Posted by David on February 16, 2006 under Bulletin Articles
It is unlikely that any time of the year is more associated with joy than the Christmas season. The Christmas trees, lights, food, and gifts all declare joy. One of the most popular songs of the season declares, “There is no place like home for the holidays.”
Weeks are devoted to “peace on earth, good will toward men.” Churches talk ceaselessly about the wonders of God sending His son. Both talk and pageants include Mary, Joseph, the baby, the wise men, the angels, the shepherds, and even the animals-all declaring the joy of this wondrous event.
If one heard only what we say about Jesus’ birth, he/she might conclude it was all joy. That would be concluded only if he/she heard our version of the story and ignored all other sounds from Bethlehem.
The rage of a godless man is immune to the sounds of sorrow. Herod the Great was so insensitive, paranoid, and jealously protective of his position that he killed babies. When this crafty man angrily realized that the magi would not make it easy for him to pinpoint his opponent, he killed male infants two years of age and under. He took no chances!
He did not stop at Bethlehem! He also killed male infants in the surrounding area! Because of the insecurity of one adult, infants were killed! Do not talk to the grieving parents of Bethlehem about the joys of Jesus’ birth!
The sorrow and grief created by the loss of a child is unique! In that ancient world-without our modern medicines and procedures-the male infants survived nine months of pregnancy, birth, and perhaps several months of life. For what? Only to be torn from the arms of grieving parents to satisfy the cruelty of an insecure man!
Can you hear Bethlehem’s grief? Can you hear the sorrow created by the flash of a sword or the thrust of a spear as a family’s next generation needlessly disappeared?
In the words from Jeremiah 31:15 the author quoted this poignant statement:
“. . . she refused to be comforted, because they were no more.”
As often is the case, when God gives us a great moment of joy, Satan gives us a great moment of sorrow. Yet, Satan’s sorrow is never stronger than God’s joy! Never forget your joy is in the Lord-and keep your joy in the Lord!
Posted by David on February 9, 2006 under Bulletin Articles
“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
Numerous forms of the old joke about the army who shoots its wounded soldiers exist. The joke is funny only to those never wounded! For those wounded, the joke is cruel!
Some people who have spiritual wounds say of the church, “It shoots its wounded.” Who are the wounded? They are the weak. Who are the weak? That is a fascinating question!
First, weakness is a comparative term. If we compare two when one-in a specified consideration-is stronger than the other, one is weak and the other is strong. Take the weak one and compare him or her to someone who is weaker than he or she. Instantly he or she becomes strong and another becomes the weak person.
Second, none are always the strong. Someone always is stronger then “me.” However, the “eternal comparison” is never between two humans. It is always between Christ and us or God and us. In that comparison, we all are weak. If the church shoots its weak, we all will be shot.
Is it God’s objective to save or destroy us? Jesus’ cross is about saving people, not destroying people. Jesus’ resurrection is about hope, not about despair. The testimony is astounding! One in the Bible wrote, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:16, 17). Another wrote, “For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died” (1 Corinthians 8:11). He also wrote, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (1 Timothy l:15). Still another wrote, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Arrogance arises from confidence in our strengths. Wisdom arises from acknowledgement of our weakness.
All of us are weak. Please do not shoot me when you see another weakness. Help me! Encourage me to move to greater strength! Do not be concerned about “protecting the church.” God capably does that. Concern yourself with reflecting God’s character in helping the weak. Invest as much in my salvation as God does!
Posted by David on February 2, 2006 under Bulletin Articles
In this existence, sorrow comes in many forms. There is no escaping sorrow in this life. Even if there were no sickness, no disease, no pain, no needs based on privations, no struggles, no accidents, and no reverses, sorrow would exist.
“Oh, if I had all my needs met and never experienced physical pain, I would have no sorrow.” Really? Consider just two sorrows.
First is the sorrow produced by the unwise decisions or wasteful choices made by one we care about deeply. All of us experience seeing someone we care about doing or deciding something “dumb.” It is horrible to see one important to us make foolish choices! It is worse than horrible-it is the agony of a torn heart!
Second is the sorrow produced by aging. Picture a lifetime as an hour glass. In youth, there is so much sand in the top that life seems to stretch before you endlessly. When middle age comes, there is no reason for alarm. There is as much sand in top of the glass as at the bottom. Yet, the moment comes when the sand in the bottom is much larger than in the top. Strength diminishes. Energy diminishes. All desires diminish. The gnawing awareness is what “I could do” and what “I can do” are separate discussions. Often in that fact is the regret only sorrow understands.
Good news! There is something much, much larger than human sorrow. It is so big that not even an execution on a cross could end it! It is so huge that not even a tomb could hide it. It is so powerful that it is available to everyone! It is so wonderful that it can make any life endlessly meaningful! Incredibly, it has no age limit on its hope-it is for the old, the young, and all in between!
At the core of this good news is personal transformation. One of today’s advertising campaigns makes an “easy button” a popular concept. This is a superior button-it is the “renewal button.”
In Jesus Christ God provides us opportunity to start over. There is opportunity to become what God intended when He made us. We can be new creatures with new values and new purposes. Those values and purposes are not dependent on physical need, and they do not produce pain. They produce hope arising from the discovery of a new reality. Interested? Read Ephesians 4:17-24 and Colossians 3:1-11.
Posted by David on January 26, 2006 under Bulletin Articles
With me lately transition is the basic consideration and reality of every day. Goals change. Ambitions change. My list of “cannots” increases. My list of “wants” decreases. Pleasures decrease. Things I planned to do change. Things I want to do change. Pace changes. Rate of accomplishment changes. Frankly, at times I hardly recognize me.
I sincerely doubt God’s goals or ambitions concerning us change-ever! While He is incredibly patient with us, what He wants in us and for us is changeless. I sincerely doubt His “to do” list changes. Things that give Him joy are changeless. His plans do not change. His pace and rate of accomplishment do not change because His patience, mercy, and forgiveness are beyond human comprehension. (Read 2 Peter 3:8, 9 lately?) God’s pace is unhurried but certain. God is the same as He was when we were born, or even when humanity began-He is very recognizable.
The older I get the more unimportant I realize I am. At the same time, the older I get the more important I realize God is. I hope in some meaningful way I have been and am useful to God as He achieves His purposes. Yet, I realize that with or without me, God’s purposes will be done. I also realize most of my moments of urgent crises regarding the church are more a product of my fears than God’s realities. After all, God has worked with humans a long time. He knows what to expect from us. As much as we wish it were otherwise, I sincerely doubt that we surprise Him-ever!
To me it is incredible that we humans hold any significance to God. Were it not for us, God would have a lot less heartache and anxiety. Yet, for some unfathomable reason, we are important to Him. How important? Important enough for God to love us when we do not deserve His love or patience.
One of Paul’s favorite illustrations to describe our usefulness to God is the illustration of the body (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31). Among the many points Paul made in his illustration, two stand out to me. First, we serve the role in the body God gave us. The primary thing my large intestine, my pancreas, and my eyeball have in common is, thankfully, they are parts of my body-though you would never know it by looking at each individually. Second, while we are not able to perform the same functions, we each are useful to God’s purposes-if we perform the function He gave us.
Incredibly, to God there are no unimportant people when we as individuals have the courage to be a part of His people. Unlike humans, the issue with God is NEVER on what we cannot do. It is always on doing what we can do by being what we can be.
Thus the older I get, the more at peace I am with being unimportant-as long as God grows in importance to me.
Posted by David on January 19, 2006 under Bulletin Articles
This is a significant self-disclosure of God’s character often cited (Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 4:31; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalms 86:15; 103:8; Joel 2:13; Romans 2:4).
Note all that flows from God’s character because He primarily is a compassionate [merciful] God filled with graciousness. Because He is full of mercy and grace, He angers slowly and is filled with patience and truth [absolutely trustworthy, not deceitful].
That is quite in contrast to many people’s concept of God’s character. They often declare that the primary quality of God’s character is justice. Thus, expressions of God’s mercy and grace are “out of character.” He is constantly angry, barely holding His anger in check because of Jesus’ cross. He is impatient. He prefers condemnation to salvation. While He is truthful, He quickly remembers our flaws and failures-and cannot wait to punish them!
While there is no desire to diminish our rightful responsibility that makes us accountable for our choices (Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10), God’s character declares His desire to save rather than condemn (1 Timothy 2:3, 4; 2 Peter 3:9). The good news is this: God wants to save you and will do all in His power to secure your salvation. He is on our side. The cornerstone of His character is composed of grace arising from His mercy. He rejoices in human repentance. He patiently awaits the redirection of our lives. He never lets us down. He keeps His promises.
At some point [hopefully early in our relationship with God], the Christian must stop running from hell and start running to God. The Christian is not driven by judgment’s terror, but by love for God. Rather than fleeing consequences, God’s people are attracted to His character. They find God’s character admirable in every way. They want God’s character to become their character. That is what they prefer!
Thus their goal as God’s people in an evil world is to be a people of compassion whose grace arises from mercy. In their patience they want to anger slowly. In every way they want to be trustworthy and dependable. Why? That is the nature of their Father, and they are honored to show the world their Father in their character (Matthew 5:43-48).
Would you prefer to own a heart or control a body? God prefers to own hearts. God prefers love to terror. Terror breeds resentment. Love breeds loyalty. Those who know God are committed to love’s loyalty. Feel your responsibility, but also feel God’s love!
Posted by David on December 29, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
Tuesday we said farewell to George Thompson. After a long and valiant fight, George surrendered to the devastation of Parkinson’s disease. Again, we sought to extend comfort to Margaret, his sons, and his daughter.
Thursday we still again said good-bye to Thelma Blackburn as we sought to extend comfort to her daughter and extended family. Thelma at 94 had been sick for years and was unable to be with her spiritual family for so long.
For a few hours Friday night, it seemed sadness would visit us again. Jess Huff in a state of extreme confusion and weakness disappeared. Thankfully he was found in good condition after many of you spent a nervous period of anxiety and prayer.
I was proud of all the expressions of concern and outpouring of helpfulness throughout the week-everything from food coordination to visits! As powerful as all the expressions were on Monday and Tuesday, nothing made me more proud than the support the congregation gave the Blackburn family on Thursday.
Jeremy we knew. He grew up in this congregation. We saw his family every week. Roy was a part of the staff here for over 25 years and is now one of our elders. George and Margaret were here every week. He and Margaret were a weekly illustration of courage and faith in trying circumstances. Just their presence gave many of us strength.
Thelma was not known by many of us. She had been seriously ill for years. The past two years she suffered from Alzheimer’s Dementia. Illness and age prevented her from attending. And yet many who never met her were present Thursday to extend caring and comfort to the family. The family wanted her funeral in our auditorium. The full family numbered considerable less than twenty-in a room that would seat almost a thousand!
I have no doubt that we all were emotionally and physically exhausted that Thursday. It was a demanding, exhausting week! Still to come was Christmas day in only three days. Yet, you still came and in your weariness once again extended comfort by your presence and your words.
The biggest message we have to share with our community is who we are by virtue of Jesus Christ’s blessings and influence in our lives. In today’s realities, that is declared as certainly by our priorities in our lives as by our words. Last week you made a powerful statement by demonstrating your priorities. Thank you!
Posted by David on December 15, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
Religiously we declare faith in many things. “I have faith in our movement.” Or, “my congregation.” Or, “the leaders of my congregation.” Or, “the teachers in my congregation.” Or, “our preacher.” Or, “What I always have been taught.”
To me, one of the simplest statements regarding faith is found in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:1-3, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. … (verse 6) And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Speaking of the resurrection and all that follows that event, faith is the assurance the resurrection will occur. Faith is the conviction that though I did not see Jesus’ resurrection and have not seen mine, I live in confidence that Jesus was raised from the dead, and so will I be. The Christian sacrificially lives his or her life for the unseen that is not yet a part of his or her experience.
Faith even enables a Christian to understand how the world came to existence.
Faith in what? God the Father! There can be no hope of pleasing God unless I have faith in God. Two things must be believed: (1) I must believe God exists! (2) I must believe God rewards those who seek Him.
Regardless of how much you believe in “our religious movement,” that confidence is not enough. Regardless of how much you believe in “my congregation,” in the “leadership” of “my congregation,” in preachers past or present, in teachers past or present, in obedient acts past or present, or in issues past or present, such confidence is not enough.
One cannot come to God unless he or she has confidence in God’s existence and confidence in God’s ability to reward. There is no substitute for faith in God! Faith in God is not optional! We obey because we believe in God! We serve because we believe in God! We live our chosen lifestyle because we believe in God!
How sad it would be to approach God in judgment and say, “I placed my confidence in the Restoration Movement!” Or, “I believed in my congregation.” Or, “I trusted the men who led or taught me!” And have God respond, “That is true! However, you never placed confidence in Me.” Your faith is not questioned. However, the question is, “In what do you have faith?”
Let Jesus show you the Father and lead you to life! (John 14:6)
Posted by David on December 8, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
Take a moment to note something in God’s ancient promise to Abraham. God said “all families” would receive a blessing because of Abraham’s faith in God. Not just the nation of Israel, but all families. Not just a handful of elite people mysteriously selected by God, but all families. Not just the Jews of Jesus’ lifetime, but all families.
There was a moment when the Israelite foremen said to Moses, (my paraphrase) “I hope you are satisfied! The Egyptians hate us now! Because of what you have done, the Egyptians will kill us Israelite slaves!” (Read Exodus 5:21-23.) However, the patient God endured the faithlessness of the Israelite foremen.
There was a moment when escaping Israel was caught between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. They said at that moment in Exodus 14:12: “Is this not the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, ?Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” However, the patient God endured the contempt of a terrified people.
There was a moment when a bewildered Israel insulted God by reverting to idolatry. In Exodus 32:4 they even credited an idol for God’s act of deliverance. Yet, a patient God endured the insult of His people.
There was a moment when a faithless Israel was certain the Canaanites would defeat them and make their wives and children slaves. See Numbers 14:1-4. Yet, a patient God continued toward Christ in spite of the faithlessness of Israel.
The examples are numerous: Israel’s desire for a king; the division of Israel; the idolatry of both Judah and Israel; some of the horrendous situations the prophets wrote about; the rejection of Jesus. Yet, every time our patient God persevered.
To Christians John wrote these words in 1 John 1:5-10: “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”
Thank You, God, for Your patience. Without Your patience expressed in the forgiveness of Your mercy and grace, we would have no hope.
Posted by David on December 1, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
Centuries later Jesus declared in Mark 12:31, “The second is this, ?You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” This response was given to a question from a scribe about God’s most important commandment.
Still later Paul cited the same statement in Romans 13:9 as the summation of all the Ten Commandments that targeted humans’ treatment of humans.
Christians are likely more familiar with the concept in the statement Jesus made in the sermon on the mount in Matthew 7:12: “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” This concept is related to the same lesson in Matthew 5:47: “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles (people who do not believe in the living God) do the same?”
As a philosophical concept, most Christians would say this concept has great merit. “It would be wonderful if all people treated other people that way!” Yet, many Christians would say, “That simply is not the way our world works!”
Perhaps the irony is in this: As a concept, “love your neighbor as you love yourself,” is wonderful! As a practical way to live, the concept “just does not work.”
Speaking practically, what is the application of the concept? (1) Do you treat people who cause you hurt or whom you do not like with compassion, mercy, grace, and forgiveness? Or do you reserve those attitudes only for those you love? (2) Do you respond to people with criticism and judgment? (3) Are you quick to condemn without understanding situations and circumstances? (4) Are you thankful for insights that often deliver you from deplorable consequences and use those insights helpfully to rescue and encourage others? (5) Do you help someone who has made a mistake, or do you see that he/she pays the full price for their folly?
“Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Don’t you realize that is just not the way that people who do not belong to God act!” How true! BUT … that is the way people who know God should act! Therein always has been the contrast between the person who knows God and the person who does not know God.
The question IS NOT, “Does that kind of behavior work in a world that does not know God?” The question IS: “Do I have the courage produced by faith in God to be different-even when I am neither respected nor understood by those who do not know God?” Do you have the kind of faith in God that produces that kind of courage?
Truly, the knowledge of God makes people different. Someday those who know God will be part of a place and world where they belong because they “fit.” May your knowledge of God make you that kind of person!
Posted by David on November 17, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
When he turned 40, he bought a motorcycle and all the personal gear that went with cycling. His wife decided she was not going to let him ride alone while he was having “a mid-life crisis,” so she bought herself the personal gear to ride with him. When we heard him speak, he was way past 40, past his “crisis,” and past riding a motorcycle.
As he told that story (and it was hilarious-when Ira told it, it was always hilarious), he stressed this point. Whoever you intend to be as a person (personality, attitudes, outlook, etc.), work on it seriously before you are 40. Because, “Whoever you is at 40, you will only get isier!” (Do not expect something to come along and change you against your will.)
I do not know that 40 years of age is a “lock in” age. I do know: (a) change becomes harder to handle after 40 than before 40. Before 40 we thrive on change as we seriously wonder how the world could be so stupid as not to see the value of change. (b) After 40, we are more prone to defend than to discover. What we think “should be” is obviously good. Things differing from our perspective are bad. “Do you know what that will lead to” is a good destination prior to 40, but a bad destination after 40.
My point is this: there is never a time in life when you do not need to give careful attention to (a) who you are and (b) what you intend to become. If you are a grouch the first 50 years of your life, you likely will be a grouch till you die. If you are kind the first 60 years of your life, you likely will die as an unselfish, thoughtful person. You cannot live the lifestyle of a selfish person, or a complaining person, or a contentious person for years and years and suddenly, without effort, be transformed into a different person overnight.
Yes, repentance is possible. Yes, sobering awareness is possible. Yes, conversion is possible. Yes, redirection is possible. However, those things occur because you choose for them to occur. Such things do not happen without you, but because of you with God’s strength. Ultimately, it is true of all of us-we are who we choose to be. That choice was made slowly with years of personal focus and behavior. However, in the majority of instances we make that decision (or excuse ourselves from making it).
God provides the strength. We each make the choice. If you do not like yourself, talk to yourself. If you like who you are, thank God for the strength and guidance. Avoid the temptation to judge (every person’s circumstances are different). Choose to encourage!
Remember: You have to live with you for the rest of your life. And so does everyone else! Let God through Jesus teach you how to be a joy to be around.
