Idols

LORD,

please don’t let—

possessions carry me away,

popularity seduce me,

fame take over me,

ingenuity allure me,

knowledge control me,

or power overtake me.

LORD,

help me not to—

allow pride to capture me,

be seized with covetousness,

exalt my arrogance,

glorify my lusts,

or let cockiness rise up in me. 

LORD,

do not let me—

yield to anxiety,

submit to worry,

bow down to my fears,

or allow depression be my master.

LORD, I would not be totally comfortable if You sat on the throne of my heart and there may be an occasionally uprising. However, there is no one like You and beside You there is no other. So LORD, if You sat on the throne of my heart, I’d really be honored.

Count it all Joy

When something bad or something unexpected happens to us, what are our first thoughts or the first words out of our mouths? Is it, “Why me?” “Why now?” “I don’t have time for this!” “This couldn’t have happened at the worst time?” “I can’t believe this?” “Lord, have mercy on me!” “Lord, save me!” or “Lord, deliver me?” Or are our words, “It’s all good!” “Praise God!” “Thank You, Jesus!” “God, You’re so wonderful!”

Does the second set of words sound weird? If we heard someone say these words would it make us want to say, “Are you crazy?” or “Are you out of your mind?” This is what I’ve said to James after I read, “Count it all joy whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:3) because this is not normal behavior.

Yet, over and over, Scripture pairs suffering and rejoicing together. After the apostles were flogged, they went away rejoicing (Acts 5:40-41). Peter tells us to rejoice in our sufferings (I Peter 4:13). And Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad…” (Matthew 5:11-12).

“Rejoicing” in a difficult or an unfortunate situation doesn’t make sense unless we understand what God is trying to do in our lives, but James gave us one reason. James said, “…because the testing of your faith develops perseverance [and] perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3-4).

Trials should not be an exercise in hopelessness and futility. God’s intent is to develop us to become godly people. God predestined us to be conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). How can we develop spiritually if God doesn’t give us a gymnasium where we can workout? In other words, how can we become like Jesus if we don’t go through the same challenges that Jesus went through?

If this concept still doesn’t make sense and if it is too big for us to wrap our minds around this idea, James continues, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

Talk about a complete package deal! God not only gives us the goal, but He also gives us all the resources to accomplish His dream. Isn’t this a reason for revelry and celebration?

The Passion of the Christ

A Believer went to see Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ.” The Believer was so moved by it, that when he saw his Christian friend, he insisted that the Christian see it. The Christian’s response was, “If I have the opportunity, I’ll watch it.” Again the Believer persisted, “You have to watch it!” The Christian said, “Why? I know the story.” The Believer responded, “Because this movie will draw you closer to God—it will make you more spiritual.” The Christian said, “No, it won’t.” Astonished and frustrated, the Believer said, “How can you say that without having seen the movie?” The Christian answered, “You saw the movie and it didn’t transform your life.”

There are a lot of people who are moved emotionally when they hear the Gospel message and then they profess their belief in God and in His Son Jesus. But the Scriptures tell us that even the devils believe and tremble (James 2:19) and like the demons, our response is often not life changing.

According to Paul, the Gospel message has power (I Corinthians 2:1-4). The Greek word for power that Paul uses is dunamis, from which we get our word, dynamite. This definition is helpful in giving us a glimpse into what Paul is thinking.

First, the Gospel has drawing power. Jesus said, “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). The Gospel stops people from the direction they aregoing and moves them into the direction of the cross.

The Gospel has convicting power. On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Gospel message. Those who were listening “were cut to the heart” and their response was, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37)

The Gospel has resurrection power. Paul says, “…just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection…” (Romans 6:4-5).

The Gospel has saving power. In I Corinthians 15:1-2, Paul says, “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.” Finally, the Gospel has transforming power. Paul says, “In Christ all the fullness of the Diety lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men, but with the circumcision done by Christ…” (Colossians 2:9-11).

There is so much more that the Bible says about the Gospel. If all of Scripture revolves around the Gospel, but it doesn’t capture our minds and hearts, shouldn’t this compel us to dig deeper into Scripture to find out why it’s called, “Good News?”

We Can Fix This

While on training for my new job, my boss came up to me and asked me, “When are you taking a break?” But as I started to say, “I’m not sure…” I noticed how he was looking at me. I quickly looked at the clock, which read 11:34. I quickly altered my answer and said, “11:30.” My boss smiled at me as if to say, “Good answer.”

The reason I responded the way I did was because I’ve been in situations like this before. At my previous job, I ran into a situation that I deemed as “unfixable.” I told my boss that we did not have the materials or the resources to fix the problem at hand. My boss responded, “You’re a smart guy. We can fix this.”

I could have said, “I’m not that smart—give me a clue” or “I don’t know how to fix this. How are we going to fix this?” But from the tone of his voice, I discerned that this wasn’t the response he was looking for. All I could muster up was, “okay.” I think that this is what he meant when he said, “You’re a smart guy” because the answer satisfied him.

I am so glad that my relationship with God is not like the relationship I have with my bosses. In life I am faced with many impossible circumstances and I don’t have the resources or ability to figure things out, much less to “fix” anything. With God, I am not left alone, don’t have to deal with “trick questions,” and don’t have to guess and try to read between the lines when God says or asks something.

Whether I go to God with a concern or a complaint, I am reminded of what He has said. Two of them are:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. –Ephesians 1:3-4

And,

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” —II Peter 1:3-4

To put it more simply, the two things that I hear from God are, “What did I say?” and “Trust Me.”

A Confession

As I was growing up, I had the opportunity to learn about God and to know His ways. But even in my young life, I understood that loving God and following Him meant that I was going to have to die and that’s the reason why I resisted the idea of becoming a Christian.

The Scriptures tell us that we are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). What I heard the Bible telling me was that I had to be consumed or obsessed with God. Everything about my life had to be centered on God—my whole universe had to revolve around God.

Along with this Scripture, I heard Jesus continually saying things like, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). I understood Jesus to be saying that loving God and following Him meant I’d be His prisoner and I couldn’t live my own life. If I couldn’t do what I wanted, when I wanted, or how I wanted to do something, I thought I may as well be dead. So I took my life and chose a path away from Jesus.

This doesn’t mean that I chose to live a bad life. And even though I didn’t do anything horrible in life, like murdering someone or committing a felony, I found that I was isolated and alone. I also found that life was meaningless, empty, unfulfilling, and unsatisfying without God. Ironically, I felt dead.

Later on, I learned that a life apart from God is one that is not only a life that is estranged from God, but it is also a life that is in rebellion to God and a life that is dead in sin. The more that I read and hear about this, the more I realize that I am like an adult child who understands how much pain, grief, sorrow, and suffering I caused my parents in my wayward youth. But now that I have I surrendered my life to God—to love Him and follow Him, life has not been the same—Life’s been good!

Having said this, I still don’t love God fully. I still have my moments and I still fight with God because God says some hard things. A lot of times I think that He’s too demanding and He expects too much. Other times I think that He’s unreasonable and just doesn’t understand. There are still times that I still am in rebellion to Him—I’ve got a t-shirt that has a picture of a child with folded arms and the words, “I won’t do it!” under it. And like my t-shirt, sometimes when I hear His word, I still fold my arms and say, “No, I won’t do it!” And there are other times when I can’t even like myself, I wonder, “How in the world can God love me?”

But no matter what my mental, physical, emotional, or spiritual state, the LORD has a way of bringing me back to the foot of the cross and reminds me of His heart as seen in the face of Jesus. This is where Jesus continually speaks to me. One of those things is what He said to the Church at Ephesus. “You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent...” (Revelation 2:4-5a)

The Apostle Paul adds, “…Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that [Jesus] died for us all, we also believe that we have died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead they will live for [Jesus], who died and was raised for them” (II Corinthians 5:14-15, NLT).

Then I hear John saying, “We love because He first loved us” (I John 4:19).

Finally, I hear John say, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the Children of God! And that is what we are!” (I John 3:1)

Having heard these words, I find myself confessing with Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [I] believe and know that You are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).

O Jesus, Jesus!

Robin occasionally gives me a jab with her elbow as we’re singing songs at church because I often change the words to the hymns that we’re singing. There are several reasons for this.

Sometimes I sing the song as a personal prayer so I change all the pronouns like we and us to I and me. Other times I change the pronouns because I am speaking to the congregation (Ephesians 5:19). Sometimes I change the words because they are archaic. King James might have said, “Thy” and “Thine,” but they are not a part of my every day language. Then there are times when I change the words because I just don’t like the emphasis of the song. One of those songs is, “There is a Habitation” where the chorus goes, “O Zion, Zion, I long thy gates to see…”

I like the music, but it sounds like the words are directed to Heaven—the words sound like we are worshipping Heaven. Yes, it’s the place where God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit resides, but it is just a place and it’s not worthy of our worship.  Besides, if God wasn’t there, it’s not a place I want to be. Without Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, heaven would look like any other godless place—a place without light.

On the other hand, I like Paul’s perspective and emphasis. Paul tells us that we have benefits and rewards. But he also says it’s for those who “long for His appearing” (II Timothy 4:8). Jesus should be our longing, desire, and our real reward and goal. This is why whenever we’re singing the chorus to, “There is a Habitation,” I’m usually singing, “Oh, Jesus, Jesus, I long Your face to see; Oh, Jesus, Jesus, when will I dwell in Thee?” I would not be surprised if there are others that are singing the song the same way I am. After all, as God Seekers, isn’t it our ultimate dream to be found in Him?

Compassion

I saw a commercial on TV. A former Drill Sergeant, who became a therapist, was counseling a patient. As the patient was describing his feelings, the Sergeant started on a rant and ended by throwing a box of tissues at the man and said, “Cry Baby!” I laughed at the commercial because I identified with the Sergeant. There have been times as I listen to people talk, I want to yell, “Get on with life! Stop your whining and crying! Get away from me! Leave me alone!”

This is also why I see myself in the crowd in Matthew 20:29-34, when they scolded the blind men and told them to, “Be quiet!” as they were crying out to Jesus. Fortunately, this is not the end of the story. In the midst of all this commotion, Jesus called the blind men and asked them how He could help. Isn’t that amazing? In the midst of all the excitement, confusion, and frenzy that surrounded Him, Jesus heard their cries.

Then after Jesus called them to Himself, Scripture has some words that convict me. The Bible says, “Jesus had compassion on them…” This is not the first time in the Gospel of Matthew that my heart has been pierced. Earlier, Matthew records, “When He [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (9:36).

I don’t see people the same way that Jesus sees people. This is why all too often my initial response is not compassion and I think I understand why. My friend Colt calls it spiritual amnesia.

As I confess my lack of charity, I also identify with the blind men. I remember clearly crying out, “LORD, have mercy on me!” The funny (not funny, ha-ha) thing about this is that it’s not something that happened to me years ago, but it’s something that I do on a daily basis. Even more ironic is that I beg for His mercy numerous times during the course of a day. Every time that I’ve cried out to Jesus, He’s always responded to me with compassion.

Maybe the next time I remember the Sergeant asking his patient, “Tissue?” and before I start laughing at his response, I’ll hear Jesus saying, “Remember the height from which you have fallen!” (Revelation 2:4-5). Hopefully, I will not only fall to my knees and ask Him for forgiveness, but I also hope to remember to thank Him for His continual mercy and join the once blind men along with the crowds in following Him.

Be Ye Perfect

When Jesus said, “Be perfect as your Father in heaven,” I take him literally. I’ve heard and been involved in many discussions of what the word “perfect” means in Scripture, but I always argue that Jesus really means, “perfect” even though I understand that the Greek word, teleios also means, to complete, finish, and in some cases, whole. I insist that Jesus means perfect because most of the time other people’s definition falls short of what Jesus intended.

I am reminded of a man I used to work with. A customer had a complaint about our products, so he had me do some tests. As he looked over the results, he commented, “I don’t know what they are complaining about, this doesn’t look bad.” I was surprised by his comment, so I looked at the data again and I said to my associate, “I can see why the customer is upset. What we gave our customer looks terrible.” My fellow worker said, “Well, I’ve seen worse.” I was beside myself and I started on a rant with, “Worse is not the standard! Anything compared to worse looks good!”

The reason why I like the word perfect is because in the context of Matthew 5, Jesus is saying, “Be like God.” It doesn’t matter if we use the word complete or whole, God is the standard.

Many of us have Romans 8:28 written on our hearts, “And we know that in all things God works for the good for those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Most of us stop here. Most of us memorize only verse 28, but fail to connect verse 29 with it. In verse 29, Paul goes on to say, “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brothers…” This is God’s goal. This is God’s expectation. Anything less than that is short of perfection.

“I could be worse” is a poor substitute for, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). We should find strength and consolation if we fix our eyes on Him.

Paul

If I had to live with the Apostle Paul, I think he’d drive me crazy.  My family’s going through some difficult times right now and I think if Paul was here, he’d say, “I have learned to be content in whatever state I’m in” (Philippians 4:11).

If Paul said that to me, I’d tell him to “Shut up!”  If his words came from anyone else, I’d fire off a series of missiles, “You arrogant, scripture spouting, ignorant, unsympathetic person!   You don’t understand.  That’s easy for you to say.”

But because Paul said it, I wouldn’t be able to say these words to him and it’s not because he’s an apostle.   It’s because I see all the difficulties in his life and all the trials he went through (which far exceeds mine) and he still says, “I’ve learned to be content.”  This doesn’t sit well with me because I know what’s going to come out of his mouth next is, “You can learn this too.”  And that’s something I don’t want to hear.

The interesting thing about this Scripture is that Christians remember another verse about a hundred times more that this one. And the irony is that this often quoted verse sits right beside this one.  Listen to what Paul says:

…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

And the verse we remember:

I can do everything through Him who gives me strength. –Philippians 4:11-13

I don’t like stress.  I want to be comfortable.  And what I hear Paul saying is that you can’t have your cake and eat it too.  In other words, I can’t have everything I want.  However, Paul is giving me a choice.  He’s telling me that I can strive to obtain things to give me comfort and security in this life.  Or I can seek God’s presence in my life and He will be my security.  I think that’s what Paul is saying, when he says,

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:7

Maybe Paul would not be such a pain in the neck after all.

Hawaiian Vacation

When most people think of Hawaii, there are probably a multitude of pictures that come to mind, and if they were asked to describe it in a word, the word “Paradise” would probably head the list.  For me, it was where I was born and grew up, so my ideas of Hawaii are a little different from those who do not call Hawaii "home."  When we came back from our Hawaiian vacation last year, Katie asked if I went surfing while I was there followed by the question “Do you surf like you ice skate?”  Anyone who’s seen me on ice would probably confirm that it is a memorable experience. All I have to say is that ice skating keeps me on top of the situation.

Thankfully, most people asked me general questions like, “Did you have a good time?” and not questions like what did you do there?  I mean, can you imagine the reaction that I’d get if I told people that our family traveled almost 5,000 miles to play Skip-Bo and Scrabble without points?  I am a competitor and what’s the point of playing a game if we are not keeping score?  But this is how Mom played the game and this is what Mom wanted.  My purpose in going to Hawaii was to see Mom and to spend time with her.

While in Hawaii, I got to spend some time with another old friend.  A few days after we arrived, I got up early one morning and made my way into my Uncle’s kitchen.  No one was up yet, so it was very quiet. After turning on the lights, getting a cup of coffee, and sitting down at the kitchen table, I said, “Jesus, I’ve missed You!”  Even though we had been there for only a few days, it seemed like an eternity since I sat down with the LORD. 

I am not bragging about my relationship with Him.   I think that every Christian should have a close, regular, intimate time with the LORD; He should be the center of our lives.   In the same way that we seek Him in our individual lives, we should also seek Him as a community so that when we come together, His spirit flows out of our lives and connect us one to another.

LORD, open our eyes and help us to recognize our community—Your Body.  Help us to be joined together as Your Son asked (John 17:20-23). We ask your blessings in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Self Loathing

Over the years I have been taken to task for my “self loathing” statements.  I can’t help it. That’s the way I feel.  When people try to encourage or counsel me to feel better about myself, it usually has the opposite effect.  That’s because I stand in a different place and I view myself differently than others.  Everyone else sees me from the outside. I see myself from the inside.

On the other hand, as much as I hate myself, I really don’t want to be anyone else.   It’s not because I think I’m better than everyone else.  On the contrary, there are a multitude of people to whom I look up to and try to imitate.  However, the reason why I don’t want to be anyone else is because I know God.  I am convinced that Jesus will protect me from every accusation against me whether they are true or not.  If Jesus does not defend me and if I had to defend myself, I don’t have a prayer.

I think this is what Paul is saying in II Timothy 1:12, when he says “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.”  This is why I am driven to Jesus to seek refuge.  So far I have found the safety, security, and consolation I need. I really feel good about this “place.”  If I didn’t find a sanctuary in Him, I wouldn’t know where else to go.