"To Be or Not to Be?"

We live in an amazing time of of technology!

Technology allows us to be with one another without needing to be near one another. There is great advantage in this. For instance, our children are able to "Skype" with their grandparents who live 3 1/2 hours away. I have friends, who are missionaries, who are able to easily stay in touch with family and friends through email. I pray with a soldier in Afghanistan through Face book. We live in amazing day of technology that allows us to be with one another without being near one another.

However (You could tell a "however" was coming, couldn't you?)...However, while this technology enables us to be with folks we cannot be physically near, our technology can also become a tool of enabling that excuses absence of physical presence from those with whom we are geographically near enough to be present.

It is possible to use technology as an excuse to not be physically present. For example, when I was growing up, my dad's job had him travel a lot. However, he paid close attention to my and my brother's schedule. I never remember him not being physically present at those games and events that meant the world to us. Today, we have the technology to excuse our physical presence even if we could physically be there. Rather than paying attention to the important events of one another's lives, we can simply have someone give us a live video feed from their phone and we can watch the little league game or the kids choir concert from our desk while we work. Rather than visit a friend who is struggling, technology can give us an excuse to send a quick email. Rather than listen to the joy in the voice of a loved one celebrating, we can click a "like" button on Face book and quickly be on with our day.

Don't miss hear me..I am not saying to not use technology...I am using it right now...what I am saying is, like anything else technology can enable us to connect or it can enable us to excuse ourselves from taking the time to truly BE with others. Yes, "to be or not be?" That is the question in this day of technology.

Will I BE at my child's game or will I watch it on-line later? Will I talk to my spouse or shoot off an email? Will I pick up the phone and ask a hurting friend how she is doing or tag her in FB about Farmville? Will I enter into being real, transformed, connected and poured out in a community of faith or watch TBN on TV or Living Hope sermons on-line? Will I take my eyes off the screens of technology and look in the eyes of another to see the image of God in the "least of these"?

You know, that is why we make such a big deal about this Sunday. Because we cannot find a substitute or make up for not BEING here to celebrate the crucial spiritual steps that are taken in baptism and child dedication. We are not just a church service on Sunday, we are the Body of Christ. I know some come here each week simply to warm a seat, sing a song and hear a sermon, but I also know that the many more of you are here because you truly are participating in helping us BE a church that is real, transformed, connected and poured out! I want to thank you! I also want to encourage you. You may not feel like you are doing much watching people being baptized, but Romans 12 says this is what the Body is about, "Rejoicing with one another when one rejoices!" This Sunday, you re going to be doing that. Please pray for those being baptized...Satan tends to really attack people before they take this step. Please cheer...if thousands can cheer over an over-paid jock scoring a touch down, how much more should the people of God rejoice over God's saving grace?! Don't hold back! Be obnoxious in your praise! It is going to be a great day! What God will do in you and through you this Sunday is nothing that can be captured with even the best of our technology.

BE present with God and others, because one day we will happily or despairingly realize that all that really mattered in this life is all that will matter in eternal life and that is BEING with God and Being with others. Isn't that what Jesus said the greatest commandment was, "Love God and love others"? And how can we love without Being with God and with others. "To be or not to be?" Don't make it a question....just BE...Be the Church...Be a friend...Be a parent...Be husband/wife...Be with...Be for...Be in...Be at...BE!

"Won't You be My Neighbor?"

Stephen and Debbie Gilliland hosted a block party in their neighborhood for "Don't go to church, Be the Church" weekend. Over 50 of their neighbors, children to Seniors, came to their house to eat and meet. A few of their neighbors that came, up to that day, they had only seen in passing. That night they did not just learn their neighbor's names, they laid a foundation of friendship that they are continuing to build upon.

The Gillilands shared how this has opened the door for them to share about their faith in Christ and their church family. The reason they are sharing is because their neighbor's are asking. Then, last Saturday evening their was a knock on the door. Three little girls, sisters, were standing in the cold when Stephen opened the door. The girls said, "Grandpa Steve, can we have a cup of milk?" The mother was too embarrassed to make the request, but the girls were not. Stephen had just bought a fresh gallon that day. He gave it all to the girls. All of this because they opened their home and said come on in.

How can we love our neighbor as Jesus commands, if we do not even know our neighbors? I will be the first to admit, I am quite comfortable not knowing my neighbors, but from the day we moved in three years ago, God challenged us that loving our neighbors requires us to get to know them. So, Kimberly and I have seized every opportunity possible to get to know our neighbors. What we have discovered is we truly do love our neighbors. We have great neighbors. Of course, you wonder if they think the same of you. Then this month we received an invitation from two different neighbors to come to their homes.

My point is, this: God does not have you in your neighborhood, country home, apartment complex or condo so you can keep to yourself and escape the world. He has you there to be the Church where you live. You are there to make Christ's love tangible. The question is are you?

If not, it does not take a lot. A simple wandering across the street and knocking on the door is a great start. Making sure your light is on to hand out candy on Halloween is an even easier opportunity--your neighbor's will actually come to you. Just do something to love your neighbor and then don't be surprised when you are the one God uses to fill a child's cup with milk and a families hearts with hope.

"Everything I touch I mess up"

It seems that everything I do this week, I mess up. I have sent people the wrong letters. I confused a meeting with the wrong date. I thought I was helping a situation and found out I was just messing things up. Everything I touch I seem to mess up this week. I am not looking for pity. I can wallow it that all by myself. This week in a very real way, I have been reminded of how weak I am. This week, in a fresh and real way I have been reminded of how prone I am to error.

So, what shall be my response? In days past I would relentlessly beat myself up. In some sick way, I really believed that if I punished myself long enough, then some how that would make up for my mistakes. But that is the old and Jesus has and is continually making me new "by the renewing of my mind." Even today he has reminded me that "in my weakness, his power is made perfect." Even now he reminds me that, "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Even now I am reminded that "apart from Christ I can do nothing" but "I can do all things in Christ who gives me strength." Jesus even looks me in the eye through his Word and says, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

The old Chad would have wallowed in pity and then beaten himself up for days, making me of no use to God or anyone, but I just want to give credit to Jesus' healing truth. I stand on who Christ is and what he has done and not on who I am or what I can do. Hallelujah!

Thank you for listening and if you are struggling today, I pray that even now you will be lifted up!

"A Jogger's Invitation"

This story was shared with me from this past Sunday.

A first time guest joined us for worship. Someone asked her how she found Living Hope. She replied, "A jogger told me about you." She went on to explain,"I was driving around town looking for a church. I saw a jogger. I pulled over and asked him if he knew of a good church for me to visit. The jogger told me to check out the church two doors down at Mcewen. He told me that the church was 'good people and they do a lot to help others.' So, I came in for a visit."

Living Hope Church, thank you for BEING the church! I hope you receive this as encouragement and affirmation that stepping out to be poured out is making a difference. Even a jogger who does not attend Living Hope, but lives in the community, sees something of God in you. Praise God! Praise God!

See you this weekend for our "Don't Go to Church, Be the Church!"

"The Waves"

When we were on vacation we spent some time at my cousins home. They live about 15 minutes from the beach. One day we all packed up and spent half a day playing in the sand and splashing in the sea.

It was interesting that both Anna and Seth specifically and separately asked me this question, "Daddy, you won't let the waves knock me over will you?" They both wanted to enjoy playing in the ocean, but they wanted to be certain that they would not be knocked down and drug under the water by a wave. As a father who is well aware of his weaknesses, I was quick to give a very honest reply, "Anna," I said, "Seth, " I said, "I will do my best to keep us from being knocked down by the waves, but I can't promise we will not fall. But if waves do knock us down, I will make sure we both get back up." They both seemed OK with that answer and so in the water we went.

As I was thinking about this, my first thought was to write, "You know, as an earthly Father I cannot promise the waves of life won't knock us down, but our heavenly Father can make that promise." Now, that sounds very nice and I very much appreciate such assuring words. It is comforting to think that God will always keep me safe.

However, God does not make us that promise. When we ask, "Father, you won't let the waves knock me down will you?" We want him to say, "Of course not, my child. I will keep you safe." But he does not make that promise. He says the rain falls on the just and the unjust and yet that does not at all diminish his love for his children ( my paraphrase of Matthew 6:45). Faith is not knowing that God will not let the waves of life knock us down. Faith is knowing that even if the waves knock me down, God will get me back up.

I wonder how many Christ Followers play it too safe? You are waiting for clear skies and calm seas before you set sail in trusting God in anything. You might as well leave the marina, because God does not promise you or me smooth sailing. In fact, there are many more biblical references that warn you of wild waves than tranquil seas. Noah went on a 40 day nightmare of a cruise, Jonah saw the inside of a fish, Daniel slept with lions, 3 faithful Hebrew friends faced the furnace, Moses wandered the dessert with complaining people for 40 years, Paul was stoned, imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked and bit by a snake...o, and, well, Jesus was hung on a cross. Does God promise you not to be knocked down by waves, let me put it as gently as I know how, "NO!"

And yet, he asks you to walk out into the ocean any way. Without apology, he asks you to risk everything not knowing what the outcome will be...will you be found standing? Or will you be swept away by the rip tide? Faith is moving forward before you know the answer.

But one thing you can know is that whether you stand in the waves or they knock you down, your Father will be there to pick you back up. Water may fill your mouth, the salt may sting your eyes, you may feel like you are going to die...you may even die...but one way or the other, if your are his, then he will pick you up.

Normally, it is at this point that I find a nice Scripture to sum it all up. The truth is the Bible is full of stories and verses that say what I have just shared. You don't need me to find one for you. You need to find your own. Find your own promise of God's to stand on because one thing is for sure: If you re going to follow Jesus, he is going to call you out into the deep and where he calls you there will be waves and where there are waves you may get knocked down.

"The Cherry in Pepto-Bismol"

I just want to publicly thank the folks that came up with the idea of flavoring Pepto-Bismol with cherry. For years I have turned to Pepto-Bismol for digestive aid (hope that's not TMI). All those years, the original taste about made me gag. However, the cherry flavoring has completely changed the experience. I actually enjoy taking two tablespoons of the pink product. So, thank you for using modern technology to not only aid my digestive tract but comfort my taste buds. I am a grateful customer.

I think we could all learn something from Pepto-Bismol. Its manufacturer figured out that if you can make it taste better, people are more likely to swallow it. I wonder how beneficial learning this lesson could be for our relationships with others? Most of us, even the least confrontational of us, when we are pushed far enough manage to blurt out words of truth, that may be truth, but because they lack flavoring, the one who needs to hear it the most won't ever swallow it.

Proverbs 15:1, puts it like this, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Now, there is truth to live by! What kind of impact could this make on our marriages, our conversations with our children, our interactions with our co-workers, our dealings with customer service, etc? Proverbs 15:1 tells us what would happen. Truth in our relationships is just like Pepto-Bismol...its a whole lot easier to swallow when flavored with the cherry called gentleness.

"Pulling Weeds"

It seems that the only thing really growing in my yard these days are weeds. Up until the past month I was especially proud of how green and weed-free my front yard had remained. Those days are gone!

On Monday, I bent over a pulled a weed..then I pulled another...then another...before long I had pulled every weed in the main part of my front yard. Last night I started pulling weeds on the side of my house. I pulled one weed, then another, then another...Next thing I knew, Anna was pulling weeds, then Kimberly and then Seth started taking piles of weeds to a pile in the back yard.

As I was pulling weeds, I noticed something. As long as I focused on one weed at a time, I made progress. The moment I stood back and saw all the weeds in the yard, I wanted to give up. I think the same applies to the weeds in our lives. I wonder how often we defeat what God could do in us because we see how far we have to go, become overwhelmed and give up before he can start. What if all God is looking for is someone to let him pull one weed at a time? What if instead of looking at loosing 70 pounds, we just looked at loosing one pound? What if instead of trying to work on ten things wrong in our marriage, we sat down and began to look at just one? What if instead of trying to read the entire Bible, we determined to read just one chapter or even one verse a day? What if instead of wrestling with all our hurts, we started bringing just one to the Father? Then, as we watch God pull that one weed, we would be ready, open and energized to let him take us to the next. I really think Satan helps us see everything that is wrong, so that we cannot focus on the next one thing God wants to make right.

Over and over again that is how Jesus said the Kingdom of God works in our world. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough" Matthew 13:33. The weeds of our lives and of this world can be eliminated...hunger can be stamped out, human trafficking can be brought to an end, every orphan can be cared for, poverty can be broken one weed at a time. And if every church would pull just one weed, just think of how beautiful the landscape of this world could become!

Let's go pull a weed!