Posted by David on August 26, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Many years ago as a teenager I played some team sports. One day my coach explained to me one of his basic rules of coaching. “You cannot coach all players the same way. [He used specific players as examples.] If I compliment this player, he lets it go to his head. He becomes so proud of himself he will not listen to anything I say. But this player is a different situation. After I compliment him he listens, and then he works his heart out for me. The key is understanding how to encourage each player to do his best.”
Regardless of your opinion about his approach to challenging his players, he understood an important truth about people. Individuals are distinctive persons with unique personalities. What motivates or encourages one discourages or distresses another. There are those who observe, “Some are overly sensitive and others are not sensitive enough.” To these people, this observation becomes the basis for their interactions.
While the observation is true, it does not explain the reality. We are all different. Nothing is “standard” about us, our experiences, or the way experiences impact our lives. We all want others to see us for who we are. No one chooses to fulfill someone’s expectations as a cog in their machine. Jerry and Lynn Jones explained that does not work in marriage. It does not work in other relationships. It does not work among Christians.
A phenomenal truth about God: He sees each of us as individuals. God looks at six billion people on earth, and sees the individual. He forgives the individual. He treats the individual with grace and mercy. He admonishes the individual. He encourages the individual. He listens to the individual. As He interacts in all these ways, He is always concerned about the person, not the precedent.
Jesus was God’s perfect representative on earth. Jesus initiated a conversation with a Samaritan divorcee to offer her living water (John 4). He allowed the unthinkable! Jesus let a prostitute wash, dry, anoint, and kiss his feet in someone else’s home (Luke 7:36-50). He allowed the unthinkable! Jesus healed a Roman army officer’s servant (Matthew 5:-13). He did the unthinkable! Jesus associated with religious and social outcasts, and religious leaders were incensed (Matthew 10:10-13). He did the unthinkable! In each situation, he was concerned about individuals, not about precedents. He saw the person, the need, and the opportunity, and responded.
That is why God is the goal, and we are the goal setters. That is why Jesus is the teacher, and we are the students. We become so concerned about the precedent that we ignore the individual. God does not. Jesus does not.
God knows whose heart seeks His will, and whose heart does not. God knows who is trying as he or she struggles, and who justifies himself or herself in his or her struggles. God does not use the standard human “pass or fail” method of testing. God uses the divine heart standard of testing. Thank You, God, for seeing us as individuals! Thank You for seeing the worst in us and loving us enough to forgive us, if we will let You.
Posted by David on August 19, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Gloom and depression settled over the situation like a heavy wool blanket on a hot August night. Jesus was dead. From noon to 3 p.m. it was dark. Jesus died with a loud cry, the earth convulsed, and everyone was terrified. Then, nothing was left to do but take Jesus’ dead body off the cross, prepare it for burial, and put it in a tomb.
At the moment Jesus died, God achieved His greatest victory. After creation, Satan drove the wedge of evil between God and people. When Jesus died, God removed that wedge. At last God was free to extend atonement, redemption, forgiveness, mercy, and purification to all people. Never again could evil “own” those who accepted God’s mercy by entering Christ. With Jesus’ death, God defeated Satan!
Only the judgment day will be more significant than that moment. God achieved victory over evil! Yet, not one human understood God’s accomplishment! The eleven apostles did not. The women who followed and served Jesus and his disciples did not. Those helped by Jesus did not. Certainly Jesus’ enemies did not.
Jesus presented his resurrected, physical body to many for forty days. Still no one understood. Followers were overjoyed that he was resurrected, but they did not understand the significance of his death or resurrection. Not until Jesus was presented as Lord and Christ in Acts 2 did they begin to understand. What they had in mind for Jesus and what God had in mind for Jesus were totally different in focus. Their focus simply was not God’s focus.
Grieving seems to be part of my life. I know and understand much more today than I did ten years ago. Going back beyond ten years is embarrassing. When I reflect on all the things I did not know and understand earlier in my life, I grieve and apologize to God. Now I know enough to realize that I never grasped all that God intended or does in Jesus whom He made Lord and Christ.
My goal: have the faith and courage to understand Scripture’s meaning. That demanding goal that is better described as a journey. That journey often walks through fear, often humbles me, and constantly teaches me that faith is trusting God. When my faith is focused on things other than God, I am afraid. When I realize what happened, I am humbled. I often thought I was trusting God only to learn I was not.
I grieve when individuals would rather be religious than spiritual. I grieve when families substitute religious habits for godly values. I grieve when groups would rather defend church history than return to Jesus’ cross. I grieve when Christians would rather place blame than repent. I grieve when congregations prefer to measure themselves by their standards rather than Christ’s. I grieve when the church substitutes its purposes for God’s. And, when I look at God’s perfect holiness and purity and see myself, I grieve.
God, please focus us. Only then can we see Your purposes through Your eyes.
Posted by David on August 5, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Not everyone turns to Christ. Not everyone wants to turn to Christ. Many are convinced that turning to Christ is a waste of time and energy. In fact, at any moment in history, the majority of those who know about Christ choose not to turn to him. Then why do those who choose to turn to him make that choice?
Some people turn to Christ because they are convinced that Christ can help them achieve physical and material objectives. If Christ assists them after death, that is a “fringe benefit.” However, eternity is not their primary motivation for “being a Christian.” If turning to Christ can help them achieve this life’s goals and ambitions, that is their primary desire. To them, “the here and now” is the significant consideration.
Some people turn to Christ because they want divine protection from physical disaster. Belonging to Christ is like supplemental insurance. Christ “covers” situations that savings, insurance policies, positions, ownership, and investments cannot cover. After all, there are some things money cannot buy, connections cannot correct, and well placed people cannot fix. In their thinking, Christ “covers” such situations.
Some people turn to Christ because it is good business. Because they are Christians, they expect Christians to do business with them. Being a church member provides them with some impressive contacts. Ignoring that potential is simply “bad business.”
Some people turn to Christ because of family pressure. For generations his or her family have been Christians. In the family, being able to declare “all my family members are Christians” is a prized mark of spiritual success. The family expected you to turn to Christ. That was the expedient, convenient thing to do. This person turns to Christ to keep his or her family off his or her back. Do the expected and avoid family pressure.
Some people turn to Christ because of community pressure. They live and work in a community context where most friends and acquaintances are Christians. To “break out of that circle” would result in numerous practical problems in many aspects of daily life. In definite ways, such a choice would be suicide. Suicide is not their thing.
You know other motivations that cause people to turn to Christ. The lengthy list includes forms of greedy, arrogance, control, power, prestige, or perceived advantage.
Then there are those whose eyes are opened and hearts are softened. They see the mess this world is in. Relationships are self-destructing. Ungodly criteria determine value systems. Morality has little to do with God. “What is in it for me” decides personal ethics. A good lifestyle is existence’s most important consideration. Prosperity bankrupts souls. The devastation of bankrupt souls is overwhelmingly apparent.
These people turn to Christ because they seek life. They trust the message of John 10:10b. “I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly” (NAS).
Posted by David on July 29, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Richard Hostetler, thank you! Richard is a member of the West-Ark family. He lives in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. For years, he was a minister. Last week I took my annual trip to Harding Graduate School to audit an in-depth study of 1 and 2 Corinthians. Those taking the course attended sessions all day each day for a week. The elders invited Richard to speak Sunday morning. I was delighted to listen as Richard focused us on Jesus and his blood.
Sunday will be a special day in this congregation’s spiritual growth and development. We will conduct a ministry fair. The ministry fair has two objectives.
The ministry fair’s first objective: the elders want each member (men and women, from teens to retired) to complete a Membership Involvement Form. Parents of young children are asked to partially fill out a form for each child (to give us their child’s full name and date of birth). The form requests some biographical information and some interest information. The forms are now available. They are on a table on the north side of the foyer.
The information gathered from the forms will be used in three ways. First, the information will be entered into our database. Curtis Jackson, with input from others, designed and installed a new database system for our church office. The biographical and service information will be entered into our database to help us function and serve better as a congregation. Second, the deacons will receive the service information. They will provide leadership for specified ministry areas. Recently we appointed many new deacons. The deacons will coordinate the ministries. They plan to move our ministries to higher levels of service. Third, the elders want to involve every possible member in serving God. For our own salvation, they want us to worship and serve.
The ministry fair’s second objective: the ministry fair is a serious effort to educate us about the ministries at West-Ark. Most ministries will have an attended display table illustrating and describing their work. First, you will have opportunity to see the work of many ministry areas. Second, you will be encouraged to be involved in a ministry that interests you. The elders want us all to worship. The elders want us all to serve.
“What can I do?” Attend Sunday. Worship and learn. Fill out a form. Be involved.
Sunday’s schedule is different. Adult classes (not children’s classes) will meet from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. They will dismiss at 10 a.m. to allow adults to visit the display tables. Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. A fellowship meal will be served after worship. Curtis McDonald and his crew will prepare the meal. Please bring desserts. At 1:00 p.m. we will have our quarterly family meeting. The meeting will focus on serving. It will close with a devotional. Then we will have additional time to look at the ministry displays. We will not have a Sunday evening assembly.
Help God’s family here grow to a new level of spiritual maturity and service Sunday!
Posted by David on July 22, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
There is something about darkness. . . Children cry out at night in fear of darkness. They associate darkness with monsters. In fear they “feel” the monsters in the room.
Darkness also intensifies fears for adults–hearts pound, pulses race, sweat pours. Moving to a new place to live is a wonderful experience–in the day time. How long does it take you to identify all the new night sounds? How many nights are necessary before you “sleep in peace” in the knowledge that new sounds are not new dangers?
In the winter when daylight is short and darkness is long, adult depression increases. My Dad died of Alzheimer’s. For months, as sunset faded into darkness, he experienced “sundown syndrome.” Darkness transformed him into a different person.
People who experience light’s blessings also have a healthy respect for darkness. An exhilarating walk in the woods on a sunny day is an adventure in fear at night. A sidewalk traveled without thought in daylight becomes a trek of nervousness in the dark.
Darkness deepens loneliness. It transforms tranquillity into anxiety. It changes calm into nervousness. It magnifies stress. Have you ever yearned for daylight to come quickly? Have you ever dreaded the coming of darkness?
To experience absolute darkness is horrible. The total absence of light immobilizes us. When I was a teen, my family visited Mammoth Cave. At a level of well over 100 feet underground, our guide had everyone sit down. With full explanation, he turned off all light. He had us sit down because in absolute darkness you are easily disoriented. You can lose your balance. It was so dark you could touch your eyeball with your finger tip without seeing it.
Jesus came to provide light to our world. John declared it was Jesus’ life that provides us light (John 1:4). Jesus understood that he came to be the light source for our world. On an occasion of public teaching, he declared, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). Through Jesus we see how to live. Light fills our life because Jesus is our light source.
Because light makes it possible to see and to distinguish, light reveals. Some do not like what they see. They would rather live in darkness than see. Jesus explained to Nicodemus that evil people love darkness and hate light because light exposes actions. Those who hate light avoid it. They do not want to clearly look at self, do not want to distinguish between good and evil within their lives (John 3:19-21).
Do you live in light or in darkness? To you, is light a blessing or a curse? Do you intently look in your life to see yourself? Do you allow Jesus to “turn the light on”? Does the light that comes from Jesus’ life give you life? Does the light Jesus provides show you how to live?
Posted by David on July 15, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Typically, we hire a guide for two basic reasons. (1) The guide can lead us to a new, unknown destination. (2) The guide knows how to lead us to that destination safely. In the process of taking us where we wish to go safely, the guide blesses us in many ways. He knows how to care for the unexpected. We do not. He knows how to identify and interpret dangers. We do not.
An expert guide’s value is seen in his understanding and knowledge. He knows when to be concerned–and when not to be. We who need a guide commonly lack that understanding and knowledge. Things that seem strange or out of place concern us. Such things may be nothing more than ignorance. We often are unconcerned about true danger. Lack of concern about true danger does not neutralize it.
To lead us safely to our destination, the guide is equipped with insights that realize when concern is necessary–and unnecessary. To utilize all the guide’s ability, to make his task “possible,” we must trust the guide. If our guide is skilled and knowledgeable, he leads and we diligently follow. We never forget he is the guide. We always remember that we are followers. We understand our guide is always necessary.
All of us are on a journey going where none of us have been. None of us know how to recognize all the dangers. None of us know when to be and not to be concerned. Without question or argument, we need a guide.
Each day is a new adventure. Each age is a new territory. As the adult journey begins, we are blessed physically, but have little experience. As our journey nears its end, we have a lot of experience, but physically have declined. In our early years, the destination is so far away it seems unreal. In our later years, the destination is so close we cannot ignore it. Our own deaths are the doorway to our destination.
Only one person made the journey, passed through death’s doorway, and returned to be our guide. Less than 24 hours before passing through that doorway, he told his closest friends, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me” (John 14:6).
Jesus is the only guide who can take us safely to our destination. Jesus knows how to live, how to die, and how to go to the Father. He knows how to endure temptation and not sin. He knows how to forgive. He knows how to live and die in peace. He knows false danger and real danger, and he knows how to distinguish between the two.
We do not know how to live, how to die, or the way to the Father. Of ourselves, we do not know how to endure temptation, forgive, live in peace, die in peace, or distinguish between false and real dangers.
We urgently need the only guide available. Is Jesus your guide?
Posted by David on July 8, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Today “faith” is almost always a religious word. When we speak of having “faith,” we think in religious terms. “Having faith,” to many, is experiencing something religious. Associating “faith” with a religious concept or expectation may or may not be biblical.
Often, when people discuss faith, we misunderstand each other. Why? We associate different concepts with the word. Those differing concepts are foundations for different meanings. When we use different meanings as we discuss the same word, we will misunderstand each other.
Does no common, everyday English word exist that accurately reflects God’s meaning for faith? Yes, that word exists. In “every day language,” faith is trust. Biblically, talking about having faith is speaking of trust. Declaring faith in God is declaring trust in God.
In some circumstances, that trust is a quiet dependence. We trust God exists. We trust God to keep His promises. When we experience crises, trust quietly depends on God’s presence and has confidence in His care.
In other circumstances, that trust is an active, confident initiative. When we understand the God we trust wants us to behave or serve in specific ways, we actively behave or serve those ways. That is “obedience.” We actively behave in godly ways and serve God’s purposes because we trust God.
Why were we baptized? If our motives were biblical, we trusted God to use Jesus’ blood as He promised (Ephesians 1:7). Why do Christians repent when we realize sinfulness? We trust God’s promise of forgiveness when we realize and confess our failures (1 John 1:9).
Spiritual maturity produces an awareness that sin and evil are a part of us (Romans 7:7-25). The truth about “self” is distressing. The harder we try to destroy evil’s presence in our lives, the more aware we become of our sinfulness. Instead of sinking into despair, those alive in Christ trust God. The person alive in Christ understands being in Christ destroys condemnation (Romans 8:1).
In the first century, extremely ungodly people turned to Christ for forgiveness and new life. No one can be in worse spiritual condition before conversion than were the Christians at Ephesus. Read Ephesians 2:1-3, 12. Note their horrible condition prior to conversion. Then read 2:4-9. Note what God did in Christ to change their horrible condition. Verse 10 stressed God changed them for them to serve His purposes. What did they need to do? Trust God’s promises. Trust God enough to serve Him.
In our lives, the issue is uncomfortably simple. Do we trust God?
Posted by David on July 1, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
To you, does the word “convictions” have a meaning? Which of these serve as the foundation of your meaning? (1) “Convictions are beliefs you accept as truth.” (2) “Convictions are your daily behavior.” (3) “Convictions are beliefs you accept as truth that express themselves in daily life.”
Each Christian must be a person of “conviction.” To say to a Christian, “You have no convictions,” is to insult him or her. Jesus was a person of conviction. So were Paul, Timothy, Titus, Mary, Martha, and Mark’s mother. Anyone with any understanding of Christian existence knows men and women who belong to Christ must be people of conviction. The essential question: what does it mean to be a person of conviction?
Some conclude having convictions is a matter of holding correct Christian beliefs. To them significant faith questions often begin by asking, “Where do you stand on …?” “Is he liberal?” “Is she legalistic?” “Does he believe the Bible is verbally inspired?” “Does she believe the Holy Spirit is active today?” “What is his understanding of ‘the faith’?” “What is her understanding of ‘the church’?” “To find out, ask, ‘What is your position on …?’ Then listen. If he uses this word, he is …. If she uses this phrase, she is …. But if he or she uses that word or phrase, he or she is …. You can tell where a person ‘stands’ by certain words and phrases he or she uses.”
This approach to godliness defines conviction solely in terms of a specific set of beliefs.
Some conclude that having convictions is basically a matter of personal behavior. “I am a person of conviction! I am honest, pay my bills, take care of my family, am a good neighbor, am a responsible member of the community, and am loyal to my country. Religious involvement is unnecessary to holding convictions. I am not involved with the church, but I am a person of conviction. Church-wise, I do little. However, I live my convictions. That makes me a person of conviction.”
This approach to godliness defines conviction solely in terms of personal behavior.
Some understand being a person holding Christian convictions involves both beliefs and behavior. Jesus Christ is truth and defines truth (John 14:6). Understanding truth begins by understanding Jesus. Yet, it is not enough to know truth. Truth expresses itself in behavior. Jesus perfectly expressed God’s truth in human behavior. Jesus is the ultimate example of holding truth and expressing convictions.
To reduce convictions to a matter of holding truths leads us to act as judges. To reduce convictions to a matter of personal behavior leads us to self-justification. To understand Christian convictions are based on truths that change our daily behavior leads to humble service to God.
Posted by David on June 24, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
None of us do it intentionally, but we all do it. We “make” God too simple. American Christians easily “make” God simple. I have heard church movements springing from the American restoration movement are the only churches that historically began in America. All other church movements have roots in other nations and continents.
Historically, the Church of Christ as a church movement is distinctly American. We claim it is “our restoration movement.” The fundamental attitudes and principles of that movement are “our attitudes and principles.”
When we easily use the word “our” regarding God’s purposes and will, it is too easy to wrestle ownership from God. It is too easy to make the church about “us” instead of God. We do not mean to or intend to. In our minds, that is not our intent. In fact, we are so intent on not taking the church away from God and not trying to control God that we would declare we never, never do that.
Yet, each time we Americanize God that is what we do. We do it each time we Americanize God’s work, will, purposes, organization, goals, objectives, priorities, and interest. We say we seek God’s will. [Seeking God’s will is excellent!] Yet, often, we actually are making God conform to interests and ways that make sense in America.
Monday morning Stefann Phomasone stopped by to visit. He just has completed his studies at Sunset. He plans to live in Fort Smith for a few months before returning to teach and preach in southeast Asia. His level of commitment is astounding. He voices his faith in and love for Christ in six languages. He eagerly anticipates his return to that area of the world, but he will make excellent use of his time before going there.
Sunday night a group returned from their annual trip to Guyana to reach out to people in several towns medically and evangelistically. Late this week, another group will leave for Mexico to work with the City of Children in Ensenada.
Once again, I was reminded God is not an American. He cannot be Americanized. God through Jesus Christ is active throughout the world. God loves people of the world. Through His grace He relates to people regardless of culture, environment, level of education, daily opportunities, or level of prosperity–even in America.
While we want to relate to God intimately as our spiritual Father, while we want to come to Him in confidence in our most penitent moments (Hebrews 4:16), we must never cease holding God in awe. We always want to remember that God made us in His image. We do not make God in our image.
To think that God loves us more than any other people is conceit and arrogance. To think that God loves us less than anyone else is faithlessness and distrust.
Posted by David on June 17, 2001 under Bulletin Articles
Children play “Hide and Seek.” It is a simple game with a simple objective. Ideally, several children play. One person is designated as “it.” “It” closes his or her eyes at “home base” and counts to a hundred. While “it” counts, everyone else hides. “It” finds the hiding children.
Often adults try to turn life into a game of “hide and seek.” In the adult game, “I” is never “it.” “I” am always seeking to hide. And “I” constantly change my hiding places.
The perfect adult hiding place (a) permanently hides me, and (b) allows me to pretend reality is what I wish reality to be. My hiding place allows me to escape from realities to pretense. Pretense allows me to become increasingly self-absorbed.
As my pretense grows, my neglect causes pain to those around me. My shrinking world focuses on “me and my desires,” and those in my life suffer the pain of neglect.
All types of hiding places claim to be the perfect place to hide. Some teens yearn to enter adult life because adult existence is the perfect place to hide. When they become adults, what do they discover? The demands and responsibilities of adult life exceed those of teen life.
Some singles consider marriage the ideal hiding place. Marriage offers escape from undesirable realities. When a person marries to escape, what does he or she discover? Marriage is filled with realities. When those realities are neglected, marriage becomes oppressive.
Some adults think unique job opportunities are ideal hiding places. They can “lose themselves” in their work. When a person works to hide, what does he or she discover? What seemed glamorous and fulfilling is actually full of realities that can (and do) produce enormous stress, incredible competition, and undesired vulnerability.
When escape is our dominant motivation, often “original” hiding places prove inadequate. When my hiding place does not permit complete escape, I need a better place to hide. Hiding’s importance increasingly stresses escape.
The desire to hide combined with the objective of escaping often produces an addiction. The addiction may be as simple as recreational pleasure (sports competitions, hunting, fishing, golf, travel, etc.) or as devastating as something destructive (drugs, alcohol, pornography, affairs, one-night stands, etc.). Whether simple or devastating, addiction’s objective is the same–escaping to the ideal hiding place.
Age destroys the ability to run. Death makes hiding useless. Let God teach you how to live instead of running. The person who hides life in God lives life fully–and never dies.
