Sunday Night Reflections

So, we finally made the big announcement: I am going on a 7 week sabbatical this fall! No, it is not a vacation, but I am looking forward to the rest and renewal. If you weren't at church today, I will email everyone the Sabbatical FAQs as well as the proposed schedule. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Our Sabbatical Committee has worked very hard over the last few months to get everything planned so that we can all have plenty of time to be ready.

Okay, here are a few thoughts on today's message. Are you ready to seriously consider that God lead you to your current place of employment? If that is true, then what are the implications of your attitude at work, your work ethic, and how you treat coworkers and supervisors? Hmmmm- that truth might change a few things, right? So let's think about God a whole lot more this week.

Now I want you to think deeply about something. Take a long look at Ruth 2:20-21. When Naomi says, "He has not stopped showing his kindness . . ." who is she talking about? God or Boaz? What do you think, and why? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.

Have a great week- think about God!

Monday Reflections (a few thoughts on Sunday)

Yesterday's topic was faithfulness. Several of you asked about the movie clip I used to intro the message. It was the opening scene in Hope Floats (from about 1998). Yes, that is the movie with Harry Connick Jr.

Before you run out and rent it or download from Netflix, please hear me out. What you will find throughout the movie is unfaithfulness and a whole series of bad decisions that will inevitably lead to further pain. Movies do a great job of illustrating the pain and hurt resulting from the decisions of others, as well as from our our choices. Rarely, however, does a movie provide the solution- for the solutions is always and ultimately found in Jesus Christ. In the movie, (warning- spoiler ahead) Berttie (Sandra Bullock's character) living with her mom in her old hometown, crosses paths with a former boyfriend, Justin (Harry Connick Jr.'s). Within a few scenes they spend the night together- while she is still married to her cheating husband. Not exactly God's plan. Not exactly the way to start a relationship that will be based on trust, respect, and faithfulness.

If you want to see real faithfulness- a true tear-jerker, you need to watch this video. This is the real thing. This is true faithfulness- the kind you have been looking for your entire life. And if you have 2 hours to watch Hope Floats- surely you can find 5 minutes to watch this.

The Robertson McQuilkin story of true faithfulness: http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=228dd8d3ebb664623220

"Black" "Red" and "White" by Ted Dekker- my review

If you enjoy quality Christian fiction featuring action, suspense, and maybe even a bit of fantasy (well, okay more than a bit), this is the book and series for you. I just finished reading all three books within "The Circle Trilogy" series by Ted Dekker. What can I say? Action. Adventure. Suspense. Some politics. Lots of theology. And then, true to Ted Dekker, a Christ-character who will impress and offend you.

I will admit that I am not a fan of fantasy books. I enjoyed the Lord of the Rings series, but then I was ready for something else. I guess I need a little more of this world to keep my mind from wandering too much. Dekker's series features a lot of our present-day, earthly world. But he also portrays another world.

The main character is a struggling twentysomething named Thomas Hunter. While running from men with guns who want him to settle his debts, he hits his head and begins to "dream" and then doesn't stop. His "dreams" take him back and forth between this world and another, where metaphor is reality.

Ted's purpose seems to be to always tell God's story in a new and fresh way while staying true to the story of Scripture of creation, the fall, redemption in Christ, and the mission of the church. I have to admit, the character of Justin totally threw me for a loop! Ted has a way of making me think. At times I wonder about the source of his incredible and sometimes twisted imagination, but his story is true to the heart of God!

Not much into reading? Well turn off your television, get a copy of "Black" (the first book) and give yourself about an hour or so to really get into the book. Trust me, this is way better than any episode of CSI. Horatio Cain's got nothing on Thomas Hunter. And no cheesy one-liners either!

R.I.P dear church

On Thursday morning I walked through an estate sale at the Ruskin Heights Presbyterian church. When I first saw the ad, I thought to myself, "So did the church die?" And as I walked through the building and perused the tables of merchandise, I concluded- yes & no.

From what I found online, the church held its last worship service on August 30, 2009, after voting the close the church. The reasons given: decline in attendance and giving, cost of operations- but the saddest one: "lack of a vision for the church over the next 5-10 years." (You can read the report here: Comssion Report) Did the church die? The head of the church, Jesus Christ, is alive and well. His church (his body) is alive and in some places, well. But this local church died. Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." I am sure that August 30 was a sad day for the remaining members of this church. The reality, though, is that this was the result of a long and slow decline. I overheard two ladies, one of whom still lived in the neighborhood, but really wanted to move away, say, "I wish the neighborhood would change back to what it was." The reality is that the Ruskin Heights neighborhood has changed drastically. Crime has increased and the socio-economic culture has changed. Unfortunately, the church probably never changed with it. I wonder- did the remaining members view their church as a mission outpost from which they would reach their neighborhood, or as a protective sanctuary in which members could find safe haven from the big bad world and the unsafe neighborhood? When churches move into self-protection- watch out. The end is near. You might as well call the estate sale company. I felt sad as I walked the halls looking for good deals on used church furnishings.

In all fairness, I don't really know the situation- but what I described above is what happens in many churches. Hopefully another ministry, which fits the culture of the neighborhood, will buy the building and begin ministering in and to the neighborhood.

Here are a few other random thoughts: churches have a lot of junk!!!! There must have been 27 bookcases in that place. Anybody need a luncheon set? They are selling everythign that is left for 50% off today- and there were about 19 luncheon sets still in the boxes they came in when they were purchased in 1963. I was able to purchase 10 folding tables for New Vision Church- and I picked them up at a great price!

I am seeing stars

Tonight at LIFE group we were looking at Isaiah 40:18-31. If you aren't in a LIFE group or haven't looked at this passage recently, Isaiah is preaching to the Israelites and is encouraging them to compare God to idols, kings, and anything else we tend to trust. In verse 26 Isaiah says, "Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. . ." As I read that I imagined God, sitting on his throne, calling out the stars from their daytime slumber, and commanding them to take their place in the night sky. I can just hear God saying, "Orion- let's go! Grab your sword, wash your armpit and get out there!" "Twin dippers- to your places!"

But then this crazy thought hit me- that took my breath away for a moment. As Isaiah was preparing this message, he may have been sitting on a hill in the middle of the night visualizing these events. And he no doubt looked at the big dipper, Pleiades, and even Betelgeuse (the armpit), and imagined God calling them to their posts. Isaiah looked at the very same stars that I see 2,800 years later! I can barely imagine Mr. Isaiah, the temple and the idols fashioned by silversmiths. But I can walk outside right now, look up and see the very same stars that inspired Isaiah to write his words of rebuke and encouragement.

Wow- our creator God is awesome and awe-inspiring!

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves- Additional Thoughts

A few years ago I attended a seminar taught by a well-respected pastor and church leader. During a lecture on preaching, he stated that every sermon should answer 2 questions: So What? and Now What?

So this week I was thinking about last Sunday's message, and I realized that a person might well walk away asking himself, "now what?" Such a question might include the following inner dialogue: "That was a great message preached by a truly astounding a extremely good-looking preacher. And the idea that God has blessings waiting for me if I will only allow him respond to his grace and leading- well that sounds great and I want in on the blessings. But how? And how do I involve God in the process on a regular basis?" I mean, if a guy spends his workdays hanging sheetrock, how does he allow God in on the process in order to experience the blessings that come from living God's way?

Maybe I am just inexperienced and extremely shallow or naive, but I think it comes down to 2 practices: prayer and the Word. Before I embark on a project, I ought to talk with God and verbally invite him to join me and help me. Before I make a decision I must stop and ask God for guidance- and then give him enough time to say the answer enough times for me to finally listen. The funny thing about prayer is that we have no idea how it works, but we know that it works. When we pray, good things happen, we tend to make better decisions, and life works better. When we don't pray, the opposite happens. Then, when we try to explain why, we become confused and frustrated- and sometimes quit praying. (I find it interesting, though that we keep driving our cars even though most of us have no idea how they work). So the first part is pray- pray early and pray often. Trust me, it will work. You will soon see God taking a more visible role in your life- and you will see the blessings.

Second, I must stay in the Word. I cannot faithfully follow Christ and obey his commands if I don't know where he is going or what he wants me to do. Listen to the Word at church, read it daily, study it with a LIFE group- just get into God's Word, the Bible.

So there is the simple but not easy answer for what now: prayer and the Word.

I Should Have Parked Closer To the Exit

Yesterday afternoon I stopped at Lowe's to pick up some batteries and a replacement ballast. At the Raymore Lowe's one enters the parking lot from the side of the store, driving past the nursery and live goods first and then towards the main entrance doors. There are two sets of doors at this particular store. The first set are the entrance doors and then farther down there is a set of exit doors. And it always seems like the two sets of doors are miles apart. As I scanned the lot to find a parking space I noticed that there were several great and close spaces available near the exit doors. But parking in them meant walking the distance back to the entrance doors. The parking spaces in front of the entrance doors were closer to the doors but were farther into the lot.

I was in a hurry, so I picked the space closest to the entrance door. I mean, I really needed to get in there quickly. Really, I did. I was in a hurry after all.

A few minutes later, while standing in the checkout line, I heard the rain begin to ping on the metal roof overhead. The pinging turned into a roar as the rain fell harder and harder. I had no umbrella, no rain coat, and no time to wait for the rain shower to pass. I paid for my batteries and ballast, walked out the exit doors, and realized that my car was parked in front of the entrance doors- a mile or so away!

Then the thought hit me: I should have parked closer to the exit. I didn't. I chose the option that was the quickest and easiest at the time. I got really wet.

In his bestselling book, Stephen Covey shares that one of the seven habits of highly successful people is that they plan and act with the end in mind. They might say to themselves, "The clouds are pretty dark. Even though it is not raining now, it might start before I complete my shopping. Maybe I should park closer to the exit doors and take the long walk now instead of later."

So I wonder- when will I learn? Will Olivia graduate from high school, drive off to college and leave me thinking, "I should have parked closer to the exit." Will I arrive at the end of my life, facing some incurable disease and think, "I should have parked closer to the exit."

I have some learning to do.