Of Cows and Mountains

When I lived in Kentucky, my drive to Seminary was long, scenic, and sometimes surprising.  One cold day, I was in a bit of a hurry, so I was slightly pressing the speed limit when I came up over a hill and had to stop suddenly.  Smack in the middle of the road was a cow, just chilling out, and not in a hurry to move.  I was barely able to stop, but luckily didn't hit the huge beast.  I think it would have been equally as bad for the cow and for Lee and me!

Life is full of obstacles, isn't it?  In an old song called, Road to Zion, Petra (the singers) recount the journey to God's place.  They speak about foggy mist, shadows, rivers, and mountains.  Our journey to God and with God is filled with obstacles!

How do we face and overcome obstacles?  Jesus tells the disciples something that is both assuring and puzzling at the same time.  "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says (Mark 11:22-23)."  This passage has been pondered, used, misused, and confused!   Let's unpack it a bit.

The first thing it says is ... "Have faith in God."  Let's listen to that a moment ... "In God" might be the operative thing here.  When you pray, are you "In God?"  Are you praying out of self, selfish needs, wants that are formed in your spirit, or things that are in and of God's Spirit?  To be submissive to God and truly be "In God,"  I believe we must enter prayer with a trusting and submissive heart.

Secondly, this passage seems to say that God does impossible things.  It does!  As we become closer to God and more in flow with God's will, plan, and purpose, I think we also begin to understand that we DO have an impossible God.  The Scriptures are filled with impossible things.  Blind people see.  Lame people walk.  Storms stop.  Thousands are fed with a few loaves and some fish. The gates of hell are challenged by one man.  The dead are brought to life.  I could go on and on.  But here's the catch.  Our culture has been taught that our logic and understanding must be satisfied before God can act.  We ask, but do we doubt?  We ask, but do we believe?  We pray, but do we pray "In God," or do we pray out of our own understanding?

What obstacles do you face?  What do you want God to do with them?  Do you ask "In God?"  Do you ask "In Doubt?"  Do you ask, "In belief?"  Do we live in a man-sized plan, or a God-sized plan?  Good questions, I think! 

Living it Out

I had an uncle who would tell stories.  He was a good storyteller, and the kids and cousins would sit around and listen to him when we were cooped up in the house on rainy Sunday afternoons.  That was the day Dad would drive us "to the country" and we would hang out, watch Tarzan movies, and just be kids.  By the way, no cell phones were involved ... they weren't invented yet.  I liked those stories, but I was an outdoor guy.  I would be out living, doing, playing, and sweating in the hot summer sun.  I loved it, and lived it out!

Our Vacation Bible School theme this year (didn't we have fun last week?) is "live it out."  We are (even as I write this) turning our facility into a giant camping-themed center, complete with campfires, tents, kayaks, tiki torches, and all the trimmings.  It will be a blast to share Jesus and tell His stories, as we encourage everyone to live out their faith.  We even have an adult VBS (thanks, Nicey!), and we will learn about how far out we can really live, as we reflect on the God of the natural and supernatural.

As we "live it out," I think about a short sentence at the beginning of the parable of the sower.  It says this ... "A sower went out to sow his seed (Luke 8:5)."  What can we learn from this sentence and this parable?

1. The sower is a metaphor for God.  God's nature is to sow seed.  God plants.  The garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8).  The great cedar on Ezekiel's mountain (Ezekiel 17:3).  And here, in this parable, the sower sows!

2. The sower went out.  In the parable, the sower isn't particular about where the seed falls.  It falls on good ground, stony ground, ground covered by thorns ... He sows everywhere!

In the book Unseen Realm, a repeated theme is reflected in this story.  That theme is summarized in 2 statements ... God desires a family ... God grows that family through His people that He has planted here.  For some reason, God is continually bringing all people to Him.  And God uses an extraordinary mechanism to accomplish this sowing and family-building.  He uses His Church.

God doesn't only use His Church to reach out to the world.  He aggressively sows through people he has called.  Who are these people?  You, me, and all who claim the name of Jesus.  We are mini-sowers ... called to plant the seeds of faith.  How do we plant here at Abbeville Methodist?  I think we have several special gifts/values (as a church) that allow us to be part of the sower's work:

1. We believe in going "outside the camp (Hebrews 13)."  One of our values is missions, local, national, and international.  Like the sower, we "go out."

2. We share the creative aspect of planting by seeking, teaching, and speaking beauty.  Music, singing, art, architecture, and lyrics are heard, spoken, and applied each week here at Abbeville Methodist.

3. We are learning and will become more proficient at discipleship.  One pastor said it this way ... discipleship churches become gardens ... internally-focused churches become graveyards.

God thinks sowing is important enough to be a sower of seeds.  Jesus was our great teacher who showed us how to sow seed.  In Matthew 28 and Acts 1, Jesus proclaims His intention that we sow in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  So ... how will you become a part of this outward, going, and sowing way of life and ministry?  How will you ... "Live it out?"

Mighty Warrior

 This morning's Wake Up Call discusses one of my favorite characters in Scripture: Gideon, who lived in the 12th century BCE. His nation was oppressed, he was in hiding, and he likely felt inadequate. We find his story in Judges, Chapter 6.

As I read about Gideon, I can't help but reflect on the uncertainty and conflict happening around the world today. I wonder if many men, including fathers, feel like Gideon—overwhelmed by the tasks at hand and helpless to take action that would improve the situation. Many men are “fixers” who dislike the helpless feeling that accompanies witnessing oppression, injustice, and danger, yet find themselves burdened by fear, indecision, and confusion. Perhaps this longing for a fairy-tale world, where they could wave a magic wand to set things right, stems from this struggle. But we know the world isn’t a fairy tale; it’s more like a jungle, filled with lions, tigers, and bears!

I want to focus on the first few verses of Gideon's story, where he encounters the angel of the Lord. The angel declares, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” This encouraging message is directed at a cowering and timid man who is simply trying to survive day by day. Gideon must have thought, “Surely the angel isn’t talking about me! Is there someone else in here?"In this moment, Gideon—like us—faces the contrast between God's plan and our present reality. Which is true? How do we discover our true selves amidst this chaotic and confusing world? Let’s explore further.

You may have heard me discuss the Human Performance Technology (HPT) model before. This model encourages us to take three actions to move forward in our planning. We can choose to do nothing, or we can take action. Which person do you want to be?

1. The first action is to assess our current situation. What is the reality we are facing? Are we a nation full of Gideons, hiding on a threshing floor, fearfully watching for the approach of the enemy? Do we seek another day of mundane safety? Are we satisfied being safe, inactive, and unmanly, thinking our only responsibility is to bring home a paycheck? Have we lost sight of God's vision for Ezekiel's resurrection army, which is meant to rise up and lead our families, our nation, and ourselves out of oppression? Men, do you even recognize God’s vision for you? Are we aware of our current state? We seem to be surrendering our responsibility to lead our families, nation, and Church, following a culture that says, “Let your children dictate what they want, and give it to them.” Meanwhile, we play video games while culture shapes our priorities and faith and Church become mere options when nothing else is available.

2. Our second action is to decide where we ought to be. Notice I didn’t say “where we want to be.” If we are serious about this, our plan must align with God’s vision. For Gideon, the angel provides a big clue: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” God sees beyond the timid man to the mighty warrior He envisions. How does God see you? I believe God sees a man who is meant to lead those under his care toward Him. It’s a battle, but you are that mighty warrior capable of success because of the one in whom you place your faith.

3. This brings us to the third action: application. In the HPT model, these are referred to as interventions—things that help you transition from where you are to where you ought to be. When someone joins our congregation, they are asked how they plan to live out their faith. “Will you support this congregation—and really the mission of the whole Church—with your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?” Committing to these actions will put you in opposition to the prevailing culture. It may make you unpopular with your children, cause conflict at home, and put you at odds with friends who have different goals for you. Ultimately, it comes down to whose plans you choose. God says, “I know the plans I have for you ... plans to prosper you and give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Will we choose to be cowering wimps or mighty warriors?

Gideon's story includes faith challenges and unexpected twists, but he ultimately becomes that mighty warrior. He overcomes the enemy and leads his people out of struggle and oppression. Never forget: “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!”

Dos and Don'ts!

The Apostle Paul faced struggles similar to those we all experience regarding the things we should and shouldn't do. He found himself in a "do's and don'ts" situation. Let's explore the implications of this.

Paul wrote, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate!" (Romans 7:15). Do you ever feel that way? I certainly do!So, how can we navigate life without falling into this cycle of behavior? I think of it in terms of sports. 

If I desire to win in any sport, I must understand the game, my behaviors, and the ultimate goal of that sport. For example, in basketball, the goal is straightforward: get the basketball through the net more times than the opposing team. Score more points. However, the path to achieving this goal is more complex. You face opponents who do not want you to score. You also need to know how to position yourself effectively to make successful shots. Even the best players, including professionals, can be thrown off their game by their opponents or by the mental challenges they face. Sports involve execution, but effective execution is influenced by knowledge, skill, and attitude. 

Now, how does this relate to Paul's dilemma? Jesus spoke about life by saying, "I am the truth, the life, and the way" (John 14:6). He also claimed, "I came so that you would have life, and have it to the fullest" (John 10:10). The previous verse (John 10:9) highlights the fact that "The thief comes to kill and destroy."Here are three guiding points:

1. **Don't take your eyes off the goal!** Jesus declares that He is "the life." C.S. Lewis stated that seeking truth, beauty, happiness, and life outside of Jesus is futile, foolish, and impossible because such things simply do not exist. Solomon experienced this futility when he said, "It is a chasing after the wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:14). In contrast to this pessimistic view, the writer of Hebrews encourages us to "run with endurance the race God has set before us" by keeping our eyes on Jesus, "the champion who initiates and perfects our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Remember, Jesus is our champion, and we win the game with Him on our team!

2. **Don't  allow yourself to become a victim!** Victim-attitude may be the most significant negative force affecting our world today. ** In our nation, two ideologies vie for our hearts and minds, while Jesus instructs us to "love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength" (Mark 12:30). The opposing ideologies are driven by the author of lies, who relies on a single repetitive tactic: distracting us from our goals and leading us to believe we are victims who deserve more. C.S. Lewis illustrated this in his Screwtape Letters, describing how such distractions contribute to unrest. A victim mentality fosters pride, greed, anger, hatred, mistrust, and isolation. On this Father's Day, I urge our fathers to recognize this evil and teach their sons, daughters, and grandchildren that they are victors, not victims. As highlighted in Hebrews, Jesus, after conquering the evil of this world, sits victorious at God's right hand. He invites His children into eternal victory. I've read the end of the book, and Jesus wins—I want Him on my team!

3. **Do follow the one who knows the game, the path, and the way!** We follow by rejecting cultural rhetoric that overshadows God's voice. We recognize that we are here to be blessings and bear fruit—manifesting love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, and self-control. The goal of Christian life is not merely to secure a place in heaven while continuing to struggle with the things we don’t want to do. Paul concludes in Romans 7:25, "Thank God, the answer is Jesus Christ." 

We need more of Jesus and less of a culture that teaches us to be angry because we've been wronged.Paul had the answer. Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." To succeed in life, "Thank God, the answer is Jesus Christ!" AMEN