Posted by David on April 28, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
To me, one of the powerful evidences of God’s character distinctiveness is His patience. God is incredibly patient–determined, tenacious, and patient! Humans are not! Our commitment begins strong and decreases fast. Few humans “follow through.” We much too quickly give up! We much too quickly justify failure and discouragement! We much too quickly blame something or someone else!
Not God! He is determined! What He promises becomes fact! No human discouragement diverts Him from His intent!
Consider! From the moment Adam and Eve surrendered to the deception of temptation, God was determined to reclaim His creation. The fact that Cain killed Abel did not result in God’s surrendering His commitment! For God, it got worse! People became so evil they did not even think a decent thought (Genesis 6:5). Though God was grieved deeply, He did not quit! Even when God began again with Noah, even when Noah proved such a disappointment, God did not quit.
In fact, God’s purposes were enormous. He promised nothing less than being a blessing to all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3). Incredibly, God produced a nation from the childless Abraham. When those delivered people were unimpressed with all God did for them (Exodus 32:10), God did not think of quitting–He thought of starting over!
For centuries, Israel disappointed God repeatedly. Finally, Israel offended God so deeply that He could tolerate their rebellion no longer. Yet, when He announced this through His prophet Hosea, His declaration of accountability turned His stomach. Listen:
Hosea 11:8, 9 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled. I will not execute My fierce anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man, the Holy One in your midst, And I will not come in wrath.
Though Israel of old gave God no option, God did not want to give Israel His wrath.
Consider God’s incredible patience. For a long period, much over 2000 years, God was determined to send the Christ. In spite of centuries of rebellion, He did! For almost 2000 years after Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, God patiently has waited for people to claim their promised blessings. Human wickedness has not destroyed God’s forgiveness. Human imperfection has not destroyed God’s sanctification. Human failure has not destroyed God’s redemption. God will do everything for us He promised. God will bless us in every way He intended. If what? If we let Him. We, not God, are the problem. Do you use your life to bless God’s patience or to try God’s patience?
Posted by David on April 21, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
Times changed. Houses commonly were well insulated. Central heat became common experience in most homes. Thermostats kept an even, stabilized level of heat on most cold nights. While quilts still “felt good,” they were no longer the key to surviving a bitter winter night.
As times changed, quilts went from a means of surviving a cold night to an art form. We have a quilt given to us as a gift from one of my aunts (now deceased) that came from her hobby. She bought and coordinated material to produce specific quilt top patterns. Then she hired someone to quilt the “top” she made. She had no specific purpose for making her quilt tops — she merely enjoyed her hobby. She was not motivated by necessity, but by a good feeling from an art form.
God is a quilt maker. If He had His way, He would make a quilt that would cover every person in the whole world. Under His quilt would be eternal survival. This very special quilt is designed not only to preserve life but to give life. In its life-giving warmth all the covered live in joy, hope, and peace. All who enjoy the life and warmth granted through God’s quilt know this quilt is an undeserved gift of love.
God’s quilt is unique. No other quilt is like it. No other quilt can give what it gives. In the center of its top is a unique piece beyond duplication. We come to God’s quilt for the warmth of life. Then we become a part of the quilt, sharing warmth and life with others.
The center piece is made from the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By design, every other piece on that quilt top is connected to Jesus Christ (the connection is obvious!). The ragged and worn make the top. Ruined lives are its theme.
No one is “too far gone” to be in the quilt. Though it is made from the ordinary and worn, it is beautiful! It is both highly functional and incredibly beautiful!
God’s quilt is “a work in progress.” Time strengthens it rather than decaying it. As long as time continues, God adds pieces. God wants to include your life as a piece in His pattern — if you let Him. Find warmth, life, and acceptance under God’s quilt! Serve God as a piece in His quilt!
Posted by David on April 14, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
“If the prospect of having decent health insurance is so wonderful, what do you not like?” I do not like what age is doing to me. At least at this point for me, aging is the incredible journey that constantly discovers “what you cannot do any more.” One question I never had to ask myself as an adult was, “Can you do that?” In the past, if “it” needed doing and opportunity existed, I did it. No more! Now everything is prefaced with that awful question, “Can I do that?”
Now my key word at this point in life is “transition.” In the past I told myself, “If I need to, next year I can ?” Surely I was aware of life’s uncertainties, and hopefully I took little for granted. However, even with uncertainties I had options and opportunities. Today there are question marks, and they keep getting bigger! Even with life’s uncertainties, I liked options and opportunities much better than question marks!
In this time of transition, I constantly find a challenge that was totally unexpected. “What challenge?” The challenge to faith. As I look over things in my past, I always leave moments of reflection with the same question: “Did I do that because of faith in me or because of faith in God?”
I constantly find myself tested with this question: “Can God use this to accomplish His purposes?” That is not a new question or an age question. Many Christians encounter the same question with a health crisis, a disease crisis, a relationship crisis, a family crisis, a career crisis, or [in fact] a genuine crisis of any kind.
The faith issue for a Christian is quite simple: “Can God use adversity as well as blessing to achieve His purposes in human existence? Or, is adversity blessing us?” Somehow that sounds very un-American. However, it sounds very God-centered. The God who used a cross to provide me a perfect Savior can use my challenges and transitions to strengthen my salvation in Jesus Christ. The focus is not “do I like it.” The focus is God can use any human experience to achieve His purposes.
Ephesians 3:20, 21 “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
Posted by David on April 7, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
The history of Israel’s story and early Christianity’s story is filled with people who experienced struggles because they followed God. From the perspective of “here and now,” that appears to be a bad choice. Why make that choice when their world had no respect for their decision? Speaking of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, the author of Hebrews said this in 11:13-16:
“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”
Two reasons for their decision: (1) They understood God planned something special. (2) They understood that they did not belong in a world unconcerned about righteousness.
The something special God planned was Jesus. Because God agreed the righteous did not belong in an unrighteous world, He is preparing a place in which they do belong.
Physical existence without struggle is not an option-not in Christ, out of Christ, or sometimes in and out of Christ. Struggle is part of physical reality. God uses human struggle to accomplish eternal purposes. He always has, and He always will.
The issue is not, “Will I endure struggle?” The issue is, “Will I surrender my struggle to God and allow God to produce eternal good from the difficulties I experience?”
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Even Jesus, God’s own son, endured stress and surrendered to a cross!
Posted by David on March 31, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
The Jerusalem church was an incredibly large congregation. It began with 3000 (Acts 2:41). We average around 700 Sunday morning-we are not nearly as “big” as they where when they began! That number grew daily! By Acts 4:4 the number of men was about 5000. After the Christians Ananias and Sapphira died for lying, multitudes of men and women became disciples (Acts 5:14). The group was still increasing in number in Acts 6:1. By Acts 21:20, Christians in Jerusalem numbered in the tens of thousands.
An incredible fact: they did not define congregation as we define congregation. Though bigger than most of us can imagine, they had no building-as far as we know, they never had one. The church in Jerusalem was Jewish people who were called out from those who did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah in order to be Jesus’ disciples. He was their teacher and example. He taught them how to live as they focused on God’s purposes.
In this incredible growth in just Jerusalem, followers of Jesus Christ developed and maintained a sense of community. They cared about each other. When that caring was threatened in Acts 6, the twelve challenged the church to resolve differences effectively as they maintained caring. I wish I understood how they developed and sustained this sense of community. I wish all of us better understood how to be a genuine community of disciples who let Jesus be Lord as God’s promised Christ as we seek to serve.
I deeply love my country. I frequently wonder why I am so blessed to be a citizen of this nation. However, I grieve when our culture dictates the nature of Christian-Christian relationships. All of us could cite both the good and undesirable in our culture. A common undesirable characteristic of our culture: we are an extremely consumer-minded people. For many, the first thing considered is this: “What is in it for me? What will I get out of it?” Thankfully, Jesus did not look at life as many Americans do. What was “in it” for Jesus was a cross. What he “got out of it” was death.
When anything happens in this congregation, someone does it-teaching, song leading, preaching, leading, van driving, visiting, encouraging, temperature control, leak stoppage, repairs, sermon tape duplication, quilting, cooking for fellowships, setting up for fellowships, storing after fellowships, office work, planning, etc. Nothing just happens.
Jesus Christ made us a community of disciples who realize only he can show us (1) how to care and (2) the way to God. Please, help “make it happen.” Sure, it takes funds. It also takes manpower. Give generously. Serve thoughtfully. As in any thriving community, both expect and give, but never abuse. Do not attempt what you cannot do, but do what you can-many will be encouraged and blessed. Included in that “many” will be you! Be a good American, but also be a good disciple of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”
Posted by David on March 24, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
The above reference represents a majority opinion of Jewish Christians regarding the salvation of gentiles (most of us!) and the acceptance of gentile Christians into the Christianity community (church). In your studies of the New Testament, have you noticed the majority of Jewish Christians rejected gentile Christians? Most Jewish Christians accepted the salvation of gentiles only if those gentiles adopted Jewish forms, customs, and traditions. To raise your awareness of that fact, read Acts 11:3 concerning the reaction of apostles and Jewish brethren to the conversion of a gentile. Read about the Acts 15:1 debate Paul and Barnabas could not resolve. Read the concern of the Jerusalem elders in Acts 21:20-22. Read Paul’s confused reaction to some gentile Christians who yielded to Jewish Christians’ demands (Galatians 1:6, 7.)
Jewish people knew gentiles could be saved. They converted gentile God fearers to Judaism before Christianity existed. Read Matthew 23:15. The issue was not can gentiles be saved? The issue concerned what is the proper method for saving gentiles? The position of many Jewish Christians: God’s grace declared in Jesus’ sacrifice combined with immersion into Christ is not enough. It is only enough if gentiles first are indoctrinated in and accept Jewish ways prior to entering Christ.
A typical mindset of Jewish Christians in the first century followed this reasoning: Gentiles are immoral people who worship weird things in weird ways (read Romans 1:20-23). Saving gentiles requires two things: (1) First, they must be taught to abandon their pagan ways. (2) Second, they must be taught to adopt the ways of the living God. Only if they are taught our ways can that happen.
When Peter understood that God accepted gentiles as quickly as He did Jews (Acts 10:34, 35), and when Paul evangelized gentiles to Jesus Christ without imposing Jewish ways on them, many if not most Jewish Christians reacted in horror and disbelief. The thought that people could belong to God without following Jewish ways was unthinkable in most Jewish minds! Not only was it unthinkable, it was repulsive!
These Christians made Paul’s life miserable! They questioned his credibility (read his defense against such accusations in Galatians 1:11 through chapter 2.) They accused him of things he did not do (read Acts 21:20 and 21:28). They even attempted to kill him (read Acts 9:29, 30 and Acts 20:3). Paul spent his life passing from one awkward situation to another. Though he loved his people deeply (Romans 9:1-5), his own people constantly threatened him and his work.
Jewish people knew beyond all doubt their way of living, worship, and doing things was the only way God noticed and accepted. That is the way Paul thought before he understood God’s work in Jesus Christ. Read Acts 8:1-3 and 1 Timothy 1:12-16. Paul finally understood (1) who Jesus was and (2) God’s achievements in Jesus. Those realizations turned Paul’s understanding and life around-180 degrees! Never stop growing in your understanding of God’s work in Jesus Christ.
Posted by David on March 17, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
An incredible bond exists between Jesus Christ, his disciple, and peace. Paul’s epistles’ emphasis coupling peace and existence in Christ is astounding! There are far too many examples to note all of them in this brief writing. Consider just a few examples.
Paul commonly opened his letters with a greeting of peace-peace and Christian existence belong together! (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3.) He also frequently mentioned “peace” when he closed a letter.
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”
Romans 14:17 “… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
1 Corinthians 7:15 “… but God has called us to peace.”
Galatians 5:22, 23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Ephesians 4:3 “… being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Colossians 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Existence in this physical world is filled with anxiety! All of us experience the anxiety of failed promises, hostile circumstances, and defeated expectations. Physically speaking, what we “want” is forever out of alignment with what we “have.” Our world, our circumstances, our possessions, our earthly ambitions, our education, our jobs, our accomplishments, or our leisure are never an enduring source of peace. Inwardly there is this unsettling sense of turmoil that seems to constantly haunt us, constantly call attention to our emptiness, and constantly remind us of why we should be afraid.
Being in Christ will not change the world, or circumstances, or possessions, or ambitions, or educations, or jobs, or accomplishments, or leisure. Being in Christ changes us. Even when all about us rages in the winds, waves, and mists of uncertainty, God grants us peace in Jesus Christ. In Christ there is a sense of calm when all else is in turmoil. Why? In Christ we live for something bigger than the moment of “now” called the eternal.
Posted by David on March 10, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
A knowledgeable friend suggested “proof sets” of American coins as a suitable gift. A “proof set” of coins is a valuable collection of specially minted coins. With confidence I presented my first “proof set” of American coins to an important person in the area. With delight, he immediately asked, “What are these coins worth?” I misunderstood his question. The correct answer was, “Only your banker knows the worth of the set.” However, I thought he asked about the common value of the individual coins. As I explained the common value of individual coins, he obviously was offended. Delight instantly turned to contempt. A gift intended to honor quickly become an insult.
Humans and God radically differ. Humans frequently misunderstand intent. God always knows motives. God knows the difference between worship coming from the heart as an expression of appreciation, and worship “going through the motions” to satisfy a perceived demand. God knows when a person worships Him and worships for self! God easily is honored by expressions of faith rising from a heart of gratitude. God quickly is insulted by a heart devoid of faith and gratitude. What God wants from His children is simple: profound respect arising from deep appreciation. Because he expressed His love for us in Jesus’ death, we rejoice in His blessings and proudly honor Him.
Grow in your understanding of how to honor God in your worship! Never insult God! Always honor God! May He and we be delighted when we praise Him!
Posted by David on March 3, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
Recently I had specific reasons for recalling past times “when I was (or I did) ?” Often when occasions for recalling come, it seems like a dream about times that never existed-“did I ever do that?” Now I marvel I ever had the energy for “tireless devotion.” My mind feels young, but my body talks to me. “You plan to do what? Oh no, you are not!” Unfortunately, with increased frequency, my body “has the last word.”
Why is this happening? There was a time when I changed as fast as my world changed. Yet, the world never stops changing. We do, but the world does not! In our youth “keeping up” was natural. Then came the day when “keeping up” required conscious effort. Then came the day when we realized we were not “keeping up.” At first we were only “a little” behind. Inevitably the day comes when we know we are much behind!
For the wise, experience replaces exuberance with patience. When I was a young adult I wanted everything to happen now. With age, I realized a startling difference between “changes for the better” and “growth that produces development.”
Increasingly I marvel at God’s patience:
About 2000 years between promising Abraham, “In you all nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3) and sending Jesus to be the Christ?
A century after Jesus’ resurrection to convince believers that God loves all people-regardless of their past or background?
Delaying the return of Jesus Christ to provide more opportunity for people to repent (2 Peter 3:9)?
Somewhere there is a balance between the youth’s exuberance and the fears of the older. As God’s people, we neither wish to discourage youth’s exuberance nor be controlled by the fears of advancing age. God uses youth’s exuberance! As we grow older, it is not our fears God wants-it is our patience. Even in aging, patience as surely reflects God’s purposes as does exuberance in our youth!
May we never confuse exuberance with good or patience with discouragement! Dare have the faith and courage to be exuberant! Dare have the faith and courage to be patient! Let God Himself teach us both! He was both in providing us a Savior! May we be both in being His people!
1 Timothy 4:7, 8 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Posted by David on February 17, 2005 under Bulletin Articles
“What a rotten, lousy break! How horribly unfair! Don’t tell me the Lord is blessing me! Don’t challenge me to see good in this unjustifiable situation!” That easily could have been Joseph’s response to his “fall.” He was an undesirable teenager-probably the families’ arrogant tattletale. He was a rich man’s favored son. His father was married to two wives. Joseph had the wonderful situation of being the son of the favored wife.
In the older brothers’ experiences, Joseph was a pain in the neck, an intolerable threat to their future. The solution: catch Joseph away from Dad, sell him into slavery, and forever be rid of this brash, favored son who was an arrogant tattletale.
The undesirable teen brother quickly became a faith-filled slave. His owner prospered because of Joseph’s faith and relationship with God-and he knew it! Unthinkable choices for the teenager were faith choices for the slave! Joseph’s relationship with God was real! Because of Joseph’s attitude in grossly undesirable circumstances, God could and did work through him. Though Joseph knew he was a victim of injustice and forgetfulness, his faith in God unquestionably blessed others.
Many things happen in our world and families that we prefer not to happen. Sometimes we are filled with grief because we cannot “fix” a situation. Sometimes we are filled with despair when situations force us to face this truth: we have no power. In such moments we feel quite useless.
The power lies in God, not in us. God is the source of the power. In grace and mercy He gave us His son to lead us back to Him. It is through Jesus that a person grasps the nature, the character, and the power of God the Father.
What significance is that understanding? Our most powerful influence for good on those we care about arises from “who we are,” not “what we can do.” We are never the power to a permanent “fix”! We are merely encouragers who know what it means “to be.” When we have the faith “to be,” we allow God to work in and through us. A Christian’s greatest resource and power is the power of prayer. Through prayer, through faith “to be,” turn God loose to work through you! Joseph learned a person does not have to be the son of a rich man to trust God. A slave can do that!
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1, 2).
