The Power of “But”!

If your momma was anything like mine, when she gave a directive it was to be followed quickly and without argument.  My mom was a strict, but loving disciplinarian…we could use more of that in our society, but I digress. I remember when I was little telling mom, “but” anytime she gave me direction. She would respond by saying, “no buts, do it”.

Our lives are filled with “but” situations. Normally that word predicates an excuse. Perhaps an excuse to our spouse, our boss, or even ourselves. We say “but” to everything and everyone. Including God. There are certainly times in my life I felt God say, “no buts, just do it”. There are other moments, I felt Him say, “fine have it your way”. See my “but” was so frequent and my argument so firm, He eventually let me have what I wanted…normally to my detriment I might add.

As negative as “but” can be in the English language, it can also be a remarkable positive and a firm foundation for our faith. Every believer struggles with our role and God’s sovereignty. Where does one end and one begin. Perhaps you could say God’s sovereignty and our free-will. See now I’ve gone all theological on you. Trials in this life frequently bring us to a “but” moment. “But God”. “But why?” “But you said…” On and on it goes.

Nearing a decade ago, God’s sovereignty hit close to home. Our faith tradition is one that believes in the infinite power of our God and that He still performs miracles. When He chooses to and does not is according to His sovereign plan. Well, until it’s personal and He does not do what we want. When my mom passed away from cancer 10 years ago, we all prayed and we said a lot of “buts” to God. “But she has been faithful.” “But she has faith to be healed.” Still she passed and the Lord reminded us in a powerful word (see 1 Cor 12 and 14) that mom belonged to Him not us and He would do as He felt best.

In moments like these we fall headlong into our belief in God and His sovereignty. We must determine, will my faith be shaken by this or will I trust the Lord even with my “buts”. There is a remarkably powerful verse in the book of Daniel. One of my favorites. The three Hebrew children faced a fiery furnace.

Daniel 3:16-18 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” NLT (emphasis mine) In the KJV it says, “but if not”.

The Hebrew children fully believed in God’s power to save them. They also believed that it was God’s sovereignty that would determine their outcome. They willingly submitted to His will and fully expected to be delivered. If they were not, their faith would still not be shaken. In our life of faith, especially in the current western-brand of faith, we seem to lose sight of God’s sovereignty. We are reminded day in and day out of what we deserve or what is owed to us. Often this sentiment pulls through to our walk with God.

Can He heal? Absolutely and I will continue to believe He will. Can He rescue you from a tough situation? Certainly, believe that He will. Go a step further and say, “He can, but even if He does not, I will still serve Him”! The enemy wants to shake your faith in God’s sovereignty and move you to a place of “if He does not, then I will not serve Him”. If my mom has any knowledge of what goes on in this earthly realm, she is rejoicing that our faith was not shaken by her death. In fact, it gained strength. After all, she taught my brother and I this faith from our first breaths on earth. Our family rests in the sovereign will and grace of our God. That is tough! But let’s be honest, I don’t really want to be in control anyway. Remember, there is power in your “buts”. Use them wisely.   

Nothing to See Here

I walked onto the campus of Central Bible College in the fall of 1996. Contrary to what my daughter says, I am not old. I visited a year before and felt confirmation after confirmation this was the route God wanted me to take. Little did I realize on that first move-in day my life would be utterly transformed. I received an excellent education and training for ministry. I made lifelong friends. I married the love of my life and I found many mentors that profoundly challenged me; they do to this day.

I mean no disrespect by this comment. As I walked on the campus and interacted with President Lednicky the first time, I remember thinking, “he is an intimidating little man”.  I have always held aspirations to be an intimidating little man too…still working on that one. He is about the same size as I am…we could probably share clothing. I saw in Dr. Lednicky so much of what I wanted to be. He was confident in the pulpit, exemplified a deep and abiding love for his beautiful wife, faced overwhelming personal loss with grace and faith, and demanded the highest standard of morality and spirituality from his students.

A few years ago I saw him at a conference. He gave me a copy of one of his books, “OBSERVATIONS from down the road.” In it he hits on a topic many believers miss…motivation. In chapter three Dr. Lednicky points to the Sermon on the Mount and the temptation of Christ. In both cases, motivation is the central focus, not the action. “Then, I went back to His temptation in the wilderness and realized that Satan did not even question the Lord’s ability or power to respond to such challenges. That did not even enter into the discussion. The attack was all about motivation.” (Observations from Down the Road, Lednicky, H Maurice (Life Publishing, Springfield, MO) 2015, pg 27.))

I believe as we mature in Christ we move from recognizing actions as sin to recognizing motivation to prevent sin. Let me illustrate this with another of Christ’s teachings. The Law stated that we should not murder. Jesus states that we should not look at another person with murder in our hearts. The Law says, don’t commit adultery. Jesus says, don’t even look at a woman with lust in your heart. Jesus is elevating the conversation and focusing on motivation.

Sin begins in our minds…it begins with a contemplation of our willingness to act. Or you might say it this way, if we do not begin to think about an act, the act is not likely to be acted upon. Motivation! As we mature in our faith, the Holy Spirit hones in on our motivation. That is not an easy process, but it is necessary. The why of any situation is tough to think through. It is difficult to grapple with the dark and sinful areas of our minds and hearts. We like to keep that closet closed. We may have locked it so deep no one but us knows it even exists. Or we may put a sign up that says “nothing to see here”.

These are the areas of our life God wants to deal with. As painful as it is and as exposed as we may feel, God must have access to even the deepest recesses of our lives. To become truly like Him…which of course is the goal, we must allow Him to transform us by the renewing of our minds. “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Rom 12:2 NLT (emphasis mine)

For the believer, even the way we think must come into submission to the Holy Spirit. We must become like Him. This scripture tells us that there is a great benefit to us, we “will learn to know God’s will.” The closer you draw to Christ and into His Word the deeper He can go in changing us. No, it is not easy. Yes, it is necessary. So, thank you Dr. Lednicky and Marcia for showing this young student the truth and modeling a Godly life in front of us. Thanks for still pouring into my life, now 25 years later. Maybe one day we can exchange suit jackets. 

I Just Want to Be Like Jesus

The Conflict of Warfare and Peace

My mom screamed, “stop…don’t hit him”, as I chased my older brother around the house with a board. No one could push my buttons quicker than my brother…come to think of it that is probably still true. I don’t remember the situation that led to my loss of temper, but I do remember that moment. I held a shelf from a bookcase in my hand as I yelled at him and threatened to beat him with it. My mom, ever vigilant, reminded me in hysterical tones that I would go to jail if I hurt him.

              Let’s back up for a second. I am not an angry person. In fact, it takes a lot to make me lose my temper. But when I do, look out. My grandfather used to say, “dynamite comes in small packages”. Now he being a good Spirit-filled pastor was probably referring to spiritual things. I would contend anger may also be true…but I digress. In the heat of the moment, I wanted nothing more to shut my older brother’s mouth. However, if I had hit him with the board, that may have been more permanent than I intended.

              In perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached, Jesus said many words that conflict with the current tenor of American church conversation. I will underline a few key points.

Matthew 5:3-12 NLT

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

4 God blesses those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 God blesses those who are humble,

    for they will inherit the whole earth.

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,

    for they will be satisfied.

7 God blesses those who are merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure,

    for they will see God.

9 God blesses those who work for peace,

    for they will be called the children of God.

10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,

    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

              I fear that in our politically charged culture, the Church is failing to realize that we will be persecuted and yet recognize that Jesus, and we, are still victorious. Many in the Church world today seem to pray against what Revelation says will happen. We fight with everything to reverse the political course that will ultimately lead to the rise of antichrist. And in the midst of it, I believe, we greatly weaken our credibility and witness in a lost world that desperately needs the hope of Christ.

              I have often said that if my politics tarnishes my witness, I have a spiritual problem. I believe some of this is rooted in what I consider bad theology, Kingdom Now and even aspects of the Latter Rain movements. Yet, do we have authority in Jesus? Absolutely! Are we to fight spiritual battles? Yes! Will we win in the end? Also, yes. Along the way, we must not lose sight of Jesus and Him crucified. We must also keep our eyes on the real enemy. My enemy is not the person that hates me and persecutes me, my enemy is Satan and the spirit of antichrist that is rising in our world.

              Case in point, a minister in my city…which will remain nameless, stood in the pulpit and cursed his political enemies…or I should be fair and say those he perceived to be enemies of the USA. This video went viral. Immediately the Spirit spoke to me, “but those he is cursing I created and they need Jesus”. I weep that there seems to be such a conflict between spiritual warfare and being a peacemaker. I know, I know, many will say this is the time for the Church to rise up. I agree, but rather than cursing those that are underhanded and perhaps evil to the core, should we not fall on our knees? We cry out, “Jesus this is your battle to fight and to win. All I can do is trust in you.” Further, should we not recognize that the Bible clearly describes the End Times for us? At some level, if we fight against that, are we not fighting against the ultimate will of God?

              You see the conflict yet? Yes, there is a time to bind principalities and powers…not political enemies. There is a time to curse the demonic presence that seeks to control our cities…not people that desperately need Jesus. Some may accuse me of being spiritually weak. That’s OK. I just want to be in line with Jesus…” God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” I strongly believe we have power to move mountains, to break strongholds, and to resist the enemy in the name of Jesus. What we bind will be bound and what we lose will be loosed. Yet, I think of the times the Bible says that Michael the arch-angel would not curse the devil, but said, “the Lord rebuke you Satan”.

              James 3:10 reminds us, “And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!” I want to be a person that blesses others. Don’t let that make you think I’m not willing to fast, pray and worship as we fight the real enemy of our souls. What that does mean is I want to show myself a peacemaker to my fellow man, so that somehow I might lead them to Jesus.

              It is fortunate for my brother and I that I did not hit him with that board…even though I am positive he deserved it. Mom stepped in and probably kept me from walking down a path of cursing. Pastors and fellow believers, maybe we should listen to the Holy Spirit and the words of Jesus. Let us curse Satan and his demonic horde and bless our fellow man…even those that persecute us. I just want to be like Jesus!

A Charcuterie Christmas and Other Things My Mom Taught Me

Those who know me well, know how much I love Christmas. I have since I was as small child. My mom made Christmas special, though we did not have a lot in my early years. She created wonderful traditions for my brother and I. Dad decorated the tree and strung the lights. Mom would always put our old Nativity scene in a place of prominence. It was covered with Spanish moss and probably was not expensive. But I loved it.

              Mom baked cookies, made fudge, cornflake candy, and my brother and I’s favorite, Pumpkin Bars. Dad would hang a huge seasons greeting sign out front and would let Chris and I climb the railing to hang the big bulbs…you know like they use on the tree in “A Christmas Story”. Each Christmas Eve, Mom would make a tray of summer sausage…which we only ate in the winter, crackers and cheese and cookies. She always made a homemade punch. Basically, my Mom used a Charcuterie Board before it was cool. This annual celebration was shared with just the four of us.

              At that time my Mom’s parents were still living, so we traveled the hour to their house Christmas morning. I always connect Christmas to night time. Dad would read the Christmas story from Luke and they would let us open our presents that evening. We never believed in Santa. Our parents always wanted us to understand Christmas with the birth of Christ, not a fat guy in a red suit.

              This year marks the ninth Christmas since Mom received her eternal reward. Christmas in our home starts early. There is a nostalgia that I think most of us hold with Christmas. It always reminds me of my childhood. I am always amazed and thankful that each year I realize anew the impact of Immanuel…God with us. It is like a resetting of attitudes, cares, and trials in this life. We understand again what is truly important. First and foremost, our relationship with Jesus. Second, connection to family and friends. Third, remembering that as tough as our life might be, there are others that are far worse. We pray for them and count our blessings.

              Christmas is a time to reflect. To fall in love with Jesus all over again. Most years I study the book of Luke, what the Christmas star might have been, the arguments for the actual date of Christ birth, as well as who the Magi were. All of these things bring me continually back to the Light of the World. Isaiah the prophet said, “those who walk in darkness will see a great light”. Jesus is that light.

              Seeing stars in the heaven remind me of Christ’s birth. Lights on a tree remind me of Christ’s birth. Lighting the Christmas candle that was my mother’s reminds me of Christ’s birth. Snow, cookies, presents, family, songs, it all reminds me of Jesus. Why, because each year I fall in love with my Savior more than the year before. Maybe it’s a function of age. Or maybe it is a function of spiritual maturity. Whatever it is I am reminded again in the midst of COVID 2020, that Jesus is still the light of the world.

              In one of the most profound actions in world history, God Himself came down. He did so to accomplish the most profound action in history, to die for me. To die for you. See I was raised in a Christian home. My parents taught us the Bible from a very young age. But at some point it had to stop being the faith of Mom and Dad and start being mine. So, here I am 43 years of age. One of my own kids is grown and three are close behind. Jenna and I stand as blessed because each of our four kids has made this faith their own too.

              If the Lord’s return is still far in the future, I too will pass from this life. My kids will pass to the next generation our love of Christmas. Perhaps also the tradition of listening to Christmas music Nov 1st, putting up four full size tress in our home, as well as making my Mom’s best Christmas treats. Maybe just maybe one of my kids will still have the Christmas tea light holder that was my Mom’s. As they light that candle, may Jesus the Light of the World shine on them. May the faith of generations burn just as bright as it does in me.

              Maybe you are not from a Christian home. I implore you, build Christmas traditions with your kids and grandkids. I promise you, no matter how far they roam on earth or from the Lord, they will always remember at Christmas. May you be truly blessed with health, joy, and Jesus this season!

In Defense of the One True God

I am increasingly concerned that pop culture is now determining the theology of the Church. Sex outside of marriage is not only accepted but expected. There is little difference between the follower of Christ and those who do not follow Him. Speech, dress, goals and so much more have meshed into a glob of unidentifiable morals and standards. In fact, we have now moved to the view that a person that holds standards of morality and behavior are automatically being judgmental, simply by living out their faith.

              While all of these are certainly true and cause for concern, my greatest concern lies in the idea that every religion of the world serves the same God. Let me put it another way with perhaps more common phraseology. All roads lead to heaven. Those who truly believe in Jesus Christ cannot believe this lie. Nothing can be further from the truth. So, if this is the case, how do we defend the One True God? How do we explain our faith to a person that practices a religion other than Christianity? Simply put, we go back to the basics.

              Jesus is not just a figment of someone’s imagination, but a historical figure. The apostles knew the Jewish tradition of witnesses, as did Jesus. Therefore, Christ appeared to 500 plus individuals following His resurrection…we will come back to this in a moment. The Bible is proven to be a historically accurate book. Lands and cities that are recorded did in fact exist and at the place they were said to be. 

              What exists beyond scriptural proof? I readily admit this is difficult for someone who does not view scripture as the absolute Word of God. Multiple secular historians and religious historians of antiquity record that Christ was indeed a real person. Josephus, a Jewish man by birth that rose to be the chief Roman Historian of his time records the life of Christ in Antiquity 18.3.1ff. Eusebius, the first Church Historian, reports the spread of Christianity through the ancient Roman world.

              Further, most major religions of the world acknowledge Christ to be a “good man” or even a prophet. This too is proof of His existence in our world. It is also proof of His Godly reputation. Yet this view denies the truth Jesus said of Himself.

The following was borrowed from https://biblereasons.com/jesus-is-god/

1. John 10:30 The Father and I are one.

2. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

3. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

4. John 10:33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”

5. John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

6. John 8:57-58 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”

7. John 8:22-24 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

8. John 13:18-19 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am.

9. Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

10. Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

11. Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

We see that there are many times Jesus claims deity or equality with God. This then begs the question; can Jesus be a “good man” or a “prophet” as some religions suggest if He calls Himself God? In the famous statement of apologist C. S. Lewis, “He is either liar, lunatic, or Lord.” He simply cannot be a good man or a prophet if He is lying. He would be a deceiver. So the only possible explanation is that He is indeed Lord.

              Now, let’s take a moment to look at the differences in the nature of the Christian God as opposed to other world religions. As I often do, I will bullet point these for clarity.

  1. Every other religion of the world is works based. Christianity is based on grace, mercy, and the sacrificial death of Christ. We do not have to pray a certain number of prayers or follow a certain number of pillars. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves from our sins. Thus, we need Jesus…God…to save us. His sacrificial death accomplished this.
  2. Our God is gracious and merciful. He is not a mean vindictive God waiting to strike us if we step out of line. He is holy. Yes! He is just. Yes! He is also perfect love. He is a God that does not simply desire being served, but desires a personal relationship with us. As I sit at my desk writing this blog, I think of the wonderful and loving relationship I have with Christ and the peace that comes from it.
  3. Christianity is the only faith that assures salvation. I know I am saved by the sacrifice of Christ. There is not now, nor has there really ever been a question in my mind. Quoting the words from the Song of Solomon, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.” (6:3a). I belong to Him and He belongs to me. In many world religions, the concept of a relationship with God is outside of their purview.  This is the beauty of faith n Christ. Rather than fear, rules, and mandatory prayers, we receive a relationship with the King of the Universe.
  4. My God answers my prayers. I often hear the frustration in the voices of those who follow another religion. It is rooted in years of unanswered prayers and the fear of stepping out of line. I hear God through the Bible. I hear God in worship. I hear God in prayer. He answers my cries to Him. He provides for my needs. He fills my life with peace in the midst of turmoil. He showers me with blessing and He walks with me when I am broken. There is an ever abiding presence that walks with every Christ follower.

I realize that apologetics in a blog is a daunting task. Yet, I feel that this is what God would have my write to you today. I pray that if you are serving a God other than Christ, your eyes will be opened to the peace and love that is available, to the assurance of salvation and the realization that Christ did this all for you at the cross and the empty tomb. I welcome your questions as you are searching for faith…even if you do not follow mine. 

The Theology of Suffering

Suffering is a part of this life. It is not easy. It is not fun, but it is a normal experience. The wicked suffer. The righteous suffer. The young suffer and the old suffer. Suffering is hard to understand in light of a good and gracious God. In fact, it can be an incredible challenge to our faith. More than one person’s walk away from God was predicated on suffering.

              Let’s be real here. No one fully understands why God will allow one thing and not another. Why does a baby have cancer and Hitler have the ability to take his own life?  Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people? These are age old questions. I think much of this comes down to the Church’s lack of theology on suffering.

              Some close friends of mine commented on this very fact after I preached a sermon on lament. By the way, God dedicated an entire book to suffering-check out Lamentations. They have walked through a season of suffering. While we find great solace in the Psalms, my favorite are the Psalms of Ascent (120- 134). We also find hope in the words of Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25-27). As wonderful as this is, and we are certainly thankful for the Word of God, how great would it be if His Church had a deep theology of suffering.

              I believe this is an unintended consequence of the prosperity gospel. I do not like that term as there is only one Gospel. You get where I am going. Many famous preachers solely preach on the topic of blessing and victory. While, I certainly believe God blesses me and gives me victory, I also understand that God in His infinite wisdom allows suffering. In my own life, I have grown to trust God much more in seasons of suffering than I have in seasons of victory. Don’t get me wrong, I do not enjoy pain, but God shows Himself faithful. My heart cries, “All my life you have been faithful. All my life you have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.” (Goodness of God – Bethel Music)

              The Psalms are full of the theology of suffering. Job lived this theology. Jesus said, “if they hate Me they will hate you” (John 15:18). I wonder if our faith is strong enough to allow for a theology of suffering. I will be the first to admit other denominations or faith traditions seem to have this down more than we Sprit-filled believers. I think of the Anglican Way. I have so much respect for their traditions.

              The bottom line is this; we the Church have not taught enough on the theology of suffering if any believer loses their faith in light of suffering. Jesus suffered and brought about our victory. Often, we also suffer and we see our victory come. I think of Isaiah, my favorite Prophet, as he writes in chapter 53 concerning Christ, the suffering servant:

53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. KJV

              Now one might say, this is all well and good, but why does God allow us to suffer? That is the age old question. One which I believe I can bring at least a little understanding to. I will do so by bullet points to help you if you are taking notes…not that I am trying to add more suffering to your life.

  1. We do not understand God’s purposes. We are only consumed with the “now”.
  2. Satan has a level of dominion of this world. Thank God, we have authority through Christ.
  3. Sin entered the world and death by sin (Rom 5:12). As such, suffering also entered the world.
  4. Suffering requires us to be FULLY dependent on God.
  5. We are reminded of our own frailty and God’s ultimate victory.

In each of these, we see that God is sovereign. I cannot understand what He is doing. My mind is too weak. Plus, I can barely see what I am doing in an hour much less what God is doing twenty years from now.  Let me put this another way. Often the suffering we walk through today is God’s gracious provision for the future. We do not see all, know all, or perceive all but God does.

You will walk through seasons of suffering. That does not deny that you are blessed and victorious through Christ Jesus. It simply means you live in a fallen world and are in infinite need of Christ. I encourage my fellow pastors, teach a theology of suffering. The next time you walk through a season of suffering, live in the Psalms.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV A Psalm of Ascent

God is Bigger Than Your Elephant

For the past two weeks, each morning when I rise and each evening when I lie down, the words to this old hymn sing in my head. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning, new every morning. Great is Thy faithfulness of Lord, great is Thy faithfulness.” These beautiful words were penned by a somewhat obscure person, Edith McNeil.

              Many might think because I am a pastor that I have the entirety of scripture memorized with chapter and verse at my minds beck and call. Nothing could be further from the truth. I have a terrible memory for numbers…unless they are dates of history. I’m reminded often that this is a pointless gift. While I appreciate the sentiment, as a history guy, I disagree…but I digress.

              A friend of mine wrote a devotional book titled, “96 Days of Unbroken Time with God” (David Andrew Thomas, 2019). Day 81 discusses the beauty of lament.  Here he pulls from the book of Jeremiah’s lament that we call Lamentations. Verses 3:22-23 read in the ESV, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” As ashamed as I am to admit it, I had no idea this was directly quoted from scripture. It does not surprise me as the verses of many hymns are, yet it struck me that for the past 14 days I have been singing a song of lament.

              I suppose that you could argue that it is an affirmation of God’s faithfulness…obviously you would be correct. You could also argue that this affirmation is not lamenting anything…I see your point. Forgive me for disagreeing with you. See, the basis of lament is this. I cry out to God because of a painful situation I am in. I do not see my way out. I cry to Him, pleading for help. In the midst of my cries for help, I am reminded of the goodness of God…I’ll save this song for a later blog. I hear my voice rise above my doubt and begin to sing, “the steadfast love”…I falter as I am in the midst of despair. “Of the Lord never ceases.” I continue, “His mercies never come to an end”. My confidence builds as I remember all of the mercies my God has bestowed upon me. “They are new every morning”… yes God. “New every morning.” As I come to the crescendo, I raise my voice in confidence “Great it Thy faithfulness oh Lord, great is Thy faithfulness.”

              In this moment I am reminded that in spite of my circumstance, in spite of my lament, I see a God that knows the east from the west and has separated my sin as such. In my lament, though I do not understand the “why God” question, I recognize His sovereignty over my life. I recognize that it is okay to grab a box of tissues or a roll of toilet paper and cry over my circumstance. I not only recognize that I can, but I recognize its value to me.

              It is easy to skate through life avoiding tense or painful situations…at least we attempt to. We have become really good at ignoring the elephant in the room. As it sits on our head, “elephant? What elephant?”. We want the world and even more so, the church, to think we are good. There is no problem here. Can I challenge you to acknowledge that lament is good for your soul? It is good for your relationships. It is good for your emotional health. Lament is natural and needed. In those moments, we are reminded of the great unfathomable faithfulness of our God.

              Whether it is an elephant in the room or a fellow believer watching, learn to accept the gift of lament. Pull your Bible off the shelf. Dust if off if need be…again, I will blog on that later. Open to Lamentations and lament with God. Lament your situation, your frustration, and your confusion, your anger…you name it. God is bigger than your elephant. Cry out to him from a humble heart and let Him show you His faithfulness yet again. As a tip, tell your elephant to hit the road. I’m sure there are peanuts in the next room.

Special thanks to my friend, Missionary, Scholar, Teacher, Pastor Dave Thomas. His devotion fell on the day I needed it. I appreciate your spiritual wisdom and friendship. May His “steadfast love” sustain you!

A New Age of Yellow Journalism

On February 15, 1898 the U.S.S. Maine sank in Havana Harbor, Havana, Cuba. At the time of its sinking, the US government was at odds with the nation of Spain. In order to increase sales of newspapers and to exploit the headlines of a war, William Randolph Hurst and Joseph Pulitzer coined what is now called yellow journalism. In short, that is the manipulation of facts to bring about a specific end.

              To this day no one knows what caused the Maine to sink. Many believe it was a boiler explosion on the Maine. Others hold that the Spanish sunk the ship in order to threaten American influence in Cuba. Either way, war was most beneficial for newspapers around the US. Headlines screamed, “Remember the Maine” or another colorful rendition, “Remember the Maine, to Hell with Spain”. Articles around the US printed outright lies or at best exaggerated details.

              This exaggeration reached a new level in recent years. Bringing back yellow journalism. A cursory view of main stream media such as CNN, MSNBC, FOX, or the New York Times will show any person paying attention, that there is an agenda that must be pushed. In the past few days, President Trump in the midst of a heated reelection campaign, can be seen on CNN with large crowds, none of which are wearing masks…for those in the future, this is the age of COVID. Turn to FOX, the same rally is shown with many wearing masks. Which is truth? Each seeks to push their view. CNN wants nothing more than to disparage Trump at every turn. While FOX does its best to support him.

              Where does that leave the American people? As usual somewhere in the middle. Most likely the crowd at this rally had both mask and non-mask wearing individuals. Some might say, “what is the big deal”? Simply this, if the American people cannot trust the media, how do we know what is really happening? How do we know that we are not consistently being played? I hate to break this to you. I’m sure you will be stunned. The American people have not been able to trust the media since the Spanish-American War.

              See we all approach every issue with a preconceived bias. We try to have an open mind, but we are a product of our culture, our age, our state, our nation, our gender, our…you name it and it plays a part of forming our approach to the world. So, what do we do in a new age of yellow journalism? As a Christian, I pray. I pray a lot. I ask God to give me wisdom. I ask the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth. In the end I trust Christ to be in control of my life. I also remind myself, that in most areas of life, somewhere in the middle is probably where truth lies.

It is interesting to look back upon the Spanish-American war’s effect on our nation and our world. Following the war, the US took temporary possession of Cuba and the Philippines. We still hold Guam and Puerto Rico as protectorates. This war also gave rise to one of the larger than life figures in American history, President Theodore Roosevelt. It was here that Teddy and his Rough Riders rode up San Juan hill…another point of yellow journalism, they printed the wrong hill…but that is for another day and another blog.

Yellow journalism is a permanent part of our culture…for better or for worse…many would say for worse. So, the next time you turn on your TV, radio, news app or listen to your favorite vlog, remember yellow journalism is most likely lurking in the shadows. I can guarantee it is never going away.

That’s It, I’m Offended

We live in at a time where everyone is offended by everything. It really makes life difficult for all of us. We walk on eggshells as we try to navigate the minefield before us. Did we offend? What will offend? Is my hair offensive? What about my faith? Am I allowed to have a political opinion? If I am, do I dare share it? Second to this, and often from those that complain about the ease of offense, we find ourselves offended.

              Offense is a stumbling block to every human. It is a natural reaction to tough situations. Yet, as believers, we are called to live above offense. Perhaps no one has explained this better than John Bevere. Pastor Bevere writes about this in his superb book, “The Bait of Satan.” Offense is closely related to unforgivness. Therefore, it is a trap that our enemy sets for us. We fall into the trap of anger over a comment and we justify our anger through our offense. We claim we have a right to be offended.

              Bevere states, “Trials in this life will expose what is in your heart—whether the offense is toward God or others. Tests either make you bitter toward God and your peers or stronger. If you pass the test, your roots will shoot down deeper, stabilizing you and your future. If you fail, you become offended, which can lead to defilement with bitterness.”

              Psalm 25:15 states, “My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.” In this verse, God through King David, teaches us how to avoid the trap of offense. Like so many other things in this life, we simply have to keep our eyes on Jesus. That of course is easier said than done. Especially since we live at a time where reaction rather than thought is king.

              Offense is a choice that we make. I would submit that most of the time it is a conscience choice that we make. We decide that those words, rather than these words offend us. In that moment, we take on an air of unforgivness and…dare I say it…pride. Pride causes us to esteem ourselves and our circumstances higher than any other person. Before you throw out the “that’s ridiculous” statement, think with me here. If I have no pride…the need to be right about a specific topic, is it possible to offend me? No, it is not. Therefore offense, pride, and unforgivness are like an unholy trinity of ungodly emotions.

              My wife and I have been blessed with four wonderful kids. Two came to us by birth and my wife’s labor. Two came to us by labor of piles of paperwork. Both of our adopted kids are special needs. As parents we have a choice to make in this. Is it fair for us to expect every person to understand their situations? Of course not. Is it fair for us to assume that people are being purposefully mean when they do not understand? Again, of course not. So, this leaves us with two options. Can you guess what they are? Contestant #1. “You can teach your kids to be offended.” Ding Ding Ding…what do we have for him Johnny?

              Second, we can teach our kids to live above offense. To understand that people will not always understand their circumstance. Some may laugh, others may ask pointed questions, some will simply avoid it. It really doesn’t matter; God has called us to give people the benefit of the doubt. Our son Joshua is blind. This is obvious to any person paying attention. No, it’s not just because of his cane. He is Chinese and has blue eyes. His advanced form of Glaucoma has caused the pigment in his eyes to change as well as causing his eyes to protrude from his head. I strive to teach him to laugh about his disability and in humility understand that others will not be understanding.

              Before you yell at me for the second time, “that’s not fair to this little boy”, let me remind you that I want him to grow to be a strong man of God not an easily offended and a bitter person. I submit this question to you, is it easier for me to teach my son to live above offense or for me to teach 300 billion people to be “sensitive” and understand every possible scenario of every special need person in the world? I don’t know about you, but I think it easier for me to focus on my one.

We are normally very sensitive to our own feelings and opinions, but what about that of others. Now, you may think I am going to turn around and tell the world to be sweet. NOPE! What I will say is that rather than being offended, we need to look at the other person’s life. Perhaps that person is laughing because they use humor to deal with their own illness. That’s what I would do. I’m currently losing my hair while my brother, four years older than me, is not. I could be offended by every comment about my ever growing bald spot, instead, I use it as a point of humor. I can’t change it. It is what it is as they say, so I am left with a choice. Will I be offended…Nah, I realize the back of my head is quickly resembling Friar Tuck. Don’t be surprised if I don a brown robe and comb my hair to really show the balding….if I get candy, it will be worth it.  

              Perhaps the Apostle Paul said it best, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.” (Phil 2:3 NLT) C. S. Lewis once stated, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” If we focus on Jesus as Psalm 25 reminds us, then we live above offense. If you look for offense, you will find it every time.  So, the next time someone misunderstands your circumstance, laugh it off, poke fun at yourself, and live free from offense.

Pineapple Pizza and Other Controversies

I live a diverse life. I have a diverse family. We live life with a diverse group of people. We are diverse in race, culture, language, politics, and theology. I Pastor a church that is 49.5% nonnative born Anglo. In other words, we are 50.5% American Whites and 49.5% African American and nearing 30 other nations of the world. I love this life. Each week we have a family dinner. There are 10 of us that come together. We are five white Americans, one Filipino, one Chinese, one Russian, one Indian, and one Dominican.

It takes love, patience, and openness to the opinions of others to pastor such a diverse church. I have always been a politically outspoken and politically conservative voter. I still hold to my ideals and the principles, but I have learned that every opinion I have does not need to be aired publically.

Facebook and others will be the death of traditional cultures around the world. Social media platforms have given us the means to express why we are right in a short blurb. All the while hiding behind our computer. This lends to arguments without discourse and spouting off without thinking. I tried that a few times as a kid. That resulted in a flip flop to the back of head. I swear my mom played professional Frisbee in her younger years.

I still hold my very strong convictions of faith, morality, politics, theology, the wonders of all things 1980s, and that pineapple does indeed belong on pizza. I fear that we have lost the balance between our opinions, however valid they are, and our ability to share our faith with a hurting world. Many will be quick to point out that we cannot passively stand by as our country is changed to a Utopia of Socialism…like the wonders of Vietnam, Cuba, and Venezuela. I would agree with that. Where I differ is how we take that stand.

You see, I am increasingly concerned as I see constant opinions and statements that demonize others. Do we not play into Satan’s hands as pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, and apostles if we are willing to sacrifice an opportunity to point someone to the truth of Christ for the sake of our own opinion…as right as we may feel they are? I have been pushed by the Holy Spirit during this COVID Crisis to seek what is God’s will, not just what is good. Sometimes we can be distracted by the good we do, but still not be in the perfect will of God. I do not want to settle for good, I want what God desires.

James the half-brother of Christ says it best. James 3:7-12 “People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” NLT (emphasis mine)

We allow things to pour from our mouths and our fingers on a keyboard. Things that disparage those made in the very image of God. Let me give you a quick example to clarify. Let’s say you pastor in a small town in Kentucky, say 1,000 people. Everyone knows each other. Everyone knows you pastor the church on Main Street. Each week you stand in the pulpit and speak of the love of Christ for humanity. Monday –Saturday your posts say things like, “can you believe these idiots”, “Rep/Dem are such morons”, etc. When a family in your community sees this during the week…are they likely to join you on Sunday? An even bigger question, are they willing to hear you as you meet them on the street during the week and attempt to preach Christ?

Our witness is a fragile thing. It is something that must be preserved at all costs…even holding your opinion when you know you are right. Please understand, I will always speak out on moral issues such as abortion, the sanctity of marriage, and equal application of the law, even then, I will seek to do so in a manner that builds up Christ not disparage others. I will seek to love my brother even if he does not agree that pineapple belongs on pizza.

So, the next time you order pizza, with or without pineapple, think of how your opinions have affected your witness.