Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Cookie

I will have to admit that the last thing any of us probably needs right now is another cookie.  At my house we had 7-layer cookies, red velvet cookies, ginger cookies, and fudge (I guess that is cookieish).  Way too many carbs, but they were sure good!

During the holidays I was watching a cooking competition, and the theme involved cookies.  One of the contestants was baking gingerbread men using a cookie cutter.  He carefully cut out the shapes, but as he looked at them he said, "those gingerbread men look like Leprechauns!"  As the judges looked at his cookies, one of the judges did something interesting.  He turned the gingerbread "man" upside down and found the problem with the whole thing.  The cookie cutter, and the cookies, was actually a reindeer shape.  The contestant had used the cutter upside-down!

So ... lessons from this cookie?  I can think of at least three!

1. As we are immersed in the holidays, it is easy to get off-track.  We see the events, the glitz, the glitter, and we become pretty disoriented.  We are in a confusing mess, trying to keep up with people, places, emotions and our feelings about everything.  The Christmas story says ... stop!  Stop and observe Joseph as, amid great confusion and personal sacrifice, he follows God ... "and he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife ...  and he gave him the name Jesus (Matthew 1:24-25)."  Amid the confusion and mess, follow Jesus.

2. Laugh at your mistakes.  That's what happened on the cooking show ... they all had a good laugh.  It is interesting to reflect on how the judge knew what might have happened.  I'll bet he knew because he had done the same thing before.  You are doing life among other people who have messed up too!  Romans 3 reminds us that we have all sinned and that none of us can claim righteousness, except through Jesus.  Laugh at your mistakes, (people ... stop taking yourself too seriously)  recognize them, and walk away.  I bet the cooking show contestant won't make that mistake again!

3. Finally, we face an enemy that is telling us that "this" is all there is, that "we" are just like we are, that this "upside-down" world is the way it is supposed to be.  The story in 2 Kings 6 takes place in Dothan.  The king of Aram has sent soldiers to surround Elisha and his little band.  Elisha's servant goes out in the morning and sees the enemy army has surrounded them and says, "Oh no, my Lord ... what will we do?"  Elisha responds, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  Then Elisha prays, "Open his eyes Lord, so he may see!"  God, who knows us and this world, has come into the world to turn it right-side up!  See God's work, His forces and His blessings, happening right in the midst of this messed-up world!

Don't let your fears, the demons that want to block your vision, the lies of your feelings, the deception of the enemy and the facade of overwhelming force, divert you from allowing God to turn your world right-side up.  It is how God rolls!  Have a cookie and smile!  Randy

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Selah

In my "The Complete Word Study of the Old Testament" the word "Selah (Psalm 3)" means, pause.  It was probably both a musical instruction and also a call to "stop and praise God."  In reading the Wake Up Call devotional this morning, I was definitely sent to this concept of pausing as we reflect on the magnitude of Advent and Christmas.  It is worth pausing ... for if we fail here, we will miss what is most important.

Wake Up Call spoke of a famous violinist (Joshua Bell) being part of an experiment in societal blindness.  Bell played a $13 million Stradivarius violin in a New York subway, disguised as a street performer.  He was only recognized by one person, and his take for the session of music was $37.17.  Beauty, greatness and value were all missed by those walking past an experience of a lifetime.  God's instruction, as we walk through the elevator music of life?  Selah!

Stop and reflect upon the "bread of life" coming into a small town that is called "house of bread (Bethlehem)."  Sunday afternoon and evening we will remember the "bread of life" and the "Lamb that takes away the sin of the world!"  That includes your sins and my sins!  Selah!

Stop and consider that in the context of history, conflict, war, poverty, strife, political unrest, God came!  He came to Mary and Joseph, some livestock, some shepherds who paused, a host of angels and to all of us.  Chris Rice says he, "wrapped our injured flesh around Him, breathed our air and walked our sod, robbed our sins and made us holy, perfect Son of God!"  Selah!

Don't walk past the priceless!  Don't invest a petty $13.17 in the most expensive gift ever ... don't miss the chance to be part of the beautiful and meaningful music of truth, faith and joy ... don't be so wrapped up in this world that you miss what Jesus said ... experience a direct view into God's Kingdom.  Selah ... praise God! AMEN

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Hatching

Some of you will remember the story of Horton Hatches an egg.  It is a short little story about a lazy bird (Mayzie) that cons Horton (an elephant) into sitting on her egg while she goes off to relax, enjoy and "live the life" on the beach.  Horton stays back with the egg (through rain, snow and strife) and it eventually hatches.  Here's the part of the story I want us to get ... the egg hatches into a little elephant bird.  It looks like the one who was with it all those very long days!

Why is this important?  Well ... "Train up a child in the way he/she should go, and when he is old, he will remember it (Proverbs 22:6)."  Or, "and we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18)."  Here's the operative question.  Are we a product of the priorities in which we are immersed?  Do we look like the thing(s) in which we invest our time? If so, what do we look like?  What is hatching us?

Last evening I spent a lot of time with our people, the Church here in Abbeville.  It was Cantata night and the day was long and tiring, but fruitful.  The Church in Abbeville came in to hear some beautiful music, the real story of Christmas, and it became an amalgamation I think would honor God.  I wonder if these moments and times become "hatching" to both adults and children?  The Word is proclaimed when someone sings "my soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior (Luke 1:46-47)."  Mary is joyful for God bringing her out of obscurity and into a difficult journey of faith ... her faith and her attitude reflects her Savior, Jesus!

The other day Samson, my 23lb cat, did something he loves to do.  He jumped on an Amazon box.  I don't know whether he does this out of curiosity or whether he just loves to crush things, but you can be assured that the box collapsed like a cheap lawn chair in an NFL locker room.  I wonder if this is why we have such an epidemic of mental health issues and narcissism, as our children and grandchildren bear the weight of a world in which they are at the center.  "What can we do to "blow away" or kids at Christmas?"  "How can I make Christmas memorable and epic?"  "Where can we go to "crush it" in the holiday season?"  And we DO crush it, as the box collapses and we, our children and our grandchildren find their spiritual house built on a cultural "house of cards."

Reginald Heber, Bishop of Calcutta, was an Anglican Priest in the early 1800's.  He is best known for writhing a little song called, Holy, Holy, Holy (you might have heard it).  In writing about the majesty and holiness of God, Heber wrote a lesser-known song that described both the shallowness and God's expectation of our devotion to God.  It is called Brightest and Best.  In the song, Heber writes ... "Say shall we yield Him, in costly devotion, odors of Edom and offerings divine, gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, myrrh of the forest, and gold from the mines ... vainly we offer each ample oblation, vainly with gifts would His favor secure, richer by far is the hearts adoration, dearer to God are the prayers of the poor."  You will hear this song at our 9am service this Sunday!

We, our kids and our grandkids will become what "hatches" us.  Will it be our willingness to invest in the struggle, the work, the time, the resources and the hearts adoration it takes to build His Church and His Kingdom ... or, will it be the "box" of sports, parties, stuff, frantic schedules and cultural emptiness?  That "box" will get crushed when weight is added.

I invite you (really the entire community) to come, kneel, leave baggage and let God fill you up with His good things every Sunday and (at a very special hallelujah moment) at 6pm Christmas Eve.  Invest some heart-felt adoration.  Leave some gifts for the poor.  Hear the testimony of God's word.  Take in the music that speaks truth into the façade we encounter in culture.  Let's hatch something that reflects the likeness of Jesus, who is both the babe in the cradle and the King of Kings!  This Christmas let your soul magnify the Lord and let your spirit have joy in something worthwhile ... our Savior and the Church for which He will return! Randy

Monday, December 4, 2023

Changing Rivers

"I got peace like a river, I got peace like a river, I got peace like a river in my soul!"  Sing that with me for a moment.  Now think about those words.  We DO have peace like a river.  Moving.  Sometimes tranquil pools and sometimes roaring rapids.  Sometimes clear and clean, and sometimes muddy.  Rivers can be gentle, flowing quietly in normal times, or they can rage with the melting snow or the pouring rain.  If rivers have peace, there is usually an undercurrent, sometimes a strong one.

If you've been whitewater rafting, it will ruin this song for you.  A few years back our youth went whitewater rafting.  Emily was on that trip, and she did what happens a lot on those rafting trips ... she fell overboard.  For a few very scary moments she was actually pinned under the boat.  Ask Emily about that wonderful little song.  Rivers aren't exactly peaceful ... but they can be!

In Psalm 23, David writes about something he knows ... being a shepherd.  In this Psalm about God's presence during life, David describes the peace I think the little song is trying to capture.  "He leadeth me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul (Ps. 23:2-3)."  He know sheep, and he knows that moving or troubled water is disturbing to sheep.  So the shepherd leads the flock by those waters that appear still, and they are calm and feel protected.  What can we learn here?

1. There is the obvious.  The shepherd knows sheep inside and out.  He knows what they need and when they need it.  Our Great Shepherd knows us (and we are described as sheep pretty often).  Let's allow Him to lead us to those places where we can catch a deep breath and become still enough to see life around us ... to discern light from darkness and good from folly.

2. There is the unseen, but true.  Sometimes the water appears still, but it is deep, moving and a nearly unstoppable force.  Our society seems to be pulled along, loving the excitement of the rapids, and resting in the deep pools, thinking all is easy and quiet.  But the river is still moving.  It is persistent, unrelenting and always headed to a destination.

In 1863 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow came to this exact conclusion.  He thought about the cannons thundering on the battlefields of civil war.  His wife had died in a fire two years earlier, and his son had been severely wounded in the Civil War.  Two lines of the song come to mind ... "I thought how as the day had come, the bells of all of Christendom, had rolled along, the unbroken song, of peace on earth good will towards men" ... still but unrelenting waters, that are deeper than they look.  Then he writes these lyrics of despair ... "And in despair I bowed my hear, there is no peace on earth I said.  For hate is strong and mocks the song, of peace on earth good will towards men."  Are you in that river?  Doubtful, confused and not sure of just where your peace will come from?

Isaiah writes about this ... "And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father ... Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)."  From darkness to light, from death to life and from chaos and confusion to peace!  How do we get there?  We change rivers (kingdoms).  We get out of the river of culture and into the river of our Lord.  Wadsworth did just that , writing, "Then pealed the bells more loud and deep.  God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.  The wrong shall fail, the right prevail.  With peace on earth, good will towards men."

Change rivers!  Live in the kingdom of the Prince of Peace!  There will always be wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, troubles and strife.  It is even happening in those "still waters" that flow relentlessly toward a destination.  Change rivers to a destination of God's plan and God's rule.  Wadsworth knew it!  "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep!"  Place your trust, your time and your life there!  Our Good Shepherd leads us there!  AMEN

Monday, November 27, 2023

Paradox

Isaiah, in predicting the Christmas miracle of Jesus, makes a very paradoxical statement.  "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shined (Isaiah 9:2)."  And we, staring down into a stone cradle at a helpless child born to a poor couple, wonder, "What is Isaiah talking about?"  A paradox for sure!

Each Sunday during the Advent season, 1st service will begin with a paradoxical song, "He Shall Reign Forevermore."  The song starts like the 1972 poem by Christiana Rossetti, titled "A Christmas Carol."  "In the bleak midwinter, all creation groans, for a world in darkness, frozen like a stone, light is breaking, in a manger made of stone, and He shall reign forevermore."  Wait?  How did we get from a helpless child in a manger to reigning forevermore?  Do you see the paradox?

Our western eyes see everything in English, black-and-white, seeing is believing and power is status/wealth/fame/notoriety/popularity.  We too easily forget that last week we celebrated Christ The King Sunday, where we lifted up the Lordship of Jesus.  We now stare down at a manger, and wonder, "How can THIS be the power of God, come into the world?"  How can we believe Micah 5:2 that foretells, "But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me the one who will be ruler over all of Israel."

We can believe because:

1. We are not "seeing is believing" people.  We are people of faith who believe "faith is the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1)."  There is power and purpose in the unseen realm of God ... the one that raises up little children to become the very power of God.

2. We are not "power is status/fame/notoriety/popularity" people.  We worship a Jesus who has power, even over death.

3. We ARE people who believe in the paradox of Scripture.  That God's plan, however unbelievable, can happen.  That a little light can cast off the darkness.  That our hopeless world can be turned rightside-up by that little baby in the manger.  That HE shall reign forevermore.

Come sing it with us ... "Into our hopes, into our fears, the Savior of the world appears, the promise of eternal years, Christ the Messiah, and He shall reign, forevermore, forevermore!"

Monday, November 20, 2023

Food

Most of you see the title of the blog and get a little "bloated" thinking about the days to come.  When Lee and I lived in Charlotte we would eat Thanksgiving lunch at my parents and then Thanksgiving dinner at her parents.  That evening I felt like Joey Chestnut after a hot-dog eating contest.  WAY too full!!!!

Most of us will have an abundance of food, family and friends this week, and I hope we (as expressed musically on Sunday) are "grateful for the hands we hold, gathered round the table."  Lots of food, fun, football and fizz (of Alka-Seltzer after the meal).

But it isn't like that for everyone.  JD Walt (Wake Up Call ... see the link at the bottom of your weekly newsletter) tells a story of being aware of the Holy Spirit as we navigate the food table this Thanksgiving.  Here goes ...

When I was employed at the US Postal Service, I had a friend (John) with a large family, 8 with one on the way.  John, shared a lunchtime Bible Study with me, an especially fulfilling part of my life. We shared prayer, life, concerns and fellowship.  One day after John asked for prayer for his family, I felt the urging of the Holy Spirit.  I called my wife, Stella, and asked her to purchase $100 worth of groceries for John's family.  The Holy Spirit didn't just talk to me.  Stella told me that $100 of groceries looked too meager, so she purchased over $200.  When I got home we loaded the groceries in the trunk and went to John and Patty's home.  I knocked on the door and said, "John, we are not trying to embarrass you, but are just trying to be faithful to the Holy Spirit's calling.  We have a gift for you from our family and the Holy Spirit.  I opened the trunk, and John and Patty embraced in tears.  John took me into the house and opened their pantry door.  All they had was a single bag of rice.  John said, "We have already exhausted our opportunities with the food pantries in town, and this is all we have till payday, 5 days off.  Thank you!!!"  We watched as the kids excitedly unloaded the groceries and placed them in the food pantry.  It was full! I had difficulty driving away, because of the tears that filled my eyes, and for the Spirit using His hands of provision for a family in need.

This story makes me understand better our food pantry at church.  It reminds me that God is working in small things that are often minimized by our culture infected with affluenza. It makes me both thankful and challenged that God sees, hears and acts to use us (the body of Christ) to shout God's presence into a world that is missing Jesus.  It makes me think of Isaiah 40:3, "In the wilderness, prepare the way for the Lord, and make straight in the desert a highway for our God."  Let's take this as a challenge this holiday season.  Instead of a barely-distinguishable game trail, Isaiah calls us to allow God to use us to "make a highway!"  Let's shout and sing and proclaim that Christ is born and God's Spirit is here, bringing heaven to earth!  Amen!

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Lacy, Flat Tire and a Cat

No ... I haven't gone totally crazy (well, maybe I have!).  As you look at the blog title you might wonder what these three things have in common.  You might also wonder why this title appears in a sermon series about the needed shifts in American churches that will re-center us on the message and mission of Jesus.  Well ... here goes!

Lacy is the glue that binds those other two references to my mind and heart.  She was a little girl that lived in the house beside us in Kentucky.  She was just another little girl, living in a small town with her mama and daddy (the local Sheriff).  I think she was the first townsperson I met in Mt. Olivet, and she had something to do with my first act of ministry as a Methodist pastor.  We had just moved into the parsonage, and old building with ties to the Underground Railroad and that little town.  I heard a knock at the door and little Lacy, forlorn, was standing on the front porch.  She said, "Are you the new Methodist Minister?"  I said, "Yes."  She said, "My cat is in a tree."  I followed her across the street, and sure enough there was a small kitten up in a tree.  In true, and professional ministerial form, I climbed the tree and scooped the cat into my hand, carrying it down to a happy little girl.  I learned two lessons from that story.  First, ministry isn't so much about eloquence and expertise ... it is about meeting a need during a time of crisis (there was no Seminary course in tree climbing or cat scooping).  Second, ministry is meeting people where they are, just like Jesus did.  Jesus (Luke 19) used his pulpit (the street) to get a tax collector named Zacchaeus out of a tree, and out of a life of cheating people.  When Jesus left Zacchaeus' house, salvation (Jesus' message of forgiveness) had come to that house!

My next remembrance of Lacy was a 4th of July Parade/Party in Mt. Olivet.  The town (go figure) was into racing like the rest of Kentucky ... only not horses.  They had built a 4x8 plywood racetrack, complete with lanes.  That is where they had the terrapin (turtle) races.  Little kids would catch a turtle, enter it into the race, and make noise to scare the turtle into moving.  Lacy's turtle was named "flat tire" because it only had 3 legs.  Flat tire was not whole, but darned if he didn't win the race!  I learned two more lessons from this story.  First, people are far too caught up in entertainment for their own good.  That turtle race was better attended than Sunday morning church in that little community.  Second, things that aren't whole can win the race.  Zacchaeus was far from perfect, and he was despised by his own people for the things he had done.  But Jesus chose to save him from his sins and to redeem him anyway.  Zacchaeus repented and became accountable for his mistakes, and Jesus treated this social outcast like He treated anyone ... for "Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17)."

Both of these stories bring me to our shift for the week ... the shift from popularity to transformation.  Jesus' statement in John 3:17 was probably not popular.  People were happy to hear they were "chosen" and were also pleased that the law (the teachers/priests) condemned those who were not so popular and not so whole.  Lepers, sinners, blind people and Samaritans were all looked down upon for what they had done or what their infirmity suggested they had done.  Surely those hurts, pains and conditions were because they or their family had done something wrong.  But (if you remember from last week's sermon) God looks at the heart.

The question is, where are our hearts?  In many modern churches, the stage and musical performance has become central to the "experience" of Sunday morning.  Are our hearts all into the musical ambiance, the beat, the guitar and drums ... or do God's Word and the Holy Spirit speak Jesus to us?  Have we become inconvenienced by things like sharing prayers, hurts and the lives of fellow worshippers, or do we embrace the collective struggle that true faith brings?  Have we sought to make our congregations convenient, compliant and culturally-correct, but forgotten that carrying our cross and following our Savior involves struggle and work?

I don't know where little Lacy is today.  Her family was far more focused on parties, work and the culture of our little town than they were on church.  I hope Lacy will one day remember that we are all more like a kitten up in a tree ... lost, afraid and unable to extricate ourselves from the mess we have gotten into.  Maybe Lacy will remember that we sometimes need to call on someone to help.  Someone who can climb up, scoop us up into His arms, and take us to the safety of solid ground.  I hope Lacy found Jesus along the way!  Randy

Monday, November 6, 2023

Leaning

In western thought, we are all caught up in things like "moral equivalency," "humanistic logic" and "informed social behavior."  All of these are being thrown up in the face of the world as protestors rationalize their support for Hamas, bad actors use misinformation to feed falsehoods to people/media and our enlightenment clouds our ability to think in the spiritual realm.  We are headstrong and heartless as our reliance on information (often very biased from the informer) trumps our reliance on God.  Paul said it this way ... "God chose the things this world considers foolish in order to shame those who consider themselves wise.  He chose the things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.  God chose things despised by this world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)."  We see this played out on the world stage as people who demand and support rights for LGBTQ+ march in support of Hamas who hates, suppresses and even murders LGBTQ+ people.  We see people who support the plight of the Palestinians while ignoring the history of terrorist and militant groups marginalizing and oppressing the Palestinians.  All the while, many are believing the "information" published by a group whose name means "violence."  It truly is foolishness as we, the western world, believe our "information" is superior to the information offered by groups we have categorized as outdated (like Christians and traditionalists).

As I write this, I hear our church bells playing A Mighty Fortress is Our God, and I can't help but think of the verse, "And though the world with devils filled, will threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed, His truth to triumph through us!"  How can this happen as the "devils" of war, hatred and falseness seem to have the upper hand?  The song gives us a bit of help here!

1. Accept God's new heart and suppress reliance on our wisdom - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6)."  Give your heart to God.  You remember?  That new heart from Ezekiel 36:26. That heart comes with a renewed and "right" spirit, and that heart from God will lead our heads to a proper understanding.  Do you want a straight and correct path?  Then place the heart God gave you into the trusted and good care of God.  He will not fail you.  Remember, we are not that smart, and our choices have brought us into this mess!

2. Accept God's truth over the attraction and emotion of the world's hype -  As we revel in our intelligence and correctness, we invest our attention and emotion into lots of false hype.  We are blown this way and that way, and we end up asking the question Pilate asked Jesus as Pilate stood in judgment of Christ ... "What is truth (John 18:38)?" We have the same question today as we flip channels on TV.  Is Hamas a terrorist group?  Can our government be trusted? Should I get the new COVID booster?  Are the Dallas Cowboys worthy of 90% of the coverage on sports TV this morning?  What is truth?  The Bible (and the song) respond to this question.  When Jesus was tempted by Satan, and His emotions and physical weakness were pulling Him toward worldly logic, Jesus responded ... "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4)."  His head and physical needs (and Satan) said, "Turn the stones into bread."  His Father's guidance said, "Never listen to Satan ... he is the author of lies."  God's truth triumphed through Jesus, and it can with us too!

We can't trust the worldly heart that lives by human logic.  We can't truth our human wisdom, that is often based on the hype and input from unreliable sources.  But we can trust God's word and the "new heart and right spirit" He gave us when we first brought us from death to life.  We can lean on Jesus and we can count on His word!  Randy

Monday, October 30, 2023

Life, Death and Beauty

Our society is attracted to attraction!  We are repelled by "ugly."  And we have, sadly, adopted the societal norms of what is good, bad and ugly.  What if we, today, allow God's Word to weigh in on this?

Isaiah 53 is both a terrible and beautiful example of what God thinks is ugly, unattractive and beautiful.  The Chapter is written in the form of Hebrew poetry.  Hebrew verse is, in general, meant to flow in theme and rhyme very differently than we expect from Western poetry.  Here is how Isaiah 53 flows:

1. Revelation - God is revealing His "powerful arm (v.1)"
2. Unattractive Revelation - "Nothing beautiful or attractive (v.2)"
3. Troubled Existence - "Despised and rejected (v.3)"
4. Paradox - "Yet ... He bore our weakness and sorrow (v.4)"
5. Sacrifice - "But, He was pierced for our sins, beaten so we could be whole (v.5)"
6. Atonement - "Our sin was laid on Him (v.6)"
7. A Perfect Lamb - "He had done nothing wrong, but was killed (v.7-9).
8. Part of a Perfect Plan - "It was the Lord's good plan (v.10)."
9. Accomplishment - "God's plan satisfies Him (v.11)."
10. Exaltation - "I will give Him the honor of a victorious soldier (v.12).

The writer of this passage calls us to see past the ugliness, past the attitudes of people, past the torture and death, past the burial, and past the apparent uncleanness of the troubled life of Isaiah's suffering servant.  Instead, Isaiah offers a beautiful poem about life, death and what real beauty looks like.

Sunday, names will be read.  All of the names are people God created.  In my experience, I have found no people unscathed by the struggles, difficulties and mistakes of life ... NONE!  Yet, as we encounter the pallor of death, stand underneath the weight of loss and struggle, and cower "in the shadow of death," I think we gain some perspective on Isaiah 53.  We are able to put away our superficial definitions of beauty ... for beauty is defined by the good in a life.  Instead of titles and accolades, give me testimony of how that life touched/blessed other lives in the name of Jesus.

I expect, at his funeral, the Apostle Paul could have been remembered as a crusty, opinionated and educated curmudgeon that was often "in-your-face" on matters of the faith.  I don't remember reading that Paul was beautiful or even pleasant to look at.  But for congregations all over the Mediterranean rim and West Asia, who experienced the coming of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to their people, Paul was beautiful.  Like Jesus (our "Suffering Servant"), "because of His experience, the righteous servant made it possible for many to be counted righteous."  And because Paul knew Jesus, he introduced countless millions (in person and through his writings) to the Savior that "bore all of their sins."

Life isn't always beautiful, though it can be glorious!  Death is stark and terrible, but it can be atonement!  And beauty is in the testimony of life well-lived in Christ, not in the fickle eye of society.  That's my take!  Randy

Monday, October 23, 2023

Changing Our Culture

Jeff Greenway, in his message to Annual Conference, expressed a number of cultural shifts that we must make if we are to express the Gospel message into the world in which we live.  One of these shifts is the shift from being "cultural" to becoming a Christ-centered and Spiritual Church.  How can this happen?

There are many answers to this question, but one way is to throw off the yoke of Egypt that has held down our congregations for over 50 years.  I was reminded of this as I began to receive calls from congregations about "what do we do now?"  For the longest time the people called Methodists have been directed, by the corporate church, to follow the denomination and allow the "mother church (a Bishop in our old denomination used those exact words)" to lead us.  In Exodus 16:3 the Hebrews said, "At least in Egypt we sat around pots of meat and we ate as much food as we wanted."  This is a fundamental lie that Satan told the Hebrews and is telling us now. If we live to have our needs met, then we are nothing more than our needs!

Caedmon's Call wrote a song about the Dalit in India.  The Dalit are the Untouchables, the lowest caste in Indian society, even lower than animals.  The song expresses the lie of the world (culture) and the hope God has for them (God's Spirit).  It says, "When we're fed that we are nothing, we'll believe it, and we'll do what we are told."  That's slavery folks!  But then the song says, "Spark of the divine, I see it in your eyes ... it's there behind the lies that tie you down!"  That's God's hope for freedom and abundance ... you/we are sons and daughters of the King.

Our church and it's people are attitudinally in Egypt.  They look to the denomination to meet their needs.  How about we all change that?  We become churches that live in a culture of Biblical and Spirit-led values ... 1) Becoming transformed disciples that make disciples (Change), 2) Becoming people who share the Good News of the Gospel fearlessly (Evangelism), 3) Having a church-planting mindset, even inside their current congregation (Newness), 4) Understanding that every person is called by God to work (not be coddled) in their congregation (Service), 5) Hunger and Thirst for Jesus' teaching (Learning), and 6) Throwing off the yoke of our prejudice (Seeing people through God's eyes).  We cannot allow culture to teach us these things!  God has an opinion here, and it is not affirmation of sin, our choices, our needs, our feelings and our plans as ultimate authority.

As I wrote this, a young man came into my office.  His issues were life-choices and the people he associates with.  He is in Egypt!  But before you say "thank God I am not like that," are you/we passionately and recklessly seeking God's Spirit in the church, as we seek to follow Jesus (not the denomination)?  Do we look back and say, "We had a denomination that told us what to do ... how do we live forward?"  My young friend must change his culture.  And we (the Church) must be willing to change our culture.  We can no longer live in the lies that tie us down and tell us we are powerless to change our situation.  It is a new day with Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Time to throw off the yoke of "mother church!"  Time to be those called out of the culture and into the abundant life of Christ!  Randy

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Egypt

This week Lee and I have been out of town at St. Simons Island at a church leadership meeting.  So my blog will be brief.  Phillip Pinyan will preach this coming Sunday and I will have the honor of hearing him speak for the first time at Abbeville Methodist.  His message will be about leaving bondage, so I just had one thought to share with you.

Over the past year or so we have been moving away from our previous denominational connection, and I wanted to remind you of one danger that occurs when you make a big change.  That danger is failing to leave the "Egypt" you say you left.  Moses had an easier time of getting the people out of Egypt than he did getting the Egypt out of the people.  Let's be aware of this danger as we worship passionately, love extravagantly and witness boldly!  Randy

Monday, October 9, 2023

Shifts 3 - Politeness to Honesty

I am the world's worst about avoiding conflict!  I either clam up, or I just ignore the situation.  It is a character flaw I am not proud of, but at least awareness allows me to work on it with intentionality.  But I (and the Church) must press forward to seek truth instead of "fluff" in our relationships, our faith-walk and our culture.  We are to "speak truth in love, growing to become the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ (Ephesians 4:15)."  Paul understood that the Church is to grow to maturity if it was to become the life and world-changing entity Jesus sent out.

I remember a story of a town in which the Town Hall caught fire one evening.  The people stood around watching it burn until a family in an old, beat-up truck drove into the middle of the fire, got out, beat out the fire and saved Town Hall.  The Mayor ran out, made a speech congratulating the family, and giving the mad $50 as a reward.  He asked the old man, "What will you do with the money?"  The man said, "First thing I'm gonna do is fix the brakes on that truck!"

We are confused.  We think we see things clearly, but we miss what is really going on.  We are into the "fluff" of living.  Football shows highlight the design of the uniforms worn by the teams.  We are caught in the non-reality of reality shows.  We affirm everybody and get upset when someone says, "Wait a minute ... that is wrong!"  The truth-bringers that say, "Town Hall is on fire and someone needs to put out the fire!" are targeted as "storm-crows" and "alarmists."

Jeremiah was truthful about the state of Judah and Jerusalem.  Jeremiah said that the people had become followers of Baal, even to the point of sacrificing their children.  He was called an alarmist and a "purveyor of doom!"  He was ignored, and even had death threats.  In 587BC Babylon destroyed Solomon's Temple and took Judah's brightest and best off into exile.

Jesus came with a message of truth and salvation.  He called-out the Scribes and Pharisees for their falseness and apostasy.  You know the story ... He was crucified.

There are (at least) two points here.  The first point is the truth about what happens with truth-tellers.  We bring the truth in love, but the response is anything but loving.  A group of women who don't want to compete with biological men in women's sports are called, by some, bigots.  I call them truth-tellers.  A group of congregations that place the authority of Scripture above cultural norms are called "dinosaurs."  I call them Bible believers.  Both groups will be persecuted.

The second point is more hopeful.  In Matthew 16 Jesus says that those who become His Church (His followers who believe He is "the Christ, the Son of the Living God") will not be overcome, even by the very gates of hell.

Town Hall is on fire.  I don't think an old man and his family in a beat-up pickup truck is coming to put the fire out.  But we are here.  To tell the freeing truth of the Gospel.  To leave our politeness and say what Paul said.  We are sinners, we need salvation, we need Jesus crucified, risen and forgiving our sins.  We need an intentional and everlasting God ... not an accidental hero.  As I said in my message last week ... normal isn't coming back ... but Jesus is!  That's the truth! Randy

Sunday, October 1, 2023

Shifts 2 - Maranatha

First, I want to make a correction to my message on Sunday.  Please read and re-read the Galatians passage 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit ... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  These are our "sifters" for our shift from worldly views to Spirit-led views.  Ok, now for shift 2 ... asking God to "please come Lord.".

Over the past century, at least, we have been all into membership.  "How many members do you have?"  "Who is 'in' your church (as opposed to those who are out)?'"  "We want to grow our church by attracting new members!"  Is this model Biblical?

If we look at the Acts Church, we find the expression of the Gospel story and the following of God's Spirit causing God to "add to their numbers."  The events that lead to these statements are not planned revivals, Gospel sings or even what we would call a worship service.  They (the events) seem to happen organically out of the presence of God's Spirit mixed with contrite people who have more questions than answers.  The manifestation of God's Spirit happens ... seemingly because God wants to appear and act.

Over the past 6 months I have increasingly seen people, congregations and what we would call 'churches' become bewildered, at a loss for what to do and in a state where there are many more questions than answers.  And (this is not expected at all) the groups of believers that are seeming to thrive are those that allow God to pour into them, expectantly allowing God to lead them.  They are far from an attitude of seeking members.  Instead, they are having to become "The Church" rather than go "to church."  I wonder if God is "making disciples" that "are added to the Church daily."

Last observation (and this one is a little scary) ... maybe God is exerting Himself as He breaks out of the little box we have put him in.  And as I am watching this unfold all around, I 1) want you to see and perceive it, 2) want to share this amazing story, 3) want to proclaim a truth that is true today and has been true since we were placed in Eden ... GOD HAPPENS!  God happens in spite of us, but God REALLY happens when open, contrite, receptive, humble and expectant people say what the ancient Church said ... Maranatha ... "Come Lord!"

Monday, September 25, 2023

Shifts

It is football season, in case any of you need to be reminded.  Some teams have started well and are (for now) staying the course.  Some teams have struggled "our of the gate" and need to make adjustments if they are to have a successful season.  Jeff Greenway, in a book subtitled A Bold Witness of Wesleyan Faith at the Dawn of the Global Methodist Church, identifies some necessary adjustments that must be made if we are to live into a thriving and Biblical future.  Over the next 9 weeks, I will be focusing my messages on the shifts identified in this forward-looking book about the future of our church.

This Sunday we will look at the first "shift" ... the shift from infancy to maturity.  The Bible has a lot to say about this.  Hebrews 12:12 says, "In fact, by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths about God's Word.  You need milk, not solid food."  When my children were first born, they needed milk and formula, not solid food.  This is natural for humans and other mammals.  What is not natural is for adolescents and adults to continue to need milk, when they should be progressing to solid food.  If an adult can't tolerate solid food, we would all know something is wrong.  But what about the food of God's Word?  Do we still seek and rely on milk when we should be seeking and craving the meat of God's Word?  Sure, it is harder to digest!  Sure it requires the effort of chewing!  But for those growing in God's Word, God's plan and God's kingdom, this is the expected behavior.

Ephesians 4:14 amplifies this point by telling us the benefits of growing into spiritual maturity.  "Then you will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching, and by the cunning and craftiness of people and their deceitful scheming." Paul's points?

1. Infancy is something to grow out of ... not live in.  It should pass quickly for those who are hungry and thirsty for God's "bread of life."

2. Infants are confused and drawn in by the glitter, movement, sound, and passion of the waves.  Eloquent speakers ... music that has a good beat (but no substance) ... online prophets (you can add volumes to this) can all become clanging cymbals and loud voices.  But if they do not have love for Christ and His teaching, they are just noise to be avoided.

3. Infants are easily duped by clever schemes and street-side prophets.  Paul reminds us that there is an evil and intention behind those who teach a gospel that is not from Jesus.  These teachings are masked and veiled in enough truth to draw you in ... but they are "craftiness and deceitful scheming."  We have an enemy that works through willing people.  Some of them are clever and bought-into the work Satan is doing in the world.

There is a current stream of nonsense happening in my Facebook feed that is disturbing.  A woman has published a prophetic look at current events that point to what she says is "The Rapture."  While Rapture-Theology didn't appear till the 1800's (sorry for that true but disturbing fact) I will reserve that discussion for another time.  But the woman's post claimed (now past-tense) that the Rapture should have happened yesterday.  If it did, it seems no one was "taken up." And let's remember, "No one knows the day or the hour (except the Father) [Matthew 24]."  Yet people, claiming to be mature Christians, bought into this clearly non-Scriptural (and now untrue) prediction.

Don't accept living in spiritual infancy.  Don't believe everything you hear and see on the internet.  Do fill your heart, soul and mind with God's Word, so that you will be strong when the wind, waves and schemes come your way.  Live in Christ today, and you will have peace and sufficiency.  AMEN

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Cords and Chains

The Bible has a lot to say about cords, chains and binding and loosing.  We might think of cords and chains as ways of tying things/people up.  But in Scripture, these two things are treated very differently.

Chains are usually spoken of in terms of holding and confining someone.  The demon-possessed man in Mark 5 was bound with chains, though it didn't work.  Peter was bound with chains in Acts 12.  Paul and Silas were bound with chains in Acts 16.  Chains were used to confine and imprison.

Cords are different.  In Ecclesiastes 4:12 we find that cords bind things together in a unity of strength.  "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Chains confine us.  Cords hold us in a unity that is hard to break.  So, how is this relevant in the Church?

During recovery month, I want us all to pray and practice binding and loosing.  In Matthew 16:19 Jesus tells Peter (and the Church) "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  Jesus describes a church with powers beyond our sight ... powers that transcend from the seen realm to the unseen realm.  Read carefully what this says ... through Christ's gift and authority, we have the power to bind and loose.

Here are a few observations about these passages and about chains and cords.

1. We, the Church, can bind things.  I think (this is purely my take) we bind things mostly with cords.  Why?  Because we, God, Jesus aren't into confining and conscription as a method of operation.  I think Ecclesiastes 4 uses cords because cords hold things and people with gentleness.  A threefold cord is hard to break, but if we work hard enough we can break it.  And a threefold cord can be untied.  You are not confined!  You have free will to follow or not.  You have our love and our support, but if you try hard enough you can either break or untie cords.  But remember ... God put those cords in place.  So let's bind up the wounded, unite with our fellow workers and allow God to "bind us together with cords that cannot be broken."

2. We, the Church, can be agents of release, freedom and loosing people from bondage.  Let's pray, practice and persevere so that chains are broken, bonds are loosed and people can live in the freedom God has graciously given.  The Tasha Cobb song says, "There is power, in the name of Jesus ... to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain."  Let's become chain breakers that loose people from the bondage of culture, possessions, control, drugs, alcohol and pride (yes, pride is an addictive behavior).

Let us bind each other up in the love of Christ and the nurture of the Church, on earth as it is in heaven.  Let us loose each other from all those things that chain our souls, our potential and our witness so we are able to do what Paul said in Ephesians 5:8 ... "For you were once in darkness.  But now you have light from the Lord.  So live as people of light!"  Worship passionately ... love extravagantly ... witness boldly! Jesus said, when we appropriate His gift of the "keys to the kingdom of heaven" the very gates of hell will not prevail against us (the Church)." AMEN

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Trying Harder or Letting Go?

Our culture says, "Try harder!" ... "Believe in yourself!" ... "Be determined!"  Our culture loves self-help gurus and self-focused ways of dealing with our problems.  But anyone who has been in recovery and has emerged from the process with success, sings a different tune.  "I admit that I am powerless over my addictions and compulsive behaviors and my life has become unmanageable ... I know that nothing good lives in me!"  Paul said it this way ... "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, I keep on doing (Romans 17:18b-19)!"  So, I want to ask some questions.

1. Do you repeat behaviors that keep placing you in troubling situations?  Every addicted person will answer "yes" but many of us are unwilling to see and admit our addictive patterns, so we miss the first step of leaving them behind.

2. Do you find yourself saying, "I've seen this before ... why does this keep happening to me?"  See question 1 and reread it!

3. Do you believe Scripture?  If the answer is yes, Paul is right and he might be addressing something universally true, both in his congregations and over history!  God/Scripture is accurate and applicable!

4. What can we learn from Paul here?  Glad you asked!

J.D. Watt, in Still Day One has the crazy idea that the repeated practice of trying harder and believing in yourself is a certain entry into a repeated pattern of behavior that has no end.  It doesn't work.  What works is what always works ... applying God's word:

1. "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away (2 Cor. 3:16)."  Turn to the Lord and you will begin to see clearly.  Which means you must turn away from YOU/SELF.

2. "Now the Lord is spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17)." Freedom from our patterns and addictions comes from getting out of your will and your spirit and allowing God's Spirit to fill you.

Bishop Scott Jones, at Annual Conference and in other conversations, told us we must be willing to leave our previous connection by forgetting many of the ways of thinking we have been practicing over the last 50 years.  He says if we fail here we will become a different version of the institution we left.  Dr. Jeff Greenway, this past Friday evening, said we must leave our addictive patterns behind, especially those that were focused on building a denomination ... for if God desires the denomination, it will build itself!

"Kicked out and fired!"  That was the story from my buddy in West Alabama.  "What can we do?"  I sent the message all the way up the line to Rev. Keith Boyette and Rev. Angela Pleasants.  They said, "We will do whatever it takes to get them planted in a new location, and get my friend on board as a GMC pastor."  6 months later, that new church is planted in West Alabama with hymnals from Abbeville Methodist, administrative help from another GMC church, resources from the River Network, and lots of faithful prayers from all over.  Angela Pleasants and I have been there.  I served their 1st communion.  And (Andy and Tina) they have a 12 member choir!  Yesterday, my friend was ordained as a Deacon in the GMC.  That same story is being played out all over America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the whole world.  As many as 15 new congregations are in their infancy, just in the Alabama, Emerald Coast Conference.  I will begin work with a church plant (this coming week to a town near you) that already bursting at the seams!!! How is this happening?  Because we are part of a movement that says, "What is Jesus doing?"  and then says, "How can we help?"

Twila Paris writes (from Romans 10:15) "How beautiful, are the hands that serve, the wine and the bread and the sons of the earth, how beautiful are the feet that walked, the long dusty roads and the hill to the cross."  When we let go and allow God's Spirit to run the show we find healing from our patterns, freedom from our intuitional bonds, flight from the cages we have built around ourselves, and freedom in Christ.  That little church in West Alabama thanks you for beautiful feet!  May God's Good News be proclaimed over the whole world!  AMEN

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Influenced or Influencer?

As we begin our journey together as an official part of the Alabama Emerald Coast Conference of the Global Methodist Church, I remember a statement I read in "Still Day One."  The statement quotes E. Stanley Jones on the subject of faith.  Jones says our faith isn't about an "it" (denomination, rites, our traditions, any 'trappings' of our history) ... it is about a person named Jesus.

I have a friend that often talks about each of us being leaders that are here to influence people toward faith, belief and religion.  This is not a bad thought on the surface.  But I believe I would disagree about the primacy of our being agents of influence.  Here's why:

1. The Holy Spirit (God in us) is always directing us to/toward Jesus.  When I become the influencer, I view the influence through MY lens.  MY lens is clouded by so many things, I can't write them all down!

2. When I become the influencer, my human reaction is to plan my direction and head that way.  This is fine if MY direction and God's direction are the same.  But I am human and flawed.  My direction/plan flows from my understanding and from my needs/desires/fears/situation.  While my intentions may be noble, my application isn't always what it should be.  Persuasion can become ego-driven and prideful.  I can use ultimatums/titles/organizations as devices for controlling and steering others.  For me, these are why I cannot (and should not) become the great influencer my friend teaches about.

Here's a better way.  Become one who is "influenced" by Jesus.  Ask, "What is Jesus doing?"  Here is how Paul words this in Philippians 2:

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing from His Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.  [and here is the secret!!] In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus ... " (Philippians 2:1-5).

Paul says the key is for each of us to be influenced by Jesus ... not to become "great leaders" or "great influencers."  We are not followers of an "it."  We are followers of a "Him."  So follow!  Randy


Monday, August 28, 2023

The Otherness Of Prayer

There are lots of things we can learn from the early Church.  Dealing with persecution ... placing our "stuff" in the right perspective ... and the ultimate focus of prayer.  These are a few of the many lessons.  In our series of sermons on Still Day One After Pentecost, I want to grab on to one of those lessons about prayer.

I have heard lots of prayers in my life of ministry.  Some have been beautiful.  Many have been needs-oriented.  But the Acts Church teaches us something worth learning about the "otherness" of prayer.  Here goes!

In Acts 4:24 the prayer begins ... "Sovereign Lord, You made the heavens and the earth and everything in them" PRAISE OF GOD ... "You spoke through Your Holy Spirit through our father David" GOD'S INVOLVEMENT IN/THROUGH TIME ... "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed one" GOD'S HISTORIC UNDERSTANDING AND PERSPECTIVE ,,, "Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed" GOD'S CURRENT UNDERSTANDING/PERSPECTIVE ... "They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen" GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY.  Let's stop here.  Did you notice whom this prayer is about up to this point?  God!

Now the meat of the prayer for God's Church and God's people.  "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with boldness" EQUIP US TO WITNESS BOLDLY ... "Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders," LET US EXTRAVAGANTLY OFFER YOUR LOVE/HEALING ... "Through the name of Your Holy servant, Jesus" LET US OFFER CHRIST.

Do you see it?  It is not about us at all!  It is about Jesus, the work and plan of God in the world and the prayerful worship of a God worthy of our worship!  Here is part of a very Wesleyan prayer that tracks alongside the Acts 4 Church ... "I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thy wilt.  Rank me with whom thou wilt.  Put me to doing.  Put me to suffering.  Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for the or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty.  Let me have all things, let me have nothing.  I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.  And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine and I am thine ... so be it!  And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in Heaven! Amen!

Jesus prayed, "not my will but thine."  For us, not about us.  Wesley was right!  Acts was right!  Jesus was right! AMEN

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Interpolation

Interpolation is a term used generally in math.  It means the insertion of something of a different nature into something else.  In math it is a way of estimation.  In life it should remind us of something that happened on Pentecost ... God's insertion of the Holy Spirit into the church (people like you and me).

I prefer to think of this in the context of wind and waves (Mark 4:35-41).  Jesus is teaching by the Sea of Galilee.  Jesus says, "Let us go over to the other side."  So they get into a boat, and other boats are with them, and they proceed across the "lake."  The Scripture says a furious squall comes up, and waves are breaking over the side of the boat.  Jesus is taking a nap on a cushion.  The disciples are distressed ... "Teacher, don't you acre if we drown?"  Jesus gets up, rebukes the wind, and the lake becomes calm.  The disciples ask a pointed question ... "Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey him?"

There are beings of different natures in the boat.  There is Jesus, fully God and fully human ... a unique being unlike any other.  There are disciples and followers of Jesus who are people like you and me.  Jesus is supernatural (above nature).  The followers are as bewildered as I would be if a storm arises.  What does this teach us about Jesus and ourselves?

First, the miracle of calming the storm wasn't done as a show for the disciples or as a exhibition of Jesus' power.  Jesus performed miracles that mirrored the saving grace of God while pointing to the glory of the Father in Heaven.  They are for us to see, but not about us.  

Second, as we learn about Jesus and grow into Christlikeness, we grow (become sanctified) in how we deal with life's wind and waves.  The disciples are puzzled by Jesus' calm demeanor inside a terrible storm.  They even accuse Him of not caring, because he sleeps through the storm.  But as we grow, we become more able to 1) trust God in the storm, 2) be patient in the storm, 3) believe that God somehow has a long-term plan that trumps the storm.  Jesus is for us, but about greater/higher things.

Finally, we should see this story as a preview of life in an unpredictable world.  Jesus didn't prevent the storm, even for Himself and his closest followers.  Jesus knows a lot of learning, and possibly even healing, happens in the storm.  In her song, Skellig, Lorena McKennitt writes about a monk travelling from Ireland to Rome to save the writings of the saints.  The trip was long and arduous, and one line recounts the lessons of a hard journey ... "the waves would wash my tears, the wind my memory."  

In the good times, God provides.  In the struggles and storms, God provides.  In the boat, tossed about by the wind and the waves, God teaches.  And God brings His Spirit, His lessons and His beautiful (and very different) perspective into our chaos and says, "peace ... be still."  Because it is exactly what we need, God brings something of a different nature (His Spirit) into something else (us) and it changes us.  We are a new creation!  Randy

Monday, August 14, 2023

Refreshed

Last Saturday we had a tree-planting party at the Youth Activities Center (I'm trying that name on for size).  About 5 of us gathered in this oppressive heat, dug some holes, and now we have about 26 or so trees planted as a border.  It didn't take long, but when we finished we were all hot and sweaty.  So we sat under the awning and had bottled water and biscuits ... the breakfast of champions.  That water wasn't so cold, but it was certainly refreshing.

In Acts 3, Peter speaks to a people who are depleted, diminished and discouraged.  They are occupied by the Romans and their self-governance has been depleted ... they are discouraged.  The Scriptures call the time they are in "famine."  "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine upon the land.  Not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the word of the Lord (Amos 8:11)."  For 400 years, no prophets and no sign of spiritual rain.  Then, Jesus comes, preaching, teaching and healing ... living water and the "word made flesh."  They killed him.  But God is beautifully persistent and doggedly determined.  On day one after Pentecost, Peter (again) preaches the message of salvation to the guilty.  "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19)."

Two commands and three results can happen from Peter's message.  First, repent ... turn around ... change direction.  A golf teacher I watch on TV says, "If you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting."  There is a simple depth to this command, and we would be well-advised to follow Peter's wisdom.  If you want to be refreshed, change direction!

Second, turn to God.  The gathered crowd had turned to false leaders, a dead legalistic system and their own understanding.  Peter's message, "run to the one you crucified" doesn't make much sense to those who are doubling-down on the status quo, but to those who are starving and dying of thirst, it is life!  Turn to God ... it is the only solution!

What happens when we repent and turn to God?  Our sins can be wiped out ... the burden of guilt can be lifted!  Refreshing times from the Lord can happen!

I think we all want to be refreshed.  But I wonder if we do what the writer of "Still Day One" suggested ... we get stuck reflecting on "What would Jesus do?"  It is not a bad question ... it just stops short of what I think we are called to do.  What would happen if we asked, "What is Jesus doing?"  And what if we responded by joining in with Jesus to bring the "kingdom on earth as it is in heaven."  Church-light (really not Church at all) is coming for our weekly feeding.  Church-deep (what Jesus is doing) is being in the game of kingdom-bringing.

I think God is (right now) in the business of famine-breaking.  Do you ask yourself, "What is Jesus doing?"  Maybe little girls ringing bells on Sunday morning?  Maybe new people, excited to jump in and invest in kingdom-building?  Maybe trees at the Youth Activities Center?  Maybe a little girl showing me the beautiful craft she made during children's church?  Maybe our little ones singing "This little light of mine!?"  What is Jesus doing?

Peter preached the message of salvation to a huge crowd that had seen a miraculous healing.  Peter told them Jesus wanted to refresh them.  Some believed.  Some just stood there, enjoying the show.  The religious leaders dragged Peter and John before the authorities, and chastised them.  All had a choice.  You, too, have a choice.  Will you leave this blog refreshed and empowered, just amused, or angry at the message that messes with your status-quo?  Do you REALLY want to know what Jesus is doing?  Randy

Monday, August 7, 2023

Shlne All Your Light

In our sermon series, Still Day One After Pentecost, I was reading the story about the man begging at the "gate called Beautiful."  The identity of the gate is a historical mystery, because the location could be several places.  I am buying that this is the Shushan Gate, the gate where the Jewish "scapegoat" was sent into the wilderness, carrying the sins of the people (an annual ritual of the Day of Atonement in Jewish practice).  What could be more beautiful than seeing your sins walk out into the wilderness to their rightful place with Azazel, the fallen angel.  Although, I can think of one thing far more beautiful ... having the Son of God cast your sins as far as the east is from the west.

This little story comes as a post-Pentecost event, and Peter and John are living out "still day one" after Pentecost.  They are filled with God's Spirit and arrive at the temple, at this gate where both gentiles and women might gather.  Worship was common at temple entrances, but on this day, about three in the afternoon, they are "fixin" to have Church!  A beggar, lame from birth, asks Peter and John for a handout.  Peter responds, "I don't have any silver or gold for you, but I'll give you what I have.  In the name of Jesus Christ, the Nazarene, get up and walk (Acts 3:6)!"  The Scripture says, when Peter helped him up his feet and ankles were healed and strengthened, and he jumped up!  Yep, that's Church all right!  Jesus' name proclaimed, people healed, people joyful because of what God has done.

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus calls us light that is not to be hidden ... it is to be shone before others with good deeds, and it is to glorify our father in heaven.  In day one after Pentecost, Jesus calls us to be "the light of the world."  But, in the grind of daily life, I wonder if we forget the power and light of the gospel and become content with just lighting our own way through the darkness.  And here, at least in my estimation, is where we miss the point.

1) Maybe we just want to make it through the day.  Events, weariness, kids, work, the problems of the world, remind us that the world is dark.  But Isaiah said, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light."  Do you live in the darkness, or do you live in the light?  It is a choice.

2) Maybe we have decided that the little bit of light we have is only enough to supply our needs.  But Matthew 5:14-16 reminds us that we are only given the light to "shine before others."  The light only does its job when we let it out.  That, is also a choice.

3) Maybe we think that our little light is so weak, so insufficient and so dim, it can't be of help to anyone.  And this thought caused me to remember a song. In 1999 Amt Grant wrote a lyric about this.  The tag line in the song is, shine all your light in the sun.  The song reminds us that we don't operate out of a dim little light that is only for us and is powerless in a dark world.  We are, what Paul calls (1 Thessalonians 5:5) "children of the light ... we do not belong to the darkness." 

In day one after Pentecost, we do not operate under our power, and we do not operate in a vacuum.  We do what the song says ... we shine ALL our light in the sun.  We are like Peter and John who have nothing that can do much, except through the power of Jesus the Nazarene.  We are the light of the world, but we are agents of Jesus, THE Light of the world ... the light that overcomes the darkness ... the light that heals beggars that are lame from birth.  So, as Amy Grant writes so well ... do all you can, clap with one hand, and shine all your light in the sun!  Randy

Monday, July 31, 2023

A New Language

One thing I have learned with the work I am doing for the Global Methodist Church is the realization that I need to be a good translator.  There are applicants for clergy ordination that range in age from the 20's to the 90's.  There are large churches with a hundred people on staff to those with only a part-time pastor and no other paid staff.  All of these people and organizations communicate at different levels.  Add to this dynamic, the Korean and Hispanic congregations in the Alabama Emerald Coast Conference, and the language-confusion becomes even more dramatic.

There is an old testament story of a place called Babel.  The story is from Genesis 11.  The people said, "Let us build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens." In the south (this is where those translation skills become useful) we would say the people had become "too big for their britches."  They wanted the city for their control and ownership ("let us build ourselves a city").  They wanted to become like God ("let us build a tower to the heavens").  Their arrogance was not unnoticed by the Divine Counsel, so God said, "Let us go down and confuse their language."  This is why we use the term "babel" to describe nonsensical language.  So (according to Genesis 11) the people stopped building the city and were scattered over all the earth.

Then, at a place called Jerusalem (Acts 2) at the Feast of Pentecost.  Jews from many nations were gathered at this feast that celebrated the harvest, 50 days after Passover.  Many languages were spoken in this mishmash of humanity.  After being given the Holy Spirit, the disciples ran out into the street and began proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel.  Many things happened that day, but one of those happenings was, God rescinded the curse of Babel, for each person heard the message "in their own language."  Acts 2 said the people were "utterly amazed."

In 2000, I was honored to be able to go to Brazil, to a little place called Cacoal, the 4th largest city in the Rondonia region.  About 85,000 people lived there.  During my visit, I got to preach at a little church using an interpreter.  At the end of my message an old man came into the back of the church.  The interpreter was not where I was in the back of the church but here is what the people said happened.  I was speaking English to a group, and we were talking about our mission, our Savior and just sharing the Gospel.  The old man walked up and said, in Portuguese, "I heard the Americans were here and I want to become part of your church and give my life to Jesus."  He had overheard the conversation, in English.  He had missed my "eloquent" message.  But he was ready to follow Jesus.  Until I reread both of the above stories, I didn't understand.  Then, I realized God's message getting into the ears and hearts of people, depended less on me and totally on the movement of God's Spirit.

I am speaking this month about what we do on "The Day After The Day Of Pentecost."  When the Spirit comes, don't we go out and proclaim the Gospel?  Don't we tell our stories (bold witness) of how God has changed and transformed our lives?   Don't we tell everyone how Jesus has opened our ears and eyes to the truth and beauty of His message?

Every day, as I speak to people all over the nation about God's movement in the Global Methodist Church, I get to share my witness, and His story.  I think this is what Peter (1 Peter 2:5) meant when he wrote, "you, also, like living stones are being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood ..."  Not tombstones that say, someone died here.  Living stones saying, "Look what God has done and is doing here."  All of this is a new language to many of the people I speak with.  They (we) have never been in this place in the context of our chosen "body of believers."  They are excited, thankful and expectant as God gives them (and us) words of witness.  Don't worry if you think you lack eloquence or words to tell what God has done ... the Spirit has broken the curse of Babel, and God will do whatever translation is needed.  Randy

Monday, July 24, 2023

Setting the Sails

If you were part of Nicey Eller's VBS Bible study, you might remember that one of the slides said ... "Don't pray for wind ... set the sails."  I love that thought, but in a small town where we a) believe we have tried it all, b) we think we know all the people and c) we think we are moving along in "OK" fashion, we have a few obstacles.  Some are happy with where things are and, truth be told, want things to stay the way they are.  Some are unhappy with things and want to direct change and blame people, situations or things (I understand this ... we want a quick fix).  But some ... probably only a few ... might have a solidly-Biblical understanding of movement, power and God's provision.  I will speak, today, to all of these people, whether you listen or not.  The prophet Ezekiel was told by God ... "If you fail to warn the people, it is on your head, but if you warn them and they are unresponsive, it is on their head."  So ... here is my instructive warning for today.

First, we are not a Church that is waiting for the power of God.  Jesus said, in Acts 1, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you." In Acts 2, this happened.  The receiving of power is a factual and real event that has happened.  Stop waiting.  Don't' pray for wind ... set the sails.

Second, God's power through God's Church is often manifested by understanding how God works.  Do you want God's power in our Church and in our lives?  Step out in faith!  In Joshua 3:14-17 we find a group of obedient people who have been given direct information about how God works.  they could have balked ... they could have questioned God ... they could have waited for a more clear message ... they could have done nothing.  But they did what God asked.  12 priests step into the Jordan River at flood stage, expecting God to do just what He said, and their action said, "We are invested whether we cross on dry ground or whether we drown."  Faith in the unseen.  Faith in the knowledge of God as a promise-keeper.  Faith in a God that has power over the seen and the unseen.

Let's devote our time and energy to expecting God's action and power.  Let's start setting our sails ... for the wind (ruach [Hebrew], pneuma [Greek]) of the Spirit has been given!  Randy

Sunday, July 16, 2023

You Gotta Move

Do you ever overcomplicate God's work in your life?  We over think.  We over analyze.  We over plan.  We just plain process God's call until we can place it in the past.  Then we move on ... but not where God wants us.

There is a story Jesus tells us about this.  In Luke 9 the 12 Disciples are sent out.  That important event is the backdrop for Jesus telling the disciples and prospective followers about the cost of discipleship.  The conversation begins with someone saying, "Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go (Luke 9:57)."  But Jesus knows people like this man (and you and me).  Words are easy and sometimes empty.  Jesus tells the man and all who are listening about discipleship, ending the conversation with these words ... "Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God."

I will let us all ponder on this statement for the coming week, as I pray and plan for our service and message.  But I can't help but think about an old blues song by a group of "found" hippies from the Vietnam Era called the Lost Dogs.  They sing a song we will try to sing Sunday.  It is called, You Gotta Move.  One line goes like this ... You may be high, you may be low, you may be rich child, you may be poor ... but when the Spirit says move, you gotta move.

There is a profoundness to the simplicity to these lyrics.  First, God's activity and action isn't based on your feelings or your situation ... when God wants you to move, you gotta move.  Second, your socio-economic status doesn't matter to God ... when God wants to move you, you gotta move.  When God's Spirit chooses to do something, it moves from an idea to a fact.

So ... are you a fan of Jesus, or are you in the dangerous game of following and serving?  Has the Spirit said "move" to you?  If so, then you gotta move!  

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Disguised and Revealed

In the novel Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis exposes the nature of both evil and good.  The setting is training from a senior demon to an apprentice demon.  The senior demon's general approach is to conceal, obfuscate, evangel and trick the human subject into behavior that will lead to destruction.  This is consistent with the Biblical titles for Satan as "Father of Lies,"  "Accuser," "Adaddon (destroyer), "Prince of Demons," and "Tempter."  Lewis understood the nature and purpose of Satan.

In our series where we seek to become a church that acts like a church plant, I will take a moment to expose some ways that Satan will attempt to take us off course and away from God.  You only have to look as far as the Acts Church to find examples.  First, Acts 1 sees the disciples seeking to spend time, energy and effort on knowing when Jesus will restore the kingdom of Israel.  Maybe we want to know when Christ will bring our church back to its "glory days."  Maybe we want to know when Jesus will restore our nation to its heyday.  Maybe we are seeking to know when Jesus will return, and we crave some prophetic clue.  I think all of these desires are quelled by Jesus' answer to the disciples in Acts 1 ... "It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority (Acts 1:7)."  Jesus, instead, turns the disciples toward the more important and relevant matters ... 1) receiving the power of the Holy Spirit and 2) being Jesus' witnesses everywhere (both of these things destroy Satan's hold on them).

Acts 4 brings the religious authorities into the mix.  Evil always tries to discredit and suppress truth and God's message. Peter and John are healing and witnessing in the name of Jesus.  Satan, and those with religious authority, oppose Jesus' message, and Peter and John are jailed and brought before the authorities.  Peter and John proclaim the Gospel message to the leaders and we find one of the greatest compliments in Scripture ... "they took note that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13)."  The leaders warn Peter and John to stop speaking in Jesus' name.  Peter and John respond, "We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."  

Acts 5 brings us another part of Satan's message to people.  In Acts 2 and 4 we read that the believers share their possessions.  In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira become examples of what happens when our possessions own us.  They lie to God about their possessions and they lie to the Bride of Christ, the Church.  Their very lives are demanded for their deception.

So ... how do these examples expose Satan and reveal the nature of the Church?  Satan wants us to expend life and energy seeking knowledge that won't benefit us or others ... God wants us to seek His Spirit and the lost.  Satan wants us to seek religion ... God wants us to seek Him and His kingdom.  Satan wants to place God's message in the box of our comfort and control ... Jesus wants us to follow Him and tell everyone the truth of the Gospel.

As we seek to be a church that lives out our faith like a church-plant, let's remember that Satan will oppose us.  He will divert us to non-essential things.  He will tell us to be religious instead of faithful.  He will tell us to be focused on our stuff, not the needs of others.  He will disguise these things as virtues.  But God's Spirit will reveal them and lead us into truth (John 16:13 says ... "all truth").  Now that is a promise I will claim!  How about you?

Monday, July 3, 2023

Acting Like A Church Plant

Last Sunday I used words from an old song, which are also words in a new song.  The old hymn is "The Solid Rock."  The line from the song is "I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name."  I love this line about relying on the right thing.  This is especially important in our current state as a "new congregation."

Many of you probably wondered about that last phrase ... "new congregation."  Some are saying, "We have been right here since 1896!  We aren't new!"  Others are saying, "My sons and daughters were part of this church!"  But let's remember, on November 7th, 2022 we became one of the first Global Methodist congregations in the old Alabama-West Florida (Now Alabama Emerald Coast) Conference.  I hope we can lay claim to the "new thing" God speaks about through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 43 ... "See, I am doing a new thing.  Now it springs up!  Do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

On July 2nd I spoke to about 30 people at Webb Methodist.  They were from Webb, Denton Road Methodist and Mt. Zion Methodist.  They were small congregations and were concerned that they were alone, isolated and simply forgotten.  I wanted to assure them that the Global Methodist Church would not forget them and that the "new" focus was not on what a Bishop called the "mother church" but was on the local church, whatever the size.  As I spoke to these good people, I came to a realization.  If one of our goals, as Global Methodists, is newness and not repeating the errors, omissions and mistakes of our former denomination, what could we do?  How about this novel idea?

1) Claim Isaiah 43:19 and become a "new thing" that God is doing
2) Claim Isaiah 43:19 and become a way in the wasteland
3) Claim Isaiah 43:19 and becomes streams (living water) in the wilderness
4) Claim Isaiah 43:18 and "forget the former things and do not dwell in the past."

Another way to frame this conversation is ... act like a church plant!  During the month of July (a month in which we remember freedom and liberty) we will intentionally focus on this idea of newness, becoming a way, becoming living water and becoming those who look forward, not back.  Our Vacation Bible School will invite adults to a 3-day series called "Still Day One - Living In The Day After The Day Of Pentecost."  Nicey Eller will lead this study, and it will be awesome!  I will send a link to the book, and you can come at 5:30pm July 8-10.  Our sermons in July (and maybe August) will focus on being/becoming like a church plant.

When I read Isaiah 43:18-19 and overlay it on the book of Acts, I am shocked by the suddenness of how new life, new believers and new problems/solutions just happen.  We will talk about some of these stories and how the Acts church can inform a little congregation in Abbeville, Alabama.  I invite you for how we become a way, living water, a church that lives into a new future, and a congregation that "wholly leans on Jesus' name."  Randy

Monday, June 26, 2023

Free Indeed!

In John 8, Jesus is having a conversation with Jews about an oft-discussed subject, relationship.  The people are resting on their relationship to Abraham, claiming that their connection to Abraham, in itself, makes them holy, free and chosen.  The Jews of Jesus' time claimed that this relationship to the patriarch, Abraham, was a 'get out of jail free' card that gave them claim to connection with God.  Jesus debunks this misconception quickly when He speaks about truth, relationship and freedom.  Here's what Jesus says:

1. Jesus says truth is freeing.  "know the truth and the truth will set you free (v:32)!"  We have lots of issues with truth these days.  Last week a CEO convinced 4 other people that his certainty (feeling/knowledge) about the safety of a deep-water submersible was more "true" than empirical testing of carbon-fiber as a proper material for constructing such a vessel.  His false information meant death for him and the 4 other passengers that died in what was called a catastrophic implosion.  Truth can set you free but falseness can be deadly.  Jesus said, "Don't rely on your perceived relationship with Abraham ... you are not following the truth of his witness!"

2. Jesus says your "familial" relationship is important to life.  He spoke to believers reminding them to "remain true to His teachings (v:31)."  Jesus tells the followers to follow Him, his teachings and His "true" relationship to the Father.  He continues to tell those who are trying to rationalize their status, "you are children of your father the devil (v:44)."  He then reminds them, and us, of a sign of sonship ... "If God were your Father, you would love me (v:42)."  Are you in a loving relationship with Jesus?  Do you express your love by placing Jesus as your #1 priority?

3. Jesus says that He is the source of true freedom.  "He whom the Son sets free is free indeed (v:36)."  Are we free?  As we celebrate freedom and America's birthday, let us remember the source of true freedom ... Jesus.

I wonder if Jesus walked down "main street America" and asked, "Are you free?"  Many would respond, "Of course ... we live in America!"  I think Jesus would reply, "Why are you relying on your relationship as a US citizen as your source of real freedom," just as He cautioned Jews not to rely on their Abrahamic roots as freedom.  Truth, relationship and Jesus are our sources of freedom.  And, while you won't hear this in most schools, our nation was built on these foundations.  Let's hold fast to the things that are the underpinning and anchors of our freedom!  Randy

Monday, June 19, 2023

Choose Your Yoke!

Jesus is all about Freedom!  He came to set the captives (that is ALL of us) free!  Good stuff for sure.  What is this freedom like?  Scripture tells us the answer!

Here is the hard and beautiful truth.  We are people who will wear a yoke ... but which one?  Here is what God's word says ... "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!  Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1)."  There is a yoke of slavery, from which Christ has freed us.  I cannot stress enough the importance of what we believe and how we incorporate those beliefs into our lives.  Moses tells Israel, "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying Him and committing yourself firmly to Him.  This is the key to your life.  And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."  Choosing God is freedom, and life.  Choosing to follow the world and the prince of this world (Satan) is choosing bondage.  "Do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery" Paul pleads!

There is another yoke we can wear.  Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30)."  Like Moses, I advise you to choose the Lord, for the Lord is life itself.  Like Jesus I advise you to choose Jesus' yoke, which is a light and easy burden.  Like Paul I advise you to not allow yourselves to be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.

As we celebrate freedom and the birthday of America, let us remember the godly foundations upon which our nation is built.  Many of us mistakenly think this "freedom" is doing what we want to do.  But our founding fathers knew that to build a nation you need a foundation (they posed the foundation of 'under God") ... you need structural integrity (they posed rules/laws contained in our constitution) ... you need leaders who value the foundation and structure more than they value feelings or their personal gain.  Maybe the writer of one of our songs this morning knew this ... "who more than self, their country loved, and mercy more than life."

Which yoke will you choose?

Monday, June 12, 2023

Spirited Discipline

There is a viral video of generational responses to being accidentally bumped while entering a store.  The video is telling and (I think) scary!  The 60-year-old gives the offender a bit of a scowl and moves on.  The 30-year-old looks around for help.  The 18-year-old cries, "He hurt me!"  It is interesting how people respond to difficulty, struggle and adversity when they have been sheltered from all negative things.  I wonder if the greatest "sins" in our current society are words/actions that hurt someone's feelings and fail to affirm them.  What does the Bible say?

Hebrews 12:5b-6 says, "Do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves and He chastens everyone He calls a son."  The entirety of the passage connects discipline, fatherhood and sonship/daughtership as part of a holy and good dynamic.  In fact, it says that if God (the Father) does not discipline you, then you are not connected to Him ... you are not true sons/daughters.

In our world today, we can continue to follow the world's way of allowing undisciplined, poorly-informed and self-focused children to run our homes and their lives.  The Bible not only calls this a recipe for disaster ... it actually created a disconnection between children and parents.  The Bible offers a different way.  For in discipline (both criticism and training) we do the heavy lifting of relationship-building that proclaims ... 1) we care how you are doing and what you are doing, 2) we want to tell and show you the right way (Proverbs 22:6 "train up a child") and , 3) we want a growing relationship with you that lasts all of our lifetimes.

I will leave this blog with a question ... "Why do you think structured teachers/leaders (even drill sergeants) are loved and respected by their students?"  Hebrews 12 has that answer too!  Randy

Monday, June 5, 2023

The Account

Over the past months, I have experienced a timidity in Christian circles that is troubling.  Here is what I have often seen unfold.  I will converse with someone who is in a church that has left the United Methodist denomination (please pray for all involved with these painful transactions).  I will ask, "What are you and your congregation doing now?"  They will respond with something like, "We just thought we would wait awhile and see what unfolds."  What they are really saying is, "We are waiting till we find a safe and comfortable place to land ... then we will make our decision."  It is how they have done "church" for decades.  I want to ask, "How has that worked for you?"

I thought about this as I read Acts 2 and Ephesians 1.  Acts 2 disciples are anything but safe and comfortable.  Jesus and the Father have kept their promise in sending the Holy Spirit.  The disciples (becoming 'sealed' with the Holy Spirit as described in Ephesians 1) have chosen to open that seal and let the Holy Spirit work through/in them as they have gone out into the dangerous world of their time.  They are in Jerusalem, post-resurrection.  They are part of a movement that is being and will be (forcefully) persecuted by the authorities.  Yet they run out into the street, proclaiming the message that Jesus (the one illegally/wrongly tried and crucified by the authorities) is the means of forgiveness, justification and salvation for all people.  Thousands repent and become Christ-followers.  All who are believers have been given the Holy Spirit as a "seal" or what I am describing as an "account."  The Acts 2 disciples have decided to open that account and spend the gifts God has given them.  No timidity here!

The question of Acts, Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit is the question of the Church ... "Brothers, what will we do (Acts 2:37)?"  Peter answers the question ... repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit (the account God wants to offer all of us).  So ... what will YOU do?

Ephesians 1 says, 1) when we were baptized we were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and 2) God made a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.  If you are a believer, YOU have an account deposited in your name, "to the praise of His glory (the ending of Ephesians 1:14)."  "What will you do?"

Bishop Scott Jones, in a presentation I heard in Birmingham a few weeks back, said something that is very telling (and a confession on his part).  He said, "I think we need to rethink and relearn being the church ... something we have gotten wrong for the last 50 years."  Whether we have sought our comfort and our safety ... whether we have forgotten the boldness of going out into enemy territory ...  whether we are too far removed from the days when Joshua and his people battled giants and won ... whether we have buried our talent in the ground, waiting for a safe time to take our unopened account and offer it back to God ... our account is sealed and waiting for us to open it and let God release His Church into the world, "to the praise of His glory."  AMEN

Monday, May 29, 2023

Welcome?

I really like one of the songs we sing in the 1st service during the season of Pentecost.  The song is titled Holy Spirit.  The words go ... "Holy Spirit, you are welcome here."  The disciples at Pentecost believed and invited this.  Earlier this year Asbury College invited this.  It was powerful, uncomfortable, life-changing, scary and beautiful all at once.  Acts 2 says the sound of the coming of God's Spirit was so loud and powerful people came running.  I wonder what we would have done?  Would we welcome the Holy Spirit in this place?

Sunday we will be singing about God's Spirit coming to us.  Let's look at our track record of welcoming manifestations of God.  The prophets came, filled with God's Spirit, and they testified to God's knowledge and power.  They prefaced their remarks (often) with the words, "This is what the Lord says."  They were killed, and their rejection was one of the reasons why God sent a prophetic famine that lasted 400 years.  That famine was broken by John the Baptist, who announced the coming of Jesus.  They killed him too.  Jesus comes on the scene and for a three-year period, Jesus preaches with power, miracles and truth, challenging all of us (including those in powerful positions).  You are (I hope) starting to get the point ... He was killed too.  Truth and anointing by God's Spirit are opposed by this world.

But the question here isn't about what Israel, political leaders and religious authorities did in the past.  The question is ... what will we do?  Will we lead those 8 children on the front row last Sunday to conform to this world or to be transformed into the dangerous, uncomfortable, powerful, scary and life-changing world of life in the Spirit?  Will we run into the street ... clamor to get to Church so we can be part of what God is doing ... raise a hallelujah to God in the presence of conflict ... own our part of being inside God's will?  Are we afraid we will be opposed?  Or ... maybe we are afraid our lifestyles will be challenged, confronted or changed.

Can we sing ... "Holy Spirit you are welcome here, come flood this place and fill the atmosphere, your glory Lord is what my heart longs for, to be overcome by your presence Lord."  Come Holy Spirit ... fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love! AMEN