Dallas House 1

The last year I lived in Dallas, my roommates and I lived in a house that, to put it kindly, had seen better days. It wasn’t our first choice but the house we wanted fell through and we needed a place to live so we signed the lease. The rent was affordable, and we learned that it was because the management/landlords didn’t care about the property at all: the yard was overgrown, we learned that the roof leaked (after the first thunderstorm), the heat didn’t work downstairs (not something you check in Dallas in June), and we had a hole in the window next to the front door that you could reach through to open the door.

Before we signed the lease, we were assured that the management company was active and that the property would be taken care of while we lived there. It wasn’t. If I knew then what I know now about renting and leases and the rights of tenants, we would have never moved in, but we were young naïve students who still kind of trusted the world. 

In the time we lived there the lawn only got mowed after five phone calls, the leaky roof “repairs” only moved the leaks to other parts, and when we moved out, they basically stole our deposit citing all the things like the leaky roof and the hole in the window. By the time I got word that they kept our deposit I was 2000 miles away and left it for my former roommates to deal with.

Through it all, however, we still had fun and stayed great friends. There is something about going through adversity together that creates strong bonds. You have this understanding, a shorthand, that is hard to explain to other people. As Christians, we are supposed to be empathetic to others going through hard times because we know of the suffering that happened on our behalf.

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12, puts it this way, 

“7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.”

If you are a Christian, you carry with you the understanding of what has been sacrificed for you. And even when earthly promises end up unfulfilled, you know that though you may be battered you won’t break because you carry inside you the love of Christ.

The Gospel According to a Jets Fan

When I was in third grade, I decided that rather than remain a NY Giants fan like the rest of my family I would make a change. I determined that green was more my color and switched allegiances to the NY Jets—I really couldn’t tell you why. Some benefits of being a Jets fan include tickets are always available and memorabilia is generally less expensive. I had a couple Jets hats over the years and was in need of a new one. I had to order it online because at this point in the season no stores are stocking new Jets stuff. I can admit that their season tends to end before playoffs. But it made me think about something. Becoming and remaining a Jets fan, even through rough seasons (basically all of them), I can never be accused of being a ‘bandwagon’ fan. 

Romans 5:8 reminds us that, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Talk about the opposite of ‘bandwagon’! Jesus did not save us because of our stats or even our potential. Jesus essentially gave his life for a rival team. We should be His enemies, our sin put Him on the cross. Boy am I glad that God is not a bandwagon fan. My merchandise would be below bargain basement prices. 

One of my favorite songs we sing on Sundays at Restore is In Tenderness. There is a verse that goes,  “He died for me while I was sinning, needy and poor and blind / He whispered to assure me: ‘I've found thee; thou art Mine’ / I never heard a sweeter voice, it made my aching heart rejoice.”

Being a Jets fan is rarely rewarding. Rooting for the underdog is fine, and when they are victorious it is thrilling to say the least, but all of the kindhearted ribbing gets old. I wore my Jets hat and was instantly mocked as the Jets lost this weekend. My response was that we (the Jets) were being benevolent by giving the Dolphins their first and only win so far this season. I added that we don’t need ALL the glory. 

We humans are the underdogs. Humankind is broken and we cannot win on our own. We are recipients of God’s benevolence, giving us our only victory by the sacrifice of His Son. This is what I have learned as a Jets fan.

Lesson from the Ivy League

Matthew 25:19-21 – After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

I was at a dinner last week and the guest of honor shared that he was visiting his grandson at Dartmouth College. Among many interesting facts about Dartmouth he told us that each class is known and referred to by their graduating year. His grandson and grandson’s classmates are ‘23’s’. Obviously, there are times when that name needs alteration for one reason or another, but the overarching idea is that they are known by their finish lines. He summarized his thoughts in this way: “I want to be known by my finish line I want my word to be ‘well done.’”

For me this brings up a few questions. When I meet my master, how will I be known or called? Am I living in consideration of my finish line? I want to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. It reminds me of our current sermon series as we are learning what God’s design is for His people and the discussion of personhood as we seek to understand distinction in oneness.

If you continue the Matthew passage, each of three servants were trusted with a certain amount of their master’s gold sometimes translated as talents. Similarly, we have each been given gifts and abilities designed for us by our master. The two servants who used this opportunity and invested their talents, saw growth and got to share the master’s happiness. However, a third servant, out of fear, buried his talent and gained nothing. Are you burying your talents? How could you better use your God-given abilities?

Think about what means to be known by your finish line. Live with your legacy in mind. We as believers have been called according to His purpose and He has uniquely gifted us for such a task. When our master returns, I want to hear Him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…come share your master’s happiness.”

You Got This?

I sat down to write this week’s devotional trying to think of something that might be worth saying. It was sort of a gloomy day and I was feeling a little tired. Ideas generally don’t pop out of thin air on the best of occasions, let alone when it’s difficult to concentrate.

Looking for inspiration, I opened the web browser and went to esv.org, cruised a couple of devotional guides, and checked for a verse of the day. One of them caught my interest was Matthew 11:25-30. One of my favorite passages. A great place to start.

The part I love and remember is the section that says, “come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Very few verses summarize the Gospel for me more than that verse and the ones following. The good news of Jesus is that we can rest in his grace towards us. Following Jesus can be a way of living lightly; a way to unburden ourselves from the expectations that we or others have placed upon us. That said, this wasn’t the line that stuck out to me as I read the passage again.

The verse that struck me this time, particularly given the context, was

“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

This section of scripture, and Jesus’ entire prayer and quotation, takes place immediately after Jesus’ condemnation of several cities filled with supposedly “wise” people who had rejected his message; instead he thanks God that the message has been revealed to those who don’t have wisdom and are like little children. Then he says that the only people who can know the Father are the ones to whom Jesus reveals it.

So why didn’t Jesus reveal the Father to the wise people?

Because they didn’t think they needed Him.

How often do we wait to run to Jesus until we absolutely need it? Even if we know that his way is better, even if we know that his burden is lighter, our tendency is to think, “I’ve got this.”  Jesus is standing there with an offer of rest, and we ignore him, because…well…because we don’t think we need it.

When we recognize our own need, however, suddenly that offer of rest becomes a lifeline. We run to Jesus, and what we discover is not just a friend, but we discover God the Father. Behind the Savior’s offer of rest is a Father who will accept us unconditionally and never place more of a burden on us than we can bear.

This is what Jesus wants to reveal to us, and this is the good news of the Gospel. 

Look What God Has Done

Exodus 20:1-2 - And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

I’m a big fan of Alexander Hamilton. Or at least, the version of Alexander Hamilton portrayed by Lin-Manuel Miranda in the Broadway Musical. Truthfully, I don’t know much about the guy apart from the play.

There is a scene in the musical where Alexander meets his future sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler, for the first time. She asks him where his family is from, and he responds with a line that is foundational to who Hamilton is supposed to be and what drives him in life: “Unimportant. There’s a million things I haven’t done.” In other words, my past isn’t important. What’s important is what I’m going to do in the future. If you know anything about the rest of the musical, that attitude of always seeking to move on to the next thing (or conquer the next thing) not only shapes his choices but often ends disastrously for himself and those he loves.

Despite that, the line resonates with me. I have a very hard time thinking about what has already been accomplished and prefer to think about what still needs to be done. The idea of rehashing something that happened even just yesterday often feels unnecessary to me. I’d rather talk about what we’re going to do tomorrow.

The more I reflect on God’s interactions with his people, however, the more I realize how deficient that view of the world is. God is constantly asking his people to remember what he has done. Nearly every time there is a new and important interaction where God is speaking to his people in the Old Testament, he prefaces his comments with a reflection of his past victories in the life of his people. He takes the time to remind them of who He is.

God doesn’t want us to live in the past, nevertheless he doesn’t want us to forget it either. Our desire to avoid the past may be because of a pain that someone caused us, a moment of shame that we can still feel, even years later, or just a general discontent with our circumstances that makes us long for a better future. Failing to reflect on what has occurred in our lives, however, often leads us to miss the fingerprints of God. How he is moving and working in our lives in a way that we didn’t notice in the moment.

Take a moment to reflect on what God has done in your life, so that you can remember that your present and your future belong to him.

Building for the Future

Colossians 3:23-24 - Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

I have often equated building a church to building a house. I’m no contractor, but I’ve driven past enough houses being built in North Jersey to have a general idea of the process. First you build the foundation; then you add the frame; later you add a roof, walls and internal components like plumbing and electric; and finish with sheetrock. Add some paint, flooring, and finishing touches, you’ve made a house your home.

Obviously, that’s a very simplified view on what it take to build a house, but it demonstrates some very important parallels to building a church, not the least of which is that for most of the process the house may not feel like a place you’d want to live. Unless you happen to be building your own house, the builders never even get enjoy the finished product. Building a house, like building a church, requires that everyone contributing to the project knows what they are working towards. They must hold that vision in mind for the people who will come after them and call that place home.

Of course, there is one significant difference, which is that unlike a house that is being built, a church does have occupants during the building process. The church-builders are working and living in the church as it’s being built. Yet our vision must never lose focus that the benefit of our work will be for those who come after us.

At our staff meeting on Tuesday we talked about the start of Restore’s GEMS and Cadets programs. We are so excited that Restore is at a place that we are able to provide these ministries for our boys and girls! And we go into it with tempered expectations. We know there will be bumps along the way, but we also know that it’s worth it to take the time to figure those things out.

The first night of Cadets exceeded those expectations. The boys who attended were excited and had a lot of fun with our project for the night. But the boy who had the most visceral reaction was the one who didn’t get to participate. At three years old he wasn’t old enough to stay, and when it was time for him to head home, he broke down in tears. He wanted to be included! I was reminded that we started this program not just for the boys who can attend this year, but the boys who will attend next year, and the year after, and in a few years, for this young boy to be able to attend himself.

This is the burden and the joy of building. The burden is that we need to be willing to work on projects, even if we won’t always reap the rewards. The joy is that, someday, people will enjoy the fruits of our labors who may never know how much work the builders put in. They’ll just know that the house feels like a home.

Comfort and Trust

Many, many years ago my best friend said, “I don’t know what God has for my life, but it probably sucks.” This was most likely an off-handed response to a chapel speaker sharing how a difficult season resulted in a closer walk with God. This is not a foreign sentiment. C.S. Lewis wrote, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.”

I was reading through a devotional series last spring focused on comfort. The author broke the word down and explained that it meant ‘together-strength.’ The point being that God’s comfort, His strong company, gives us the ability to face tough situations. We have all heard people try and tell us that every X, Y, or Z situation is to teach us something. However, we must be careful with how we view the difficulty in our lives. We can always learn something, but when negative things happen, we can’t just shrug it off as God testing us. Sometimes the hard times we face are the consequences of our own past choices.

Understanding that God’s comfort, His strength, is with us and that hard times can make us stronger can help us answer a more difficult question. I have often asked myself this question: “God how could you let that happen?” Circumstances arise that cause me to question. I often cannot understand why or how God could allow struggle in my life. What I need to hold onto is that regardless of how or why I am experience tribulation, God is still with me. When I think about those times, I remember how God sustained me, it doesn’t matter where the trial came from. All that matters is that my Heavenly Father was with me.

We still live in a fallen sinful world in need of a savior. Paul writes in Romans 8, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” God knows far more we do. 

You can just trust Him.

Are You Listening?

When I was in school and I got my report cards, there was a common thread in the comment section throughout the years. The observation from my teachers was, “excessive talking in class.” In grade school this did not matter as much because my grades weren’t suffering. However, as I got older, the talking made it harder for me to hear what was being taught and my grades were sliding. It is difficult to hear when we can’t stop talking.

James reminds us that everyone should be quick to hear and slow to speak. (James 1:19) I’ve heard countless pastors and teachers remind students that they have “two ears and one mouth.” Echoing the idea presented in James. What a concept though! 

When you really evaluate yourself, are you the type of person that actually listens or are you just waiting for your turn to speak? I’ve seen this in my youngest daughter. I will be giving her correction or instruction and I can tell that she is not paying attention. She may be looking at you, but no processing is taking place, yet as soon as you are done speaking (or maybe even before that) she is giving her response. As we enter election season again, I am reminded of her as I watch the debates. I cringe watching these people talk at each other and over each other in hopes of getting a soundbite that goes viral—no one is listening!

It is important for us to be quick to listen. Listening is the only way we can really move past our preconceived notions and understand someone else’s position or ideas. And it takes effort (sometimes a lot!) to pump the brakes on our own desires to be heard.

I read in a recent article, “In our social media age, where someone stands on an issue is rarely seen in the context of why they believe what they believe. The dynamic has led to families, communities, and churches polarized by division…many of us see the world only through our own perspectives, relegating ourselves to societal echo chambers that only reinforce our views while essentially dismissing seeing things another way.”

We can get so much more from listening to people with differing opinions than our own. I know I learn so much more that way. Jesus never shouted down an idealistic opponent. He listened and responded in a way that his opponent could hear and understand. My daughter can respond without really listening, but she comes by it honestly. I can find myself ready to talk before I’ve taken the time to listen and process.

How about you? Are you listening?

Go Your Own Way?

The other night I attended a night of worship with some of the staff ahead of our classis meeting. We split off into groups and discussed Mark 8:34-35, which says, “34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it.” We were asked to share a word that stood out to us and something that challenged us in the verse. For me the word that stood out was deny. As I said that, a number of heads nodded. Most of us felt the same way.

In this passage, Jesus is telling the crowd that in order to follow Him they had to first deny themselves. One thing that you know, if you’ve been in it for a while, is that the Christian life can be hard; sometimes agonizing. It's hard because denying our fallen selves is hard, we want to be comfortable but know we must answer to a higher calling. Any death is hard, some much more than others, and we grieve those losses. However, it's how life is designed to be. Our lives are so precious and so fleeting. Nothing displays the worth of Jesus more than our willingness to give away one of the only things we really have—in small and large ways—for his sake.

When I let my “self” take too much control, I start to rely on my own ability. This leads me down paths that God is not directing me. Pride is stirred up and I lose my way. I get caught up in what I want for my life and not on where God is calling me. The only things that Jesus asks us to deny ourselves of are what will rob us of eternal joy. The more time I spend relying on my own ability, the longer I miss out on God’s perfect will.

This week, think about that concept. Think about what it means to deny yourself, to take up your cross and follow Jesus. What is God asking you to deny? Ask him and he will show you. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 

Trust that the reward of denial outshines the temporary satisfaction of doing it your way.

Mercy

1 Timothy 12-15 -12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Timothy was an evangelist that from a young age put his whole heart into chasing after God and sharing the good news of the gospel with other people. It is likely that he came in contact with Paul during Paul’s first missionary journey. In Paul’s letter to Timothy he urges the young evangelist to fully embrace the doctrine of grace giving full credit to God for any good work he has done. 

Grace is something that many of us have a difficult time applying to other people. Too often we have a mindset of revenge and punishment. Someone cuts you off in traffic and our reaction might be, “That person is driving like a maniac, I hope their car explodes!” However, we could be far more forgiving if we knew the whole story: maybe their wife is in labor, maybe their kid got hurt, or maybe they just really need to go to the bathroom.

We pass by so many strangers every day on the road, in a store, at work and we will most likely never get to hear their whole story. And that’s when we need to turn our accusing eyes back onto our own lives. We have all sinned in one way or another. And we are saved and forgiven because our Lord and savior overflows with faith and love.

Ask yourself who you need to forgive. Ask yourself what you can release because you know how much you have been forgiven. We all have had times that we have acted ignorantly, and we have all experienced grace beyond measure that we have not deserved. Forgiveness allows you lay down a burden you were never meant to carry in the first place

Lord have mercy on me a sinner / The biggest sinner of them all / Lord have mercy on me a sinner / A sinner since the day that I was born

This I Know

Jesus loves me! This I know / For the Bible tells me so / Little ones to Him belong / They are weak, but He is strong. If you went to church as a child you probably sang this song, maybe even did a few hand motions to go along with it. The message is simple and direct, and when the chorus says, “Yes, Jesus loves me!” three times it’s hard to miss the writer’s point. We should remember that we are loved by the creator of the universe.

These days if a worship leader were to bust this out on a Sunday morning many of us would smile nostalgically as we sing along wondering why we were singing a kid’s song in big church. What we need to remember though, is that this song contains truth that doesn’t change just because you got a little taller.

Ephesians 2 tells us, “…God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”

It’s easy to lose focus in our modern world. It seems like everything wants our eyes and attention: buy this, click here, come to this meeting that should have been an email, and the list goes on an on. Even when the world is so noisy, we can still hum this little tune and be reminded of what is really important.

You are, and always will be, a child of God. You are loved even when you think you don’t deserve it. When you are deep in the muck and mire of life God comes over and says, “you can sit with me.”

Jesus loves me still today / Walking with me on my way / Wanting as a friend to give / Light and love to all who live.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Come All You Weary

Matthew 11:28-30 -  28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Where do you feel the safest? Who allows you to be the most authentic you? In Matthew 11 Jesus says, “come to me.” No conditions are set. He doesn’t say get your stuff together and then come find me. He doesn’t say get your life right and then we can talk. He simply sees your heavy burden and says let me help you with that.

In linguistics there is a concept called code-switching and it means that you change the way you talk based on who you’re talking to. For example, you’re not going to ask your toddler to check the specs on the end-line for the rotary girder, just like you’re not going to ask your boss if they went pee-pee in the potty. Code-switching usually serves the purpose of instructing us on how to meet expectations and be functioning members of society. However, it all goes awry when we don’t just change the way we talk, we try to change who we are.

We are communal creatures. We want to be loved and accepted. Unfortunately, this desire leads us to hiding who we truly are, and worse who we are called to be. We work so hard to be liked that we forget that we are loved. Jesus in Matthew 11 is letting us know that He wants us to understand that we can come to Him. Even when we’ve screwed up the most, we are welcome in His presence.

So, what do you do when you are taken by a weariness of the soul? Do you put on a mask and just pretend that everything is okay? Or do you reach out to the one who sees you just as you are and loves you deeply? 

Slow down. Take a breath. Find rest for your soul. 

FIGuring Out Prayer

Matthew 21:19 - And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once.

I was searching through my sermon archives, thinking about prayer. I knew that I had done a series on prayer recently; I could have sworn it. Of course, “recently” is relative and in this case, it meant six years ago, with a series called “Bold Prayers”. That’s how I came across this passage from the Gospel of Matthew.

Jesus was walking into Jerusalem with his disciples and decided he wanted something to eat. Nearby was a rather unfortunate fig tree, which had failed to produce any fruit. (Mark’s account of this story tells us that it wasn’t even fig season!) Jesus curses the tree, and it immediately withers. 

At first glance, the passage appears to have nothing to do with prayer. Even his disciples didn’t think so. They were unfazed by Jesus’ apparent outburst and wondered instead how he made the tree wither. They probably wanted to know if it was the sort of trick that they could learn and potentially perform themselves. (One can imagine a motley crew of disciples wreaking havoc across the countryside, cursing out-of-season fruits and vegetables.)

Jesus explains the situation to his disciples. Far from being a magical incantation, the power that Jesus demonstrated over the fig tree is the same power that his disciples have access to through prayer. They could even say to a mountain, get up and throw yourself in the sea, and if they asked in faith, it would happen.

Whenever Jesus teaches on prayer, he teaches us to pray expectantly. Prayers in the Kingdom of God are not done half-heartedly, as if, given the right combination of words, phrases, and desires of God, He may respond. Rather, we are taught to pray boldly, with the expectation that God willrespond, and he will respond by doing what we had asked.

So how do you pray? Do you pray boldly, expecting God to move? Or do you pray measured, reasonable prayers, hoping–but not expecting–that God will respond?

Perhaps there is a better diagnostic question: have you ever prayed for that mountain to move, or do you avoid it, because you are certain that God doesn’t care about that type of thing?

It seems to me like that’s exactlywhat Jesus wants us to be praying about.

Season X of Fortnite is Here!

Psalm 102:25–28
            Of old you laid the foundation of the earth,
                        and the heavens are the work of your hands.
            They will perish, but you will remain;
                        they will all wear out like a garment.
            You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
                        but you are the same, and your years have no end.
            The children of your servants shall dwell secure;
                        their offspring shall be established before you. (ESV)

A couple of weeks ago, it happened: season X of Fortnite was finally released. It had been at least several months since anyone in my house had played at all, but a serendipitous opening of the app on just the right day alerted us to this new development. With renewed interest we updated or reinstalled the Fortnite app on our iPhones, ready to once again engage the Battle Royale.

As with any new season, there were changes aplenty. New dance moves, new characters, new outfits, and new vehicles being introduced to the game meant that older ones were put in the vault. Anthony and Michael noticed the changes right away. “This is different!” They said. Some of the change were welcome, but others, not so much. More than once, I may have even heard them suggest that a decision made by the game-makers was downright stupid.

Most of us hate change, whether it’s a game update like Fortnite or change in our life. Even those of us who say that we enjoy change really mean that we enjoy change we can control. Unanticipated change makes us feel out of control and uncomfortable. Yet change, according to the Psalmist, is built into the fabric of the universe. The foundation of the earth and the heavens are fading and changing all around us, so that they wear out the same way last year’s shirt becomes this year’s old rag.

Recognizing change is what makes the security and steadfastness of God all the more stark. The universe changes around the God who made it as if he is changing robes from an old one to a new one; draped in change, even as he, himself, is unchanging. It is the unchanging nature of God that gives his children security, with the full knowledge that the unchanging God who cares and loves me will also love and care for my offspring. The world around them may change, but God will remain the same. The author of the letter to the Hebrews understood when he encouraged believers to continue to press on in the world with this one sentence: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

We may not like change, but we do not have to fear it, knowing that we serve a God who is steadfast in his character and in his love.

Dry Wells, Heat Waves, and AC

Philippians 4:19 - And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

My friend Rex had a rock on one of the shelves in his office, just behind his desk. Whenever I’d meet with him, I could see the rock sitting conspicuously behind him over his shoulder, with a painted inscription on it. It said something like, “when the well is dry, God provides.” Eventually I asked him about it.

The story was that he and his wife, Deb, and their two young children, were living in an older house while planting a church. They were serval years in to the church plant and things were going well, but they were still surviving on very little money, both personally and as a church. It was the middle of the summer when the very old well at their house dried up completely, and they were unsure of how they were going to come up with the funds to dig a new one. The church rallied, and soon a new well was dug at the house. The rock was a reminder to him of God’s provision.

We had a similar situation a few weeks ago when the Air Conditioning at the parsonage died during a heat wave. A new AC unit is arguably not as important as running water, but the house got uncomfortable quickly. And, of course, it happened during the summer, when people are gone and appeals to assist financially might go unheard. There was some anxiety about how to proceed, but then the people of Restore did what they always do and stepped up to help solve the problem, for which my family is eternally grateful.

The passage quoted above from Philippians is an interesting one, because it follows Paul’s expression of gratitude to the church for meeting his physical needs. That, in part, is why he can be so confident that God will meet theirs. Yet here is the key: the way that God meets any of our needs is almost always through the community of the church.

During the summer we can get disconnected from the church as we are all traveling and busy with family gatherings and events, but don’t let that dissuade you from getting reconnected when it’s back to the status quo. Eventually, you’ll have a need, and it’s important to remain connected to the vessel that God will use to meet that need: the Church.

I don’t have a rock in my office, but I do have a new thermostat in my hallway. Every time I look at it, I’ll remember the summer when the AC died, and God met our needs through the community of Restore.

…But I Love Gatherings!

As I sat on the beach, in Ocean Grove, yesterday, I remembered something my wife said to me days ago before we embarked. She said, “don’t freak out about the sand this time.” I love the beach and I do enjoy the sand on my own terms.However, I do my best to avoid getting sand in our beach bag or stuck to the side of our water bottles. I don’t like sand in my shorts and when I would watch our kids plop down in the sand after coming out of the water my eye twitches. I was reminded of an exchange from a movie. Two characters are bemoaning their workplace. The one refers to himself as a ‘people person.’ His friend points out, “you hate people!” To which the first guy replies, “but I love gatherings! Isn’t it ironic? 

The fact that I can love the beach but hate sand seems ridiculous. Hearing someone declare that they hate people, but love gatherings also makes no sense. You can’t have one without the other. What this highlights for me is the ease with which we can complain about things. When my wife asked that I not freak out about the sand, I thought how silly that made me sound. Is this really something I should spend time complaining about? 

The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2, Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world … As we navigate through this world as believers, we will encounter things that we do not prefer. But do not forget that you have been chosen. You have been saved by grace through faith. We should be grateful and should have the ability to view little annoyances in the light of all eternity. Having confidence in our eternal destination really should right size things for us.

There is no beach without sand, there are no gatherings without people, and there is no life without problems this side of eternity. Even Jesus tells us that we will have tribulation in this world, but we can take heart because He has overcome the world. That reality is what allows me to stick my feet in the sand and remember I am chosen and loved. 

Busy or Ineffective?

Do you ever have weeks where you look at your calendar and immediately feel anxious? I do. Just the other day I was trying to schedule an appointment and knew that I had time that day or the next. As I saw that they have openings when I did, I looked ahead in my calendar. I kept scanning further and further ahead for a free day and I was in mid-September! With a wife, two kids, and two jobs all contending for space on the same calendar I’m amazed I have time for anything! But I often wonder, “Am I busy? Or just ineffective?”

In the Gospel of Luke, we see a time when Jesus was visiting at the home of his dear friends, Mary and Martha. These were the sisters of Lazarus and there was a group of friends getting together for a meal. Luke tells us, “But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

Busyness can often distract us from what is important. Of course, there are things that we need to get done, and I’ll be the first to admit that my priorities are not always the most optimal. However, we all know people who seem to hide behind their hectic schedules. One author writes, “We wear our busyness like it’s a badge of honor when instead we should wear it as a big warning label that says, ‘Hey man, check this out: I’m disorganized!’”

Jesus did not completely disregard Martha’s contribution, but he did call out her anxiety over things that were not the most important. We give our focus and time to all sorts of things, but are we giving our Spiritual lives the same kind of attention? I know that I don’t. I do a terrible job of making time for prayer with my wife or quiet time alone with God. 

I’m too tired, or too busy, or any of a dozen other excuses. Maybe I need to admit that I’m just being ineffective and clogging my schedule with busy work, so I don’t need to sit and be vulnerable with God. Take a look at your calendar this week and ask the Holy Spirit to point out where you are just being ineffective and make some time for Him. I guarantee He can help you with that anxiety.

Don’t Get Cocky Kid

One of my favorite films is Star Wars. The first one, the real first one, 1977’s A New Hope.The film’s protagonist is a young man named Luke Skywalker. As the film progresses, he learns about who his father was and how that relates to who Luke is. As Luke learns and grows in his abilities, he finds himself on a mission to rescue Princess Leia. In one scene, he is defending the freighter ship he is on along with the ship’s captain, Han Solo. After some difficulty with the cannons, he hits and destroys an enemy ship. He shouts with jubilation and the captain’s response is, “don’t get cocky, kid!”

In 1 Peter 5:8, we are reminded to, “be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Have you ever felt the dread described in this verse? These are times when you feel under attack and you press into God and seek to hear the Holy Spirit comforting and guiding you.

Then there are times when you feel joy and contentment with how things are going in your life. Why aren’t we pressing into God then? Why don’t we try and hear the Holy Spirit in those moments? This is what Peter is trying to remind the believer. Don’t let your guard down, don’t get cocky kid. When you are moving forward and living out your mission, Satan, our enemy, is seeking to immobilize you.

In my own life, when I allow myself to rely on my own abilities, I miss steps. I get too comfortable and focus too much on thinking, “I got this!” I need to be reminded to not get cocky because pride comes before a fall. Imagine you had a long-time best friend, but you only ever called them when you were going through struggles. How would that friend feel? Wouldn’t they want to share in your victories and hear about the amazing times in your life? Don’t only run to God when you are in your valley. There is no longevity in that. Remain abiding in Him and perhaps you can avoid some of those valleys. 

None of us are perfect. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 7, “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” We can rest in the promise and confidence that Jesus bore our sin so we can be in right standing. We need to rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us. Let’s not rely on our own feeble ability. Don’t get cocky. God is always there for us in our valleys, but we can also run to God during your mountaintops.

Drop It Like It’s Heavy

Mark 10:17-22 - 17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Have you ever carried cinder blocks? They can be pretty heavy, usually about 35 pounds of dead weight. How long do you think you could run, at a full sprint, if you had to carry two or three cinder blocks with you? Around the block? A mile? 2 miles? Eventually the blocks would win, and you would need to stop. We all have rocks like these in our lives, things we carry with us that weigh us down. For some, like the rich young ruler in Mark 10, it is wealth; he was not willing to give up his extravagant life to follow Jesus. For others it might be our lack of wealth, or family problems, or physical abilities, anything that prevents us from following God with our whole heart.

We like to find excuses; we will lean into any reason we can think of to not do something. The call of Jesus is deceptively simple: put your past away and follow me. We have these things we carry around with us that only serve to slow us down. What can you let go of? What do you need to leave behind? What will give you the freedom to follow Christ with all your strength?

I Got This

Many of us have a really bad habit. A habit that keeps us from fully realizing the true meaning of being a part of the body of Christ. One phrase sums up this habit perfectly, “I got this.” We are taught from a young to revere and respect people that struck out on their own—the pioneers that made their own way. We honor this way of life so much that we begin to think of it as the ideal, as something we should be striving for. We think this is the way I should be in all aspects of my life.

However, the truth is that we were always meant to face life together. Call it community. Call it family. Call it the body of Christ. We were meant to share the hard times we face with those close to us, and at the same time we are supposed to be available for those close to us when they face hard times.

I love the way the Message puts Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:

It’s better to have a partner than go it alone.
Share the work, share the wealth.
And if one falls down, the other helps,
But if there’s no one to help, tough!
Two in a bed warm each other.
Alone, you shiver all night.
By yourself you’re unprotected.
With a friend you can face the worst.
Can you round up a third?
A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

This seems like an obvious truth but there are times it seems like we actively reject help. Have you ever helped a friend move and seen someone pick up a box that is clearly too heavy for them? They are sweating, struggling, and swearing under their breath; and when help is offered, they put on a brave face and lie through their teeth, “No thanks, I got this.” 

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Accepting help when it is offered is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you have faith in the body of Christ to come through for you. God never told us to do life alone. Jesus never told anyone that the solution to their problem is to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps. We are in this together!