and the next thing you know stuff starts piling up fast.

The look of panic on the poor guys face made me want to climb over the counter and try to help. Fortunately, the owner stepped up. He did not yell or criticize, he simply started helping the new guy out. Did the new guy say, "No, I got this" and refuse the help? No way! With a look of great relief, he let the owner help him.

Will we humble ourselves and let God help us through others? Isn't that what James 5:16 is all about. I have mentioned Scripture enough that by now, you probably know what it is. If not, I encourage you to revisit it. Come on...what are you waiting on...stuff is piling up this minute and help is available in James 5:16.

"Spinning"

Our kids love rides that spin. We climb in, sit in the circle shaped capsule and then it is, "Faster, Daddy, spin us faster!" With all my strength, I spin us round and round as Anna and Seth scream and giggle in enjoyment.

There is only one problem...these rides make me sick. Seeing the world spinning faster than my eyes can keep up with makes my stomach feel like I have chugged a gallon of sour milk and my head feels like someone is hitting it with a hammer. However, since this is my kids favorite ride I had to figure out a way to enjoy the ride with them while not becoming sick for the rest of the day.

Of course, the solution was simple: I can ride this ride, spin as fast as possible and not get sick, by simply keeping my eyes fixed on what is inside the ride and avoiding, at all costs, even peeking at what is spinning outside.

I found the same to be true on this ride we call life. I don't know about you, but most of the time I feel like life is spinning faster and faster than with which I can keep up.

When you look outside and see life spinning faster than you can focus on it is easy to become overwhelmed, discouraged and just ...well... get sick. I am convinced the fast speed spin of our daily lives is why so many of us experience the consequences of spiritual, emotional and physical illness. We have spun ourselves into a whirlwind that is impossible to keep up with and it literally makes us sick in one way or the other.

So, what do we do? Some decide to simply get off the ride. These folks shut down spiritually, emotionally or physically. They can't keep up, so they figure the only way to survive its to get off the ride. However, this option back fires. Instead of saving us, when we shut down, it actually kills us.

How many relationships have been killed because one or both people have gotten off the ride and simply shut down? How many people have fallen into complete financial ruin simply because it was less overwhelming to do nothing with their failing finances than to try to do something? How many people have invited otherwise preventable health problems simply because they decided to stop taking care of their bodies and let whatever happens happens? How many people have gotten distracted by the things of this world that won't matter past tomorrow and have run after them while leaving behind their faith in Christ? Yes, getting off the ride...shutting down...is an option, but instead of giving us relief from a life that is spinning out of control it actually makes chaos spin faster and the symptoms of its related sickness turn fatal. However, there is another option.

When the world is spinning faster than you can keep up with, the best thing to do is take your eyes off what is spinning and focus on the One that is the same today, yesterday and forever. The writer of the book of Hebrews in the Bible understood this and wrote the letter with an urgent plea to the church to not get off the ride called faith in the face of persecution. Many in the church at that time had had their property confiscated, been imprisoned, beaten and even killed all because of their faith in Christ. Persecution was spinning around them, some had jumped ship and many more were considering that as their only option. But, the writer to Hebrews reminds them that they and we have another option.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for
the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, 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" Hebrews
12:2-3.

When we try to focus on what is spinning, we will get sick. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, we do not grow weary and lose heart. To those who would say, "If only it were that simple", I would push back and say, "Why do we make it more complicated than that?" If the ride called life is spinning faster than you can keep up with, then the worst place to try to focus on is what is spinning and the best place to focus on is what is constant. Not only will such focus keep us from puking our guts out, it will even let us enjoy the ride.

Can I share something from my heart with you as my brothers and sisters in Christ? That is why we do the "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church" day each year. It is a way of both reminding us of where our focus as a church needs to be and measuring whether or not our focus as a church is actually where it needs to be.

Are we a church of people who go to church on Sunday or are we a church of people who go from church services on Sunday to be the Church every day? Right now, we have 110 people signed up for "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church Day" (Thank you to you who have led the way!). In the next two weeks, we are asking at least 200 more of you to help us get our focus where it needs to be on Jesus who said all that matters hinges on loving God by loving others.

Each year, this "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church day" becomes more and more important as it is a litmus test of where our focus lies. If we as a church have our focus on what is spinning we will fight over things that do not matter, we will become self-righteous and judgmental and we will be more interested in being fed than feeding others. But if we will get our eyes off what is spinning, and that includes ourselves, and on to what is constant, and that is Jesus who lived, died and rose again to show us what it means to love God and others,then we will never grow weary and lose heart...who knows you may even find yourself screaming and giggling, "Faster, Daddy, faster!"

It will be great to be back with you this Sunday!

"Cowards Wanted"

Recently, I was reading the story of Gideon in the Bible in Judges 6-7. I encourage you to take some time to read this account. Gideon was...well..there is no kind way to say it...he was a coward. Yellow-bellied, no spine, mouse of a man...pick your metaphor, Gideon, was the poster child for cowards.

In his cowardliness, even when he heard God speak, he needed confirmation after confirmation, to even have the courage to believe he heard God in the first place. And it was this coward named Gideon, that God called to be a warrior. Isn't that great! When God goes looking for a warrior, he finds a coward. Why? For one thing a real, warrior would have been more convinced of his strength than God's. God did not need someone who believed in themselves but someone who believed in him. By the way, that principle still remains. The self-help call to "just believe in yourself and you can do anything" may give warm fuzzies, but it is a complete lie.

Gideon was just a coward enough to know that without God's strength he would never stand a chance on the battlefield. So, with confidence in God, Gideon raises up an army of 32,000. But God says, "That's too many. If you win, the army will brag on itself." So, God grew the army down to 10,000, but He said that is still too many. Long story short, Gideon ended up with only 300 soldiers. Here is another valuable principle to keep in mind: What does not add up to us, makes perfect sense in God's mathematical equation.

That night they came upon the enemies camp. The enemy had thousands in his army. Gideon divided the army into three companies, gave each trumpets and empty jars and torches. At the signal, three companies from the distance blew trumpets, shouted, broke the jars and waved the torches. The enemy awoke in panic and began killing one another in confusion thinking the enemy was numerous and among them. Guess who would try a tactic like that? Yes...a coward. A brave man would have went in with an army of 32,000 fighting as any good warrior would. But the coward, Gideon, didn't enter the battlefield and won the day.

That's what God can do with cowards. He can take their lack of confidence in themselves and turn it into a huge confidence in Him that can defeat an army. Got any enemies threatening you? Got any armies camped just over the hill? That is the perfect opportunity for you and me to find out what God can do with cowards.

"Father, let me be the first to admit that often I have more fear than courage. I have more doubt than faith. I have more questions than answers. You give me a sign and look for two more. God I am weak. I am a coward. So, with no confidence in myself and all confidence in you, I pray be my strength...be my courage...let your power fill me so I can see how your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Through you the battle is already one. Amen."