Great, Spiritual Expectations

When you give...

And when you pray...

And when you fast...

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much...

(Matthew 6:2, 5,16 and Luke 16:10, ESV)

As parents, my wife and I have tried to instill wise money stewardship in our children's value system. We have three rules of governance for every bit of money they receive, and we expect them to exercise these rules without our badgering. You can walk up to them at any time and ask them “What are the three rules of money?” and they'll just spout off the answers. The rules:

1. Sacrifice: always put God first. Use the Old Testament standard of tithing and offerings as a discipline and the New Testament standard of liberal giving as there is need, always seeking to discern what the Spirit is saying and doing.
2. Save: put away at least 10% for your future and more as you have it.
3. Spend: always take care of needs first; next consider how your spending allows you to honor God with acts of hospitality and helps; then, and only after sacrifice, save and previous spend rules, spend on yourself.

At 10 and 7, I would not say my children have mastered this mentality and discipline, but I must commend them for their general adherence. They truly seem to have caught the spirit and the Spirit of the thing. It's becoming easier and easier to trust my children with money, because they are maturing more and more in how they handle it.

In my last article I talked about the fact that many people want God to give them a specific ministry and / or purpose in life, yet they have not been diligent or opportunistic about God's general will. Today's article is a continuation.

God has spiritual and life expectations for us. Some of these expectations are clearly outlined during part of what we call “The Sermon on the Mount” as found in Matthew 6. Jesus' words are important. He doesn't say “if you give” or “if you pray” or “if you fast.” Sometimes what isn't said is important. In this case, what isn't said is important, and what is said is even more important. The word is “when” in each case. It reveals expectations.

These, like my expectations for my daughters' money management, are just basic expectations. You know there's more.

Jesus was talking to a society that lived religiously. Their culture was religious. Everything about their daily lives, down to eating or not eating certain foods, was religious in nature and consideration. These were “People of the Book” or “People of the Law.” Even their national government was theocratic in practice. Adherence to God's Law was their very lifestyle. Jesus didn't need to preface his comments, explaining what spiritual discipline meant, before He said, “When...”

What I am getting at is simple, if we want to know the specific, we must become committed to the discipline of the expected.

What follows in the economy of God is simple. When we are found faithful in small things, He increases our opportunity. When we are diligent in the revealed will of God, He opens to us the specific.

Do you want big ministry? Big responsibility? Would you like to do important, meaningful things for the Lord? Good. It's good to desire these things! We all must start by working on the simple expectations of God.

Develop a discipline of giving that honors God's revealed will. Develop a discipline of prayer that engages the Lord and is according to His priorities. Develop a discipline of fasting that increases your spiritual potency. It seems the Lord designed us in such a way these things are meant to be normal.

God has for us all great, spiritual expectations! Begin to obey and watch God move!

Start Praying

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling (1 Timothy 2:1-8; ESV, emphasis mine).

I grow weary of people lamenting that they don't know what is their special purpose or mission in life. I don't know if every leader faces this, but I make the assumption they do. I cannot count how many people have approached me and said something like, “I'd serve the Lord if knew what He meant for me to do.”

Hogwash. Yes, as insensitive as it seems and sounds, that's what I meant. God doesn't seem to reveal special purpose to people until they have a solid dedication and regular practice of ordinary purpose. Here's just such a case: PRAYER. The Holy Spirit, in God's word, through the Apostle Paul, made it clear that every person everywhere ought to be praying! Let's get to it!

I love this poem:

THE MINISTRY OF PRAYER

There's a holy high vocation,
Needing workers everywhere;
'Tis the highest form of service,
'Tis the ministry of prayer.

None need stand idly longing,
For a place in which to share;
Active service for the Master,
There's always room in prayer.

In these days of tribulation,
Wickedness pervades the air;
And the battles we engage in,
Must be won by fervent prayer.

There's no weapon half so mighty,
As what the intercessors bear;
Nor a broader field of service,
Than the ministry of prayer.

--A. S. Woolworth

Friend, listen, do you want a powerful ministry? Start praying. Do you want God to entrust you with much? Start praying. Do you want to see the hungry fed? Start praying. Do you want to see our nation changed? Start praying. Do you want to see our leaders act more nobly? Start praying. Would you like a more peaceful family? Start praying. Would you love to serve others? Start praying. Would you love to please the Lord? Start praying.

Do you want to see missionaries sent? Do you want a better preacher or pastor? Do you want more disciplined children? Do you want a more loving, attentive spouse? Do you want to see deep change in your own life? Start praying. Start praying. Start praying!

You already pray? Most excellent. Don't let up!

Be thankful. Intercede for others. Talk to God. Listen to God. Pray.

I have no doubt that people desire purpose and it makes sense that we all want to know what it is God has created and sustained us for. I can't answer that for every person. What I can say is this: (1) The Holy Spirit is the key to fulfilling life and fulfilling ministry because He is a believer’s source of fulfillment. (2) If you want God to open up His specific will for you, you must know you must first receive and achieve God's general will.

Start praying.

Things We Ought to Die to...Before They Kill Us

So, maybe I'm a radical. That's what a lot of people will think these types of things are, by the time I'm through. It's cool. God is radically different than our sinful age and culture, so I am hoping to get labeled with Him.

Here goes...you ready?

I must admit, I am looking at this whole situation through the lens of Genesis 19. Let me give a brief review. Lot is living in Sodom. This is Lot's post-Abraham days. He and his uncle / cousin (whatever they were!) had parted the family business and Lot had chosen the lush valleys down near the towns of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot has become a fixture in the town, so much so that he is sitting at the gate, indicating he was a town leader. God has sent to angels to perform His work of wrath and judgment. Lot doesn't know they're angels, and Lot is a gracious guy, so he invites them over to his house. Sodom was totally bereft of morals and the citizen's of Sodom came to Lot's house and demanded to have "relations" (this IS a family site). Lot didn't give his guests over to those sodomizing fools, but he did suggest they could have his virgin daughters. Wow, right? The angels tell Lot to warn his family, 'cause they are going to destroy the town. Consider Genesis 19:14 =  So Lot went out and said to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, "Up! Get out of this place, for the LORD is about to destroy the city." But he seemed to his sons-in-law to be jesting. Did you catch that? They thought he was joking! This is what happens to the man and woman of God who assimilates too much. IN the world, but not OF the world! 


Lot: Fail. 

I ran into a guy yesterday at the local Wal Mart. He isn't a Disciple of Jesus. I want him to be. I've shared truth with him many times. I pray for him and I keep pouring into his life. His family is what used to be called "sharecroppers" but now we say "they rent land" or "they have land under contract." This is an important factor to understand for the rest of this story to make sense.

So, they farm this land and the land owner gets a percentage of all they make. They've been on the land since before I was born, so, for sure, over 39 years. They are very rural, down-to-earth, countryfied kind of folk. They plant, work and harvest. Their lives and fortune are tied to land they don't call their own. At the end of the year, if they've made extra while being honest and upstanding in their living and working, they feel accomplished. Land is a big deal to these folks. They don't own it as much as it owns them. They spend their lives in a struggle to coax fruit from the weeds and thorns and rocks. They plant in the land and curse it and bless it, each according the season and the "fortune" of the season.

Remember, these are not Disciples of Jesus, seeing God's Sovereign Hand in abasing and abounding. They are good people, according to the social standard, and even humble people, but the land and its yield, or lack thereof, is a source of joy or pain for them. That land, with it's hills and gullies, streams and ponds, woods and fields, crop and creature is their lives. Not only do they plant, but they cut and improve; they hunt and they fish; they defend and safeguard.

And, you know, this stuff can be serious. These type of guys can get territorial about "hunting ground." In my days as a neo-flat-land-hillbilly, I have seen some ugly episodes. It can be a seriously serious thing when it concerns safety. I've heard of more than one hunter shot by another hunter for hunting to close to one another, either without realizing how close they were or by carelessness.

At any rate, here's the story...so these farmers are working rented land. Some other guys come along who want to rent the land to hunt on. They pay $1,000.00 to rent the land for hunting purposes. The men who've farmed and hunted where they've rented for years must now go to the new hunt-renters and ask permission to hunt the land they've rented. The farmers probably make the landowner much more money than a those hunter-renters.

I hope you can see into this situation. The farmer guys are upset. They feel looked down upon, passed over and degraded. They feel judged in some respects and ignored in others. Notice, I said "feel." There's always another side of the story, and I haven't heard that. BUT...

BUT...

Here's where my dander gets raised. I don't really need to know the whole story. I know this much: these non-Disciples of Jesus are dealing with Disciples of Jesus. This is what gets me. Hey, men of God, just step back and look at your testimony here! Really. Ask yourself: WWJD?

Does hunting matter more than reaching people for Jesus? Is this that important? Is it worth ruining a testimony to be able to say "I am a slayer of venison!"

Why can't we die to hobbies that get in the way?

I think of the words of Paul right here: "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).

I know, sure...yes, the simple answer could be to fully integrate the farmer-renter into the fold of the hunter-renter. However, that would mean that testosterone would need to be modulated, pride swallowed, possessiveness forgotten and new friends would have to be made. Graciousness would have to be offered (and received) and communication and coordination would need to be resolved. It may be easier to simply quit!

War's 1974 question in song is appropriate: "Why can't we be friends?"

No, I'm not done...

Have any of you guys witnessed the average "church" basketball league? Ugh.

I was 25 years old when I came to the Lord and for about 10 years I really enjoyed "church" league sports. It took a few years for me to see how much the average team shames the name of God by "playing" under the name of some local congregation. I've faced mobs trying to unionize work places with more decorum than the average "church" team.

I  really could write a short book on the episodes I've seen where men (and many times their wives, on the sideline) totally blow their testimony, embarrass their local church and shame the name of the Lord. All for what? Really? Someone tell me.

Now, I have seen a FEW (and by "few" I meant less than 5) truly godly hunting clubs and basketball teams. Whew...basketball, not to mention softball...ugh.

Most are hacking, arguing, whining, complaining, cursing groups who literally shame the name of God (notice: I said "most". I know everyone thinks their team is in the few, but, MOST are not in the few. They are in the MOST category.)

Right here where we live, in this little rural setting, the POLICE were called to a game and then asked to act as security for another. Really? Really? .... Really?

Really?

Is it worth it?

Build a gym at your local church building. Beat each other up. Yell at each other. Curse each other. Oh wait...that'd be just as bad, and like a business meeting, which no one comes to anyway. My bad.

No wonder the church is ignored in America.

Remember my opening Lot rant? Yeah.

Cue laughter.

A Democratic Church needs a Coup D'etat

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes... (emboldened emphasis mine).

Y'all know where that comes from, right? That's the opening of the Declaration of Independence. Many colonial Americans were angry with Mama Great Britain. King George was waging war and imperialism all over the world and he was doing what every ambitious monarch had done before him, he was taxing (straining) his realm to pay for his ambition. Parliament was in agreement, so they were making laws and statutes that accomplished the king's ends. 

The main thing dissenting colonials were offended in was they were taxed without representation. In other words, there were no colonial representatives in the British power structure (Parliament). Early Americans wanted a relationship with Great Britain, but not at the expense of not being able to add their two-cents into the discussion.

They wanted a voice and a vote. It required rebellion and war for them to get it. Have you ever thought about that? They had to find a way to justify their actions before a watching world, so they said "when it becomes necessary..." Now, we Americans LOVE to vote. We treasure the process and even elevate its importance to national activity which culminates in "Super Tuesday" twice a year. We love to vote! Goodness gracious, the more riled up some candidate or policy makes us, the more of  us get out the vote.

All that is an introduction. Be nervous. It's become necessary that a new rebellion occur. Our power structure is ignoring a very important Voice.

There is MUCH to be said here, but let me start with ONE LITTLE THING: voting in the church.

Really, where did we get such an idea? I can't find a single instance in the Old Testament where the nation of Israel voted toward a positive result, nor can I can find a New Testament church voted. Now, if I'm wrong, okay; I apologize. However, you're going to have to show me. Let me be quick to say that voting is a good tool in a pluralistic society, where many do not place themselves under the rule of God. However, in the church, it's not good, nor is it biblical.

Voting is something most churches hold sacred. Sure, some are run by dictatorial boards or pastors, but even prayer circles, ministry groups, fellowship groups and activity groups vote on this, that or the other on a regular basis. (It usually sounds like, "We decided....")

There are a lot of problems with voting to make decisions in the Body of Christ. Unless it's a 100% vote, someone always walks away feeling like they lost to other people, and, typically, that means someone walks away angry and offended. Secondly, it leaves people room to bully, lobby, practice nepotism, politic, curry undue favor and practice partiality.

The whole process, in a church, typically mirrors the democratic republic process we use in United States politics. We lobby and discuss and banter stats and facts to support our opinion and also carefully and diligently point out our perception of faults in our "opponents" and then urge people to "vote smart." We all know it's hard to see through all that male-bovine-waste. Is it even smart to listen to twisted information to start with? (DEMAND THE TRUTH, but's that a story for another blog post.)

I can chase this rabbit for a long time, but the point is simple, voting is not biblical, and, for the people of God, it's not even wise.

So, that begs the question: WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL WAY TO MAKE DECISIONS? 

I got it. I know. 

You know how I do this, right? I looked in the word. The answer is simple as all get out: WE CAST LOTS! (NOTE: this is not the lottery. Don't start tripping!)

Here's one of many examples:

Acts 1:23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles (emboldened emphasis mine; http://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/acts/1.html, ESV).

Here are many more examples: http://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?q=lots


What's the deal with casting lots? Let's unfold it just a bit. In the cited case, as you probably know well, Judas Iscariot was out of the circle of the Apostles. He was to be replaced. There were some requirements (ref. Acts 2:21-22). There were a limited number of dudes who fit the bill, so they put those two guys names out there and cast lots. In other words, in a very simple definition, they pulled a name out of the hat. What?!?!?! 


Am I advocating (so-called) luck? Nope. I am advocating Providence. Let God decide. Sure, people can rig things like this, but IF we don't, Providence can choose. Then, we're not left to "swallow" the decision that people made. Rather, we're left to "swallow" what God is doing. We can fight men and we can assert our wit and will and we can try to turn things around. We can fight God too, but we will lose. Such a time as this is when we might find ourselves working out our salvation with fear and trembling. Say we don't like God's decision, okay...we'll have to sweat and bleed in prayer and seeking His face until we are reconciled to His will again.


There is no where in the revealed will of God where democracy among His people is advocated or propagated toward any productive end. When we use our logic we often defy the will and way of God.


I am always asking myself the following question: What would it look like if the Holy Spirit ran the church? 


Here is one small step towards that end. We NEED God to take the "power" and "decision making" out of our hands. We NEED God to be boss again. We NEED to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. We NEED to acknowledge Him in all our ways and allow Him to direct our paths.


We were endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights and one we need to reassert is His rule in our lives and in our churches. We do NOT need the consent of the governed. We need the direction and power of God. It is the right of God to overthrow our unjust church government!


Granted, this is the tip of the iceberg, but I believe I am floating on the right one! We don't need a voice so much as we need His. 


I KNOW this much is true: IF we don't turn the church back over to God, He WILL take it back. He WILL remove the lampstand of a local church. There is much that may need to be surrendered for a local body to give themselves back over to God, but here is a positive first step; stop voting and start letting God decide.


Our Declaration says that government should not be overthrown for "light and transient causes." The same could be said of the church. However, regarding who we are allowing to govern us as believers is NOT a light and transient cause; it's major.


I pray God take us over if we won't give ourselves over.

Give Rash Mad Cash & No Quarrel Bash = Sin Lashed to Sad Past

MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! MONEY!


It's an attention getter, all right. Jesus knew what was close to folks heart, and He was all about getting at someone's heart, so He'd hit that money theme in a hot minute.


I'm fixin' to back door your mind on a concept that we give little thought. Ya ready?


(OK, hip talk exhausted...back to hick talk. I tried to be cool; I just ain't. My bad.)


Peep this (still tryin'):
So, according the minds that be, which, in this case, is the editors of the English Standard Version of Scripture, this passage is about Anger, and I believe that and I'm cool with it (like I need to be cool with it for it be cool, right?). However, I think this passage reveals many other things, and one of which I'd like to tap into is our attitude IN giving. So, read this a couple times and let it sink in. Trust me, you'll learn a lot more than you thought and a lot more than I'm thinking, but I want to touch on this attitude deal, so read the passage and then we'll get on with my thoughts.



Matthew 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (http://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/matthew/5.html)


Sure, Jesus is talking about the heart, and we know that's what this whole discourse known as the "Sermon on the Mount is all about...the heart...things of the heart...sin of the heart...strength for the heart. Right here, plain and simple, Jesus connects murder to being an issue of the heart. We've all heard someone say "Hey, I ain't ever killed anyone." Jesus says the issue of sin is in OUR HEARTS; our hands/mouth are the valve of the sin, but it's born, raised and lives in our heart. 


What an interesting way Jesus engages the listeners. "You heard it said..." That's a hyper-polite way of saying, "Y'all didn't get what We meant by 'Thou shalt not murder!' so let me set your brain waves to a new shore line."  See, we need this, right? We need to know it's not just that we keep the bullets in the gun, but we must have a heart that keeps the hate out. Wow...this really is transformational stuff, IF we take it to heart.


How does Jesus drive the point home? Interestingly enough, He attaches the discussion to resources. Remember, Jesus is talking to Jewish people who understand offering as a privilege, lifestyle, act of culture and worship, and, basically speaking, a very normal part of every day life. When Jesus says "if" you are offering He is not speaking in a hypothetical sort of way, like we think of making an offering. What He is doing is placing a deep lesson in the middle of a normal discipline.


Let me say this...I have NO IDEA who does or might read my blog...I am writing this because it was stirred in me and I had to let it out. I'm feeling like the prophet who said, "there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot" (Jeremiah 20:9). 


Here's where I get to this one little minor point I feel the need to hit on.


That being said...you may or may not have a discipline of giving. Truly, ALL of us have a discipline of giving, but what I mean is the discipline of making offering to the Lord. It seems what Jesus is talking about is a very "spiritual" activity, not just pulling something out the pocket and dropping it in a passing plate. There's some thought and interchange indicated here. IF you are giving AS you are interchanging with the Living God and HE shows you that YOU HAVE SOMETHING against someone....


...what? 


Whoa. Wait. Hold up. 


It's almost like Jesus is advocating deep thought with giving. Could it be? Is He advocating something spiritual about giving? Is He saying it could be a platform for sin-analysis? You tell me.


I know this much. The average offering collector is afraid for offerings to become God-honoring-spiritual in nature because the average church-pew-sitting-giver is not really interested in discipleship-worshipper godliness, so the collector is afraid they'll stop giving if we make this a "spurutchel" endeavor.


I think such thinking makes for better offerings because it makes for better offerers. Jesus is challenging hearers to resist going through the motions of doing religious formation and get into motion with relational transformation.


This little thought opens up so many other avenues, such as, wise giving, generous giving, conflict resolution, the principles of reaping and sowing, judgment, reconciliation, humility, obedience, bondage, freedom, and O SO MUCH MORE!!!! (Man, God's word goes hard!)


I have a simple encouragement today: EXPECT offerings to be an exchange between yourself and God; one where the Holy Spirit speaks to you and one where you obey. IF it's an issue of sin; repent. IF you've done wrong to your brother, or ANYONE, get it right. Clean your vessel before pouring something out of it for the Lord. 


Think of Cain and Abel...that ol' boy had something against his brother, for sure! Where did that start, ironically? At the time of offering. It went unresolved, and what was in Cain's heart made it to Abel head through Cain's club (or some device). The murder in Cain's heart was made murder in actuality when it went unchecked and the issue went unresolved.


Listen, you know it and I know it, we have all kinds of things in our heart. It doesn't have to be murder to kill our walk with God. All sin is death. Before we offer, while we offer, when we offer, if we offer...a dime, a prayer, a bit of service...whenever we offer, whatever we offer, let's meet with the Lord and listen to what He says.


If we give rashly, and even if it's a mad amount of cash, but we don't bash the quarrels in our hearts then we'll be lashed in sin and our unresolved sad past. 


Let's take the teaching of Jesus to heart. 

Transparency Got Me

I love it. I can't lie. I love the new Domino's advertising campaign and I love the new crust and I love free pizza. Wait, I haven't gotten any free pizza, but I did want to mention that I love it.

However, my blatant appeals for free pizza notwithstanding, my point today is something else entirely. This very morning, at Septemeber 10, 7:30 real-American time, I saw a refreshing commercial. I may be naive. I may have just bought into another slick ad campaign. I may be an idiot. Whatever I might be, I like what I saw.

They've had this campaign going for a while in which they are urging customers to take a picture of their pizzas when delivered. The concept is that they don't need to set up picture ops by spraying their pizzas, or nailing them to a board or whatever tricks advertising people use. They say the product is good enough to stand AND it's good enough that anyone could photograph it at any time and it's still good. Not all pizzas are being delivered in tip-top shape, so you can imagine that some pictures are coming in of some jacked-up pizzas.

I remember the "Avoid the Noid" campaign that I thought was so cheesy that I could care less if there pizzas were. That was the 80s and Dominos pizza crust tasted like cardboard to me, and had about the same texture. However, the toppings were good and the Noid was fun enough, in a weird way, to give ol' DP a run. They aren't that way anymore.

Apparently they realized they needed change. They've made it. They made a commitment to improve their pizza and I think they've done a good job of doing that, and, in so doing, have changed their whole image. It's worked on me; no Papa's except when in conjunction with the Mama's.

This leads me to the part I really like. The CEO, or some high ranking official, of Domino's displayed a picture a kid sent in of a recent pizza order. The pizza was stuck to the inside top of the box. The executive seemed genuinely upset; he seemed genuine when he said he would not abide by poor quality such as that. He promised to make sure Domino's remained vigilant until all needed changes were realized to make Domino's good again.

They stepped up. Domino's seems transparent. I'm buying it. Matter of fact, I really did buy Domino's for lunch. It was good too!

If it's fake, they got me. I'm fooled. My tastebuds are fooled. My senses are fooled. IF that's what they are doing, they got me.

There are tons of lessons here, but big one sticks out to me: BE TRANSPARENT. Where there are flaws, deal with them. Where there are weaknesses, shore them up. Where there is failure, admit it. No excuses. No smoke. No mirrors. Domino's said they needed a better crust. They concocted one. They said their pizzas would stand on their own, without the aid of fancy photography. They failed. They confessed. They renewed the commitment and continued the campaign.

My goodness. What would happen if we ran our lives like this? Transparent. Confessional. Purposeful. Intentional. Correcting. Genuine.

Maybe Domino's could teach us a few things about our witnessing campaign.

Shaken and Stirred

“…He stirs up the people…” (Luke 23:5 – ESV)

If you’re from around here, or have lived here long, you know about our great traditions of cooking hog meat and pots of stew. Apparently these practices are not normal everywhere, but my belly sure does appreciate the normality of our local eating customs!

Every year my father-in-law, one of his friends, and his two brothers cook a stew on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The key to cooking a stew is a good recipe. Assuming you have a good stew recipe, you need a good crew of stirrers. One thing you do not want to happen is for your stew to stick to the pot! This is catastrophic! Thirty gallons of ingredients can be wasted if not stirred properly, but this same potpourri mixture of meats, vegetables and other stuff can be a wonderful treat if cooked slowly and stirred properly.

Funny…sometimes a good stirring is just what’s needed, with both stews and people.

The snippet of Scripture in today’s devotion is taken from the end of Jesus’ earthly life and it’s very appropriate for this time of year, even as we celebrate the beginning of His earthly life. This comment was made by the religious leaders of Israel who had arrested Jesus and taken Him before Pilate to be tried and punished. They had many complaints, but one of the main accusations was that Jesus “stirs up” people with His teaching. It’s true! He’s guilty!

It’s perfect that Jesus was guilty of stirring people up with His teaching because His whole life was about causing a stir.

The announcement alone that Jesus was going to be born of Mary’s womb stirred Mary and Joseph up in a terrible way. John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb at the very presence of the fetal Christ. God called a census through the Roman government that stirred up thousands of people as they were charged with being counted in their ancestral hometowns. He even moved critters out of barns just so He could be born!

An angel came down from heaven, announcing His birth to shepherds, interrupting their work. A multitude of angels joined the herald angel to worship Immanuel as He was being born. All of this ruckus occurred before the Christ Child set a tiny foot on the soil! He certainly was responsible for stirring things up!

The Christ Child made the star move and led Wise Men to Himself. He caused the scribes to search scrolls and ponder prophesies. He made Herod the king so nervous that Herod called out the troops to kill Jesus (they failed, but I guess you knew that). He made His family move from one place to the other until they settled, at some point in His childhood, in Nazareth.

Even then, as he grew to be a young man, Jesus astounded religious teachers and stopped the family caravan whilst they searched for Him.
When Jesus began His earthly ministry He really stirred things up. He made religious leaders insanely angry. He made demons run away by the hordes. He made sickness disappear and forgave sins, sometimes to the fury of religious system. He made political figures have to consider the worth of His ministry and the intent of His actions. He made people leave their jobs, forsake their sins, and transformed lives. He made sisters disagree and brothers switch allegiance. He denied Satan and embraced the down-trodden. He incensed the proud and healed the humble. Jesus turned society, the church, homes and the government on its ears!

Yes! He stirs things up! Even today, we can stand on Him as the cornerstone or be crushed by Him as the Rock of Ages.

Frankly, the truth is that if Jesus’ hasn’t stirred you, you’re probably stuck and in danger of being burnt. As for me, I am thankful to be shaken and stirred.

Luke #70 – Gift of Grace Shared

Luke #70 – Gift of Grace Shared
“And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him” (Luke 5:7-11 – King James Version).

My dad had a friend named Charlie when we lived in Texas that was a lot of fun to be around. Charlie loved kids and he did a lot of nice things for us. The first time I met Charlie he asked me to come over to his house; “It’s on the lake; you can go fishing,” he said. Well, fishing or no fishing, I didn’t know that fellow very well and I wasn’t too keen on the idea. My dad said, “Go ahead, boy, it’s all right.” Trying to find something that might interest me, Charlie said, “I’ve got a big, pink yacht over there and you can ride it!” Well, now…that changed things dramatically! First off, I liked riding boats and secondly a pink boat was a sight that shouldn’t be passed over. I decided to go.

On the way over to Charlie’s house he stopped at a convenience store. “Do you want a piece of gum?” asked Charlie. “Well, I guess so; thanks,” was my weak reply. I didn’t want to turn down Charlie’s kindness, but I wasn’t (nor am I now) in love with bubble gum. If I had to chew the stuff I wanted Super Bubble. I got a piece and was blowing bubbles pretty good when Charlie came out of the store. I noticed right away that Charlie had one of those large, plastic buckets of gum under his arm. He got into the truck and presented the bucket to me, exclaiming, “It’s all yours!” Though I neither needed nor wanted that much gum, I liked Charlie from that moment on.

We had not been in Texas long, so I was in want of making new friends. I found out that many kids went to the Dairy Queen every day. I went down to that ice cream shop and handed out gum. I made some new friends with that big bucket of Super Bubble. The bonus was that I was making friends with gifts that didn’t cost me a dime. (For the record…Charlie did have a big, pink boat…it was grand!)

When I reread these verses today I remembered good ‘ol Charlie and that story above. The big boat and the chewing gum served to get my attention and from there Charlie and I became good friends. Charlie was always good to me, so I tried my best to respond in kind.

The great catch of fish got Peter’s attention. From there he went on to become well acquainted with the Lord Jesus. How did Jesus first get your attention?

I cannot help but notice that Peter’s first instinct was to share the Lord’s blessing. Peter and his fishing mates “beckoned unto their partners” and both ships were filled with fish. The Lord has blessed us all in some way and many of us in many ways. What have you shared from His benevolent hand? I gave away gum that cost me nothing just as Peter gave away fish that cost him nothing. The Lord Jesus gives us things all the time (even the air of our lungs and the blood in our veins) and I truly believe He intends for us to share. Has God blessed you with money? Share it. Has God blessed you with the abundance to have more things (cars, property, clothes, houses, food, etc) than you have NEED of? Share them. Every thing we have comes by His grace and we have the RESPONSIBILITY to share those things. If Peter had kept all the fish his ship may have sank (verse 7). He gave them away and both boats nearly sank! We are drowning in things! We NEED to give some of them away before they pull us under!

The story with Charlie stops at things, but the truth of Jesus’ giving only begins with things. Christ then called those fellows to become fishers of men. Sure, they would continue to share the things that God gave them, but a higher gifting was at hand. The giving would be better as well as the gifts. Where once Peter had only fish to share, now he would be given the privilege of sharing the message of life (Acts 3:6)!

Do you want to give away something that cost you nothing? Do you want to have the proper response to the grace of God? Share the grace that has been given you! Share liberally for the supply is unending. Share confidently; “fear not,” the Giver will insure the gift! Share often, it cost us nothing and the price (a dear one at that), has been paid! Rather than material gifts that may weigh us down to near sinking, the gift of life in Jesus lifts us up! SHARE IT! Bubble gum will serve to make friends for a moment; the gift of life makes friends that last forever. Share it!

Luke #69 – Reality Series

Luke #69 – Reality Series
“And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’ For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him” (Luke 5:7-11 – King James Version).

Do you watch those reality shows on TV? I am very wary of them. Reality is defined as “state or quality of being real” or a “resemblance to what is real.” These shows are real, because there are real things happening to real people, but it stops there. There is a fine line right here…these shows are drama, not reality. Regular folk DO NOT go and live on a deserted island with people they cannot stand and hardly any food. Regular folk do not get into vats of cockroaches or eat live critters. Regular people do not get their spouse from a game show. Regular people do not trade wives for a month to see if someone else’s is better. This is not reality, but I am afraid that through popular television, people will begin to think that it is. All that it is TV setting people up to perform an unrehearsed drama and sacrifice their self-respect at the altar of ratings.

Today’s Scripture presents us with reality that we would rather think of as fantasy. The Lord Jesus causes the fisherman to receive such a great haul of fish that their nets brake. At the command to cast out and fish, Peter had been obedient, but he did not believe any thing would happen. When Peter saw the great haul of fish, his unbelief was revealed and Peter fell before the Lord confessing. The reality is that much of the church walks behind a veil of unbelief.

What do I mean by that? Simply this, we go through the motions, careful to do the right things, but we don’t really believe anything will happen. We are like some surreal “reality” show that fakes the appearance of true reality. We pray because we are supposed to, but do we expect God to not only hear, but to move? Do we have unbelieving hearts that need to fall broken before God?

Another plain reality is this: when we see or realize the power of God, we will fall down before Him. When we have an encounter with the Lord Jesus we will fall down before Him crying, “I AM UNWORTHY!” Too often we are trying to get some kind of warm fuzzy feeling from Jesus, when what we should have is an awesome reverence for Him.

Another plain reality: when Peter realized the power of this God-Man, Christ Jesus, Peter’s concentration was no longer on the stuff. By stuff I mean the fish in this particular case. His concentration switched from things to his soul condition and Peter’s concentration also switched to worship of Christ. Too often we want stuff from the Lord, but what He wants from us is worship.

Another plain reality: the moment Jesus got those guys attention He gave them a new agenda. Their agenda was no longer fishing for fish, but fishing for souls. Too often we want the stuff, and we want our own agenda, and we want Jesus on the side or mixed in with that mess. Jesus calls His followers to a new, different, higher, and better agenda. It is certainly not a personal agenda.

Another plain reality: when Jesus calls and when we respond, it cannot be a half-hearted venture. Verse 11 says that those fellows “forsook all” and “followed Him.” Can each of say today that we have taken this posture with the Lord? Are we trying to cling to the old man, the old life, and the old way? Are we trying to have this life and the one Jesus offers at the same time? They have very different ends; which do we want?

Another plain reality: our service and devotion to Christ is not conditional. Jesus gave no time frame to these fishermen’s call. He gave them no mission directive; it was an open ended call to follow Him…come what may…at His discretion.

I really believe that today’s church (that’s you and me) wants something that resembles the Christian life, but we don’t want it to be too real. We want ratings over reality. The reality is that we are sinful people in the presence of a holy God. We cannot act as if it is any other way and we cannot ignore God’s holiness or our sinfulness and claim to know Him or serve Him. It is not a drama, but a reality. The reality is that we cannot live the old life and the new life at the same time. We MUST forsake all to follow Him. God will not settle for our definition of a reality that “resembles” something other than the real deal. God will not settle for a dramatic reality that is anything but real. He wants real people, sure, but He wants people to be real with Him…recognize who we are and who He is, count the cost, forsake it all, and follow Him and His agenda. Are we living television’s idea of reality or God’s?

Luke #68 – Under New Management

Luke #68 – Under New Management
“Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.’ And Simon answering said unto Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net.’ And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake” (Luke 5:4-6 – King James Version).

I had just left class in Wake Forest when my cell phone rang. It was Care and I could tell she was very upset. “What’s wrong?” is all I said. “It’s Katie,” Care replied, “Her arm is hurting and she has been crying for over an hour. I can’t tell what’s wrong with it!” I said, “I am coming!” When I got home (about an hour later) Katie was still crying. Now, Katie is a daddy’s girl, so when she saw me she began to cry all the more. I sat down and pulled Katie into my lap. I began to inspect her arm and she commenced to wailing all the harder. I thought her arm might be dislocated. She had fallen while walking; as she was holding Care’s hand, Care tried to catch her. That sounded like something that might cause her arm to pop out of place. I have been involved in all sorts of injuries and thought I could pop it into place…wrong move! I thought Katie was going to fall apart she was screaming so loud. Flustered, at wits end, and tired of my little girl being in pain I concluded that a trip to the emergency room was in order. Then it occurred to me that we had not prayed; asking God to intervene. As per James 5:15-16, I prayed, believing God to move. Katie let me lay hands on her and I petitioned God with confidence. After the “Amen”, Katie wouldn’t let me touch the arm anymore. We got in the van and headed for the hospital. I wondered What did I do wrong? Before we were half way to town, she lifted the arm above her head and declared, “My arm is all better!” Praise God!

As Simon Peter had been fishing all night and I imagine he was pretty tired, yet at the word of Jesus, Peter pressed on. Under new management the fishing crew hauled in a catch that was too great for their equipment! After an experience like that I would imagine that Peter would want Jesus as a fishing partner anytime!

MANY lessons can be found here in this simple piece of Scripture. We can learn to press on, even when tired. We can learn a lesson in obedience; even when the situation seems bleak, just obey the Master. We can learn a lesson in trust; let God have His way and trust the results to Him. We can learn a lesson about usefulness; it’s not that we need grand equipment or strategies, but that we need to allow everything for the Lord’s usage. We can learn a lesson in preparedness; be ready to be used or to have your possessions used (remember…when this passage began, those fellows were cleaning the nets – verse 2).

There is a lesson that just jumps out at me for today. It is a lesson about management. I cannot stand those signs that are often seen on car plates or bumper stickers that say “God is my Co-pilot.” Phoooey! He ought to be the pilot! Personally, I don’t want to drive! I did that for a while and wrecked my life! The Bible says that there is a way that SEEMS right to a person, but that way leads to death (Proverbs 16:25). Mankind doesn’t need someone riding shotgun, watching them wreck the ride. We need someone to grab the wheel and not fight the direction He wants to drive in.

Peter’s fishing enterprise came under new management and the results were vastly different. That’s what I want! Take over my life Lord! I am tired and weary, but at Thy bidding, I will give this enterprise to You! I want to turn every part over to this God that does so much with so little; my mind, my time, my hands and feet, my mouth, and yes, even my money. Even when it comes to giving tithes and offerings the Lord God will bless until the equipment bursts (Malachi 3:10). The Lord God Almighty wants to take over our lives and produce a better and different product than what we were doing. How about it, my friend? Are you under new management?

When I finally wised up and let the Lord take over Katie’s injury, His results far outweighed what my efforts produced. It might have seemed like a small thing, but it taught me a great lesson in having the proper management in charge. The Lord God, in Christ Jesus, has healed my dislocated soul, repaired my broken heart, and mended my distorted mind. I sure am glad I gave this messed up project to Him! It was not easy…I had so much work in it that it was hard to turn it over. I wasn’t sure He could or would fix it at first, but now I am running over with HIM! I glad He fired that old man and Jesus took over management of my life!