Let It Be Said Of Us

This morning's service was encouraging and challenging, don't you think? I'm not going to write much this afternoon, but wanted to leave you with one line from our closing song that really stuck out to me:

That with gladness we bore every cross we were given

Take a moment to reflect on that phrase, meditate on the key words: gladness, cross, given, were the ones that stood out for me....

Is this statement true for you? Have you carried each cross that's been given you with gladness?

A Quote...

This is a thought provoking quote (at least I found it to be) from Tim Challies blog. Spend a moment reading it and thinking about how it applies to your life...


"...it occurred to me as I spoke that many Christians are perhaps like me when I drive--they rely on someone or something to give them the easy answers without having to do the hard work themselves. And perhaps pastors are sometimes prone to simply give out the answers without helping the men and women of their churches learn to think for themselves. After all, if a person approaches me with a question related to theology or the Christian life, I have different options available to me. I can simply respond with my understanding as if what I say is undoubtedly true, or I can help that person find the answer on his own. While I will grant that there are times when a short answer is fitting, more often, I think, we do well to teach people to think independently. It is better, I am convinced, to send people to the Bible where they can sort out the directions on their own, following turn-by-turn, so that they truly understand where they have come from and where they are going. In this way they learn to think for themselves, they learn to search the Scriptures, they learn to think biblically.

It is easy and even comforting perhaps, to rely on that simple and automatic guidance. But it is far better, I am sure, that we learn to do the work for ourselves. As for me? Well, I still use the GPS but I'm learning that I need to supplement it with my own research. Too often it has told me where to go, only to find that I don't know where I am or where I've been. It's great for what it is, but I can't let myself trust it implicitly."

Joshua 14:11 / "Step By Step You'll Lead Me"

I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. (NLT)

Wow... I hope that someday in the future I will have the confidence like Caleb to say the same about my life. Now, we know from this passage in Joshua, that Caleb commissions to Joshua how the Lord had promised him land: he requests his land. And if we read before verse 11, Caleb shares with us that, "10The Lord has kept him alive and well"; thus, being the reason why he requests his land. Moreover, to why I stated at the beginning to hopefully someday fulfill the same allegation as Caleb; however, for the course of the very day Jesus entered my heart, the start of my journey (instead of how Moses sent out Caleb on his journey). Surely, in the same way, it is for all of us and our journeys along side Jesus to eventually proclaim: "I am as strong now as I was when [Jesus] sent me on [my] journey, and I can still travel and fight (that is to tussle when sharing the Gospel of course) as well as I could then!" Furthermore, I am reminded of an amazing analogy, illustration, anecdote or whatever you want to call it.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me... (Matt 11:29). "The picture is of two oxen pulling a cart or plow, one of them a veteran, the other a youngster in training" - J. I. Packer.

This next part, something essential to keep in mind on our focused path, our life journey along side Jesus.

"A wooden yoke fastened over both their necks links them side by side. The young ox, paired with the veteran, learns to pull by imitating the other; indeed it's only choice for comfort in this twosome is to keep in step with the older partner. In the disciple's case, pairing with Jesus and learning from Jesus will be a lifelong business" - J. I. Packer.

I challenge those of you who are not in step with Jesus to go on a walk, or whenever you find yourself traveling from one place to another on foot, to imagine this wonderful illustration of yourself baring arms with our one and only Saviour, Jesus Christ. Maintaining a fixation on which when you slow down or drift away (reflect on your life), that your intentions may not have been completely focused on God and that they need to be corrected in order to consistantly walk with joy, peace, and comfort to which God is in control and will never disappoint. This has always been an intimate time for me and I hope the same for those who read this as well.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight! - Proverbs 3:5-6

Desperation

I came across an interesting - and somewhat disconcerting - article on TheSpec.com, our local newspaper's online channel, read it here. The paper reports an estimated 30% increase in visits to psychics and mediums in our current economic state. How sad! Rather than turn to the One True God, our family members, neighbors, friends and coworkers are turning to crystal balls and tarot cards to find hope.

One interviewee said this, referring to the cost of psychic advice (around $120USD/hr):

While Lamont and Aguilar acknowledge the price is high, Lamont says that Calibre was able to provide something she couldn't find consulting friends, families or her therapist.

"He just really gave me some little hope that things will be OK and I'm going in the right direction," she says.

How disappointing it is to see people's hearts turn in this direction. I highlighted the words that struck me immediately. People are looking for hope, they are looking for reassurance and are paying large sums of money to find it. How deceiving! Lamont and Aguilar are correct in one sense though, they can't find what they are looking for through friends, families or therapists... little do they know, they will be disappointed (ultimately) with their psychic as well. Such hope has no lasting value, no eternal value, to be sure.

Friends, my heart aches for these people. Their desire for hope is clear, but their methods are faulty, and spiritually dangerous. I am reminded this morning that we need to be beacon's of light and hope for those with whom we have contact. Many people are stressed, financially overburdened and losing hope - we need to show them that we have hope - not false hope from "spiritualists" and mediums, but true, lasting, eternal hope, from God's Word!!

Pray for those around you, pray for your family members, your friends and neighbors, your coworkers. They are desperate for the truth. If only they would turn to Jesus, and not psychics. Hamilton is a hub of psychic and spiritual oppression - do not be naive to think that Hamilton is any different than other cities - it may in fact be more oppressed! Pray for our city, but most importantly, pray for God's people to be salt and light, to be beacon's of hope and truth. That we would be filled with a desire to tell people about Jesus, and that He would go before us and change hearts, opening them, that they may hear the truth and receive it.

People will continue to look for security and hope. The Bible speaks of mediums and spiritual people that deceive many. Times have changed, but methods (largely) have not.

Desperation indeed.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, he wasn't Irish, nor was he canonized as a "saint", but nevertheless, today we celebrate St. Patrick. I hope you're wearing green!

Mark Driscoll posted some interesting information about Patrick on his blog, so I'll let you click here and read his post, rather than trying to craft my own. I know it sounds like I'm taking the easy way out... and I am. What can I say... busy day at the office!

At any rate, enjoy Mark's post, and enjoy your St. Patrick's Day!

Remembering Israel's Journey: Numbers 33:1-2

1 This is the itinerary the Israelites followed as they marched out of Egypt under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the LORD'S direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places they stopped along the way. NLT

Over the past year I have been challenged by a friend and mentor to order and manage my daily scheduling. To this effect, I hoped for better organization in my life and ultimately a stable way of seeking purpose God brings to me each day. I'm sure most of us have agenda's and can't live without them. It is as though our lives need order and management; namely with our jobs, family, hobbies....but what about our management with God? As I read verse 2,

"At the LORD'S direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress. These are the stages of their march, identified by the different places they stopped along the way"

I see an incredible opening, not only for the purpose of leading into the account of Israel's incredible journey which follows, but also an opening with the purpose of manifesting the idea of how important it is for all of us to record the many stages of our lives and the places we stop along the way as well! We can see if we read on that the list contains 40 places in all, all within the same journey; and so it should be the same for us: to keep a record of the events of our lives, our journey. With this objective in mind, many are probably thinking - "I already have an agenda" and "I am already very organized" - yet, I would like to touch on the question I left earlier: "what about our management with God?" I'm not saying to record everything like you would a day to day agenda, but it helps to have and keep a 'journal' or 'diary' (whatever you want to call it) for the purpose of recording the progress of our lives alongside the path of our spiritual growth.

We have an example from this excerpt of a record of travel; however, so much more can be recorded and is intended for us to record for the sake of recapitulation of the Holy Spirit's continual intercession in our lives. We can record prayer items, ambitions, times of extravagant joy....just about anything. This is just one form of practice primarily to exhilarate the depth in our relationship with our heavenly Father and his Son Jesus: to which extent meet us each day with purpose and endless love and hope!

Furthermore, if we have faith and desire to seek out this disciple, we will receive many blessings. Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him".

In conclusion, I see Numbers 33:1-2 teaching us an important lesson. "[With] the Lord's direction, [we should keep] a written record of [our] progress". It is my hope that with this discernment we can write and reflect upon what God is doing in our lives and the direction God is pointing us in each day, week, month. I leave with Psalms 16:9...

"Because of this my heart is glad, and my glory is full of joy: while my flesh takes its rest in hope".

Better than I deserve...

The other day, I quoted and reflected on a book I read by CJ Mahaney. At the end of the book, he told a short story that I've been thinking about ever since.

Mahaney was reflecting on how amazing it is to receive such abundant grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus. People ask us, usually multiple times a day, "How are you?", or a casual "Hey, how ya doin' today?" We often shrug these comments off and give short answers that are more often than not, lies. "Oh, I'm fine," we'll say, "I'm good!", adding this obligatory "How are you?" for the sake of being polite.

Mahaney often responds, "Better than I deserve". Surely this kind of response would be met with raised eyebrows, and hopefully, a question. Mahaney takes that chance to explain why he's better than he deserves. Namely, because we, as sinners, deserve only punishment and condemnation. We deserve hell.

Yet, by the grace of God, we are here - living and breathing - going about our days, complaining about the cold.

Yeah, it's cold out there. But I'm better than I deserve, that's for sure. I'll encourage you to use this phrase, or one similar - it's a bold move to be sure - but it's one that is sure to open up conversations!

Exodus 25:8 / A Sacred Residence

8 I want the people of Israel to build me a sacred residence where I can live among them. (NLT)

Recently reading through Exodus has been both extensive and an insightful experience. Exodus, as most of us are aware of is a book in which God reveals his name, his attributes, his redemption, his law and how he is to be worshiped.

While looking back at some highlighted and starred verses, I couldn’t help but share how crucial such a small verse (vs.8) must of meant to people in the time of building the Tabernacle; Tent of Meeting, but also in the lives of people today. With that said, I see this drawing a parallel for the prayer life today; by means of how we are to go and seek time to spend with God silently. God wants his people to “build a sacred residence” where He can live among them! I find it of great importance to have such a sacred residence where I can go out of sight, out of mind.

Prayer held in a private and detached setting is of the most importance to many biblical characters and is such an exercise taught from the big man himself: Jesus! Prayer should be carried out in such a place as described in Matthew 6:6 - "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you". That’s sounds advice. We will not only be rewarded, but such a place provides and builds intimacy with God as it says at the end of Exodus 25:8 - "where [God] can live among [us]. How powerful!

Emphatically, I can even say that from experience in practicing this vital principle on prayer - has done wonders for me. God will always meet us where we are and slowly move us along into deeper things. God can transform our lives through such intimacy. We will, “begin to think God’s thoughts after him: to desire the things he desires, to love the things he loves, to will the things he wills” (Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster).

May we all go out and find that place (bedroom, closet, car, etc…) of sacred residence where we can pray in secrecy and fortitude.

Sacred Marriage : IV

Holy Honor: Marriage Teaches Us to Respect Others

I've somehow gotten off track with the Sacred Marriage posts, so I thought I'd try to get back on that topic today. If you're like Kristin and I, when you were first married you became acutely aware of some small differences. "This is a tea towel," Kristin would remind me, "and this towel is used for drying your hands, and it goes here." This made no sense to me whatsoever. A towel is a towel right? Apparently not, at least not at Kristin's parents house. Maybe it's where jackets and coats are stored, where dirty dishes go or where you keep the Tylenol. Maybe it's wearing shoes in the house or what drawer the cutlery goes in. Surely all of us married folk have had to endure these conversations.

If we have to endure long periods of time with these kind of conversations, we have a tendency to embrace, at first, a low level of contempt, which then breeds higher levels of contempt and resentment. That's the topic of this chapter.

The author, Gary Thomas, says,

"All of us have a visceral desire to be respected. When this desire isn't met, we are tempted to lapse into a self-defeating response. Rather than work to build our own life so that respect is granted to us, we work to tear down our spouse in a desperate attempt to convince ourselves that their lack of respect is meaningless. Spiritually, this becomes a vicious and debilitating cycle that is extremely difficult to break.
God has a solution that, if we adopt it, will revolutionize our relationships. While many people fight to receive respect, Christian marriage calls us to focus our efforts on giving respect. We are called to honor someone even when we know only too well their deepest character flaws. We are called to stretch ourselves, to find out how we can learn to respect this person with whom we've become so familiar. And in this exploration, we are urged to "have contempt for contempt.'"

I thought this was wise advice. I know that too often I've fallen into this trap - thinking that I am owed more respect, and tearing down my wife. For this I have often repented. Thomas wisely points out that we need to focus on giving respect and looking for those bright spots, just as Paul did many of the churches to whom he wrote (consider the church in Corinth - 1Cor. 1:4, "I always thank God for you..." - despite their flaws!).

Betsy and Gary Ricucci, in Love That Lasts, write,

"Honor isn't passive, it's active. We honor our wives by demonstrating our esteem and respect: complimenting them in public; affirming their gifts, abilities, and accomplishments; and declaring our appreciation for all they do. Honor not expressed is not honor."

One final comment from Thomas:

"Contempt is conceived with expectations. Respect is conceived with expressions of gratitude. We can choose which one we will obsess over - expectations, or thanksgivings. That choice will result in a birth - and the child will be named either contempt, or respect."

I pray that these words are of great encouragement to you - and to your marriage. May you seek, and find, thanksgiving and respect in your marriage.