OLD SCHOOL - PT 1: JONAH

God calls this prophet to deliver a message of judgment to a metropolis, Ninevah. Jonah runs the other way. He pays for a boat trip and takes a nap. In the middle of his trip the lives of everyone on board are jeopardized by a deadly storm. Jonah is oblivious of the peril until the captain wakes him. As they all pray to their gods they draw straws to see who "is responsible." Jonah draws the short stick. They interrogate him intensely to get to the source of the matter. The final question is, "What should we do to you?" They do not like Jonah's idea - to kill him in the sea. They feel they will be held responsible and punished for taking this man's life. As the waves continue to threaten their lives, they resolve to comply, praying to Jonah's God for redemption. As Jonah fades away in the waves, the storm resolves, and the sailors are amazed.

A large fish (probably a whale but maybe a really large mouth bass) swallows Jonah and keeps him in his gut for three days, undigested. Jonah, in a sea sick state of desperation, cries out to God, making restitution. God delivers him onto dry land so that Jonah can deliver his message.

Upon arriving Jonah begins to spread the word of impending judgment in 40 days. The people move to repentance immediately. As the king gets word he too makes contrition and calls the people to fast and pray seeking God's mercy. God delivers just that, mercy.

Jonah is upset and does not like the response. He goes outside of the city to pout. God provides relief from the heat for Jonah through a vine. Jonah is happy about the vine. The next day it dies. Jonah is ticked off so bad he "could die." God responds by questioning Jonah. "Are you seriously mad about the vine?" Then He goes on to say that Jonah is so concerned about this vine (that he had nothing to do with) and there are a 120,000 people in Ninevah that need a right relationship with God; this is what God is concerned about.

Great story and even greater call to us.

What are you running from God for? What has caused you to ignore His command? Matt 7:26-27 reminds us the foolish man is the one who hears God's words and does not put them into practice.

How do you respond to conviction? Both Jonah and the Ninevites responded appropriately, with repentance, commitment, and urgency. Jonah jumped ship and fulfilled what God had asked. The Ninevites fasted and prayed in addition to their repentance. Matt 18:8-9 tells us to deal with our sins thoroughly. It is better to enter eternal life disfigured than go to hell all in one piece.

What is your attitude towards others? How do you react to people who sin differently than you? I hope it is with grace and mercy but I know we tend to judge and be upset. Romans 3:23 tells us we are ALL on the same level, sinners. Matt 7:3-5 reminds us to deal with the issues in our own life, even the smallest "speck" or sin, before we even think about taking care of someone else's grotesque sins.

What are you concerned about? Do earthly things and personal issues consume your thoughts and attitudes? Do you get bent out of shape when things do not go your way? What right do we have to get mad about these things that have no lasting effect on eternity, that we had nothing to do with in the first place? Are you concerned at all about people who do not know Jesus? Matt 6:19-21 gives us a clear picture of where our focus should be, on heavenly things where treasure is not destroyed, instead of earthly things that ALL GET DESTROYED.

As we start this series:
   Stop Running.
   Respond Urgently.
   Extend Grace.
   Pursue Eternity.

CHRISTmas - Part 2

A poor, young teenage girl received a visit from an angel stating that she would be having a baby boy, who would be the Next Big King. She was engaged to be married but had never had sex so this seemed to present a little obstacle. The angel explained the details to Mary's satisfaction. Mary simply responded with this: "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said."

But how could she be so calm, so confident, so content with this life interruption and curve ball?

In 1863, a poor poet wrote words that have resonated with generations ever since. A couple years prior he watched as his wife died in their home due to a freak fire accident. Earlier in that year his son was critically injured in the Civil War. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow began writing a poem he despaired, to say the least. The words were of a lost cause, "Peace on Earth, Good will to Men." But while the Christmas bells rang louder that day something changed. He came to terms with the words he was writing.

But how could he find strength in the midst of such devastation, a nation at war, a dead spouse, and a critically wounded son?

Peace!

An unplanned, seemingly shameful, pregnancy is not really the formula for peace. A war torn land, death, and tragedy do not project an outlook of hope. Somehow, in the midst of these life altering circumstances, there was peace. This peace was not something the world understood. This peace does not make sense. This peace is the joy of Trusting Jesus.

Where do you need peace?
What has life dealt you that has thrown you down, kicked you repetitively, and left you hopeless?
More Jesus will mean, more peace. May you find that this holiday season and no matter what comes your way.

Say these words of Mary: "God, I am yours. I will be OK with whatever happens."

Make this Christmas CHRISTmas!

CHRISTmas - Part 1

Is your life one of CHRISTmas or CHRISTless?

In Spanish, the word mas means more. So is your life one of more Jesus or less Jesus?

In Luke 1:4-25, we read about the angel's visit to Zechariah during his burning of incense as he was fulfilling his priestly duty during temple worship. We also read that Zechariah and Elizabeth lived lives pleasing to God. They "walked in the commandments," meaning they lived a lifestyle that matched God's will for their lives. There was no doubt about where they stood before God and all who looked at them knew as well.

Gabriel, the angel, tells Zechariah that he and Elizabeth will have a baby and he will have a significant future. His name will be John. He will "turn the hearts of fathers to children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous."

The meaning is this: John will prepare people to experience Jesus. He will restore broken relationships between people. He will also bring people into a relationship with God.

Let me pose three questions for you to consider this Christmas season in light of where we might find and experience more Jesus.

1. Do you need to accept the grace God is offering to you? The people John preached to needed to move from walking in darkness to walking in the light, from disobedience to the wisdom of righteous, damnation to salvation, restoring their relationship with God. We need God's grace to begin living redeemed and experiencing the life God has planned just like the people to whom John preached.
2. Do you need to restore any broken relationships? The people John was ministering to lived in sin. And sin breaks relationships between people. Sin causes dissension, division, and destruction in earthly relationships. We need more Jesus to live in peace and harmony with the people we interact.
3. Do you need to correct any portion of your lifestyle so that there is no doubt about your walk with God? John's parents lived a life that modeled the behavior, attitude, and discipline to which God calls us. John had a wonderful example to follow and I wonder what example we are setting for our children, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. We need more Jesus to be effective in that endeavor.

Make this Christmas CHRISTmas!

Entitlement steals Gratitude

A landowner hired some guys to work in his vineyard and agreed to pay them a day's wage, a set amount. They began working. Three hours later the owner hired more. Another three hours passed and he hired even more. Two more times, in three hour increments, he hired more workers still. Finally, an hour before quitting time he hired a few more workers.

At sundown, he brought in the hired men to pay them. Starting with the ones hired last he paid them the same amount he agreed to pay the first guys hired. Those who worked all day thought they would receive even more based on their work versus those hired last. But the land owner paid them the agreed amount. This enraged those hired first. The boss simply replied saying he was being fair because that was the contracted deal. And furthermore he could handle his money however he wanted.

The entitlement these hired workers felt robbed them of their gratitude. Think about their current state at the beginning of the day. They were without work, waiting at the 'Labor Ready' station, when they were hired. They were grateful as one can only imagine. They would be paid. Life was good. Then, something changed when comparison and contrast began and the "What about me" monster showed up.

There is an Old Testament law that told the followers of God not to be greedy with their harvesting. In fact, they should intentionally leave some of their crop in the field for the needy. An explanation is given for the New Testament folks when Paul talks about which Christians are doing more work. He spells it out this way: It does not matter who plants or waters because neither one are the miracle workers of making things grow, only God is.

Then finally we see how this becomes reality in another letter from Paul. "...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Fulfilling the will of God makes the most sense in living a whole life. So I should give thanks and be grateful. This will keep me in the proper perspective and free from the sin of entitlement. Whenever that creeps in I simply need to practice gratitude, not FOR all things but IN all things.

What have you felt entitled to lately? raise, new job, new car, insurance, a house, a bigger house, family, bonus, all-star students, etc.

How has that robbed you of joy and stolen your gratefulness?

Ask God to bring you healing. Seek forgiveness for the sin of entitlement.

TMNT Life in the Sewer - Pt 4

To finish the series we looked at Michelangelo. The orange one is also the most fun of the bunch. He does not take life too seriously and always loves a good joke. He has a tendency to not think through the consequences of his actions which cause him to miss something important.

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was an incredible artist both as sculptor AND painter. He is considered to be one of the best EVER. His marble statues, like the Pieta and David, are unmatched in their perfection. He took a single stone and chiseled "until he set the statue free." He was very modest about his painting and felt inadequate to be selected for such a task as decorating the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (133'x46'). But he knocked it out in a short four years. Then later in his life he tackled the altar wall (40'x44'). These masterpieces have changed the course of art history and set the bar for other artists to follow.

In Matt 25:31-46 Jesus tells about the last (or final) judgment, which happens to be the name of Michelangelo's painting of the Altar wall. Jesus says very clearly that a distinction and separation will be made followed by either an eternal reward or punishment. The painting eloquently portrays this in a simple way. Jesus, with his mother, is in the middle, and angels are pulling people up into heaven on his right and taking/pushing people to hell on his left.

This is a scary question to ask sometimes - Which side would I be on? We often freak ourselves out and it causes us to "get saved" over and over again. While it is very serious the only requirement, according to scripture, is to believe, to have faith (John 3:16, Eph 2:8). God's grace is a gift we cannot earn. So if we have accepted, believed, and confessed, then WE ARE SAVED, and we should not worry. We understand that it is not about what we DO that gets us into heaven.

But Scripture also makes it clear that there must be more than simple belief. Once we believe there must be action. James 2:17 teaches that faith WITHOUT works is dead. Matt 7:24-27 quotes Jesus teaching that whoever hears his word and DOES NOT PUT IT INTO PRACTICE will be destroyed. And Prov 14:31 reveals that oppressing those in need shows contempt for their maker. So while our salvation does not depend upon our works, it appears that our works depend upon our salvation. And having NO works speaks of one's faith or lack thereof.

Jesus reveals the qualifier in his goats vs sheep message. He says, in response to the people asking why they are on that particular side, the things you did for one of the least of these you were actually doing them to him.

So are you on the Right of the Left? Are you missing something in this equation?

Who is ONE of the least of these in your life? What can you do for them - something that will give life?

Maybe today you just need to be reminded of the truth Michelangelo taught in speaking of his sculpting. "Every stone has a statue in it...just waiting to be set free."

What inside does God want to set free?

As life takes you in the sewer...stay on the RIGHT,  give LIFE to others, and let God set you FREE!

TMNT Life in the Sewer - Pt 3

Raphael is the baddest turtle with the roughest attitude. He is the most violent and aggressive. He is sarcastic and cynical and pulls no punches. This turtle is 100% genuine though - what you see is exactly what you get.

Raffaello Sanzio, better known as Raphael, was painter and architect. He is one of the highest regarded painters of his time and stands next to Leonardo and Michelangelo. He is the youngest of our Renaissance counterparts but his work is just as significant.

His mom died when he was 8. He was orphaned at 11 after his father passed away but he had already learned much skill from his father who was an artist himself and had a flourishing workshop, which Raphael took over in some regard. As he grew older his talent only increased.

His most famous works were the slew of Madonnas. A Madonna is a depiction of Mary, the mother of Jesus. He painted around 30 in his short lifetime of only 37 years. These paintings are obviously religious and were extremely spiritual for people in the 16th century. The interesting thing about this is that there is a legend that Raphael was an atheist which brings some irony to these pictures. When asked about his reasoning he stated that he painted what the people wanted not what he personally believed.

Whether or not this is true is not the focus and I do not claim it as fact. I am simply highlighting the dynamic that even if Raphael was a follower of Jesus it is not the most prominent detail of his life. And a mention of religion says he did not have any.

Our two Raphaels seem to differ in the characteristic of TRUTH.

James 2 talks about showing favoritism and warns against it. James writes that it is no different than murder or adultery. What happens is that in showing favoritism a person judges and determines who is worthy of value. Favoritism is self-full in nature as it only serves to benefit the one showing it. So in showing favoritism one is making a strong statement of life away from Christ and now there is a case for hypocrisy if one proclaims to follow Jesus.

So what is TRUTH in your life?
What do you need to own up to? Life in Jesus does not mean we are perfect but it means we acknowledge and confess when we fail! This brings freedom.

Who have you decided is NOT deserving of worth?
Who do you need to show MORE favor toward?

This is the life that Jesus came to give us as stated in John 10:10 that we have looked at every week.

What is God asking you to do? Will you do it? Model this life for your teens and kids. Their eternity is counting on it.

As life takes you in the sewer...ask God to help you live in TRUTH!

God Speaks in the Unique

A bush that burns but does not burn up, a talking donkey, the voice of God heard through such oddities. When the unique bursts forth through the ordinary, we take notice, we tune in, we perk up. And in these moments God often speaks as our hearts are open to new possibilities.

Where/How is God trying to speak to you right now?

Are you listening? How will you respond?