Have you felt like you could do nothing right? No matter how hard you tried to prove yourself to someone, no matter your sacrifice, effort, or success, it was never enough? Many people carry the burden of trying to please their parents into their adulthood, feeling like they were never able to satisfy their parent's expectations. An ache of bitterness and unworthiness remains in the heart with a deep unsatisfied longing for acceptance and love. This is the tragic end of too many father/son relationships.
This is the emotional and relational baggage many carry into their relationship with God. Perhaps this fuels the need to constantly "prove" ourselves to God so we may experience the love and acceptance we have always craved. At church this morning, we read the story in Luke 17 of the ten lepers who were made well and the Samaritan who returned, praising and glorifying God. The thanksgiving and humble thanks of the ex-leper were visible evidence of his faith in God. Jesus sent him away in peace saying, "Your faith has saved you."
The Samaritan man who was healed did not have to "do" anything to "prove" himself to Jesus because Jesus already knew him. We do not need to "prove" ourselves to God by anything that we do, for the Bible is clear that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But how often do we point to external acts when it is faith that Christ seeks? If we have faith, won't thanksgiving, praise, and God's glory be what we are about all the time? We have only proven we are sinners, through and through. It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy we have been saved. What a relief that God's view of us is not dependent upon our works!
This goes back to the most fundamental basics: God has made us. He knows us. He placed every strand of DNA in every cell in our bodies, aligned our chromosomes how He saw fit, knit every bone, tendon, muscle, and arranged every organ in its place. He knows me and he knows you. He does not have "unrealistic" expectations of us that we have not lived up to: we are most precious to Him even in our fallen state. A human born into sin will sin. But God, who has chosen to have all His creation give Him glory, is pleased when a single sinner repents and turns to Him in faith. God's thoughts toward us are good, not evil. He is not the ever unsatisfied and aloof father whom we can never prove ourselves to. We don't need to prove ourselves: we must give ourselves. And considering what we know of ourselves, we don't deserve that kind of acceptance, love, and grace.
29 November 2009
25 November 2009
The Power of Being Wanted
Now we know that there are certain things which will keep someone from serving in the military: asthma, blindness, paralysis, disease, or lack of motivation. The intention behind the sign is to motivate and encourage. Allow yourself for a moment to be a 19 year old man in a little town with big dreams. The sight of this sign send a spark of hope in his heart: could it be true? I can serve my country in the army? The government wants me to help? If Uncle Sam said, "I need you" then there would be obligation and perhaps guilt, but Uncle Sam WANTS me, a nobody! I'm in!
How wonderful it is to be wanted! I was recently offered and accepted a job at Farwest Insulation, a Local 5 contractor. Not only was the timing great, but the people have been so encouraging and accommodating. It was almost like a dream to be at work in a trade I love, having been offered a job at a shop I've never worked at after over four years being off the tools. In talking to my superintendent, I was told that good help is at a premium and they were very happy to have me. Now that tells me two things: the company believes I am a good worker, and I was offered the job because I am wanted. I don't know about you, but this made me feel pretty good...no, really good. It's good to be wanted.
If I can feel good because there is a construction company that wants me to work for them and treats me great, how much better should Christians feel because of our Father who wants us! God does not need us, but He wants us! His great desire is that we would love Him as He has revealed His love for us. God has granted us life and every imaginable blessing that we have. Are you good at something? It is because God has given you the ability. Do you love certain activities, foods, or people? God is to thank for that love and desire in your heart. People are content with one, three, five, sometimes ten children, but not God. He's not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance so He might save them, bless them, and dwell with them forever!
Thank God that He wants you! In this season of celebrating Thanksgiving in the U.S., may we remember that thanksgiving to God is not seasonal. He wants us and rejoices in each one of us individually. We aren't just a number "reporting for duty," but someone who God knows personally, intimately, and fully. Praise God that He wants us! Remember to thank Him today!
23 November 2009
Status Update!
Throughout my recent trip to Australia my mind wandered to what I might do when I arrived back in the United States. I knew for certain that the chapter at my life on staff at Calvary Chapel El Cajon was finished. If you're in the middle of a great book, there's no turning back to "re-live" a chapter you were particularly fond of. The enjoyment of the finished chapter urges you to anticipate the next. That is how it has been for me. The time I spent at Calvary was the greatest chapter of my life, but that chapter is closed. Now I am looking forward to the next chapter but I'm not capable or allowed to skim to the end. Page by page the story unfolds, and every page more interesting with unexpected twists and turns.
The moment came last Thursday (11/19) when I stepped onto the tarmac of the commuter terminal in San Diego. That surreal moment was 60 days in the making as I toured and preached in churches and houses throughout Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra. But it wasn't just a preaching trip: it was a learning, growing, connecting with people trip. It was a great opportunity to have a real taste of Aussie culture and process through a wilderness experience with God alone, who guided and sustained me. At the moment my feet hit the pavement, I had no idea what I would be doing on Tuesday (11/24).
The day I arrived home (Thursday), I spoke to my brother Mat about work. During my trip it was affirmed constantly the best way to enter the country would be through a permanent working visa through my trade, mechanical insulation. I chose not to pursue this potential while in OZ because I believe God did not desire that I run around seeking sponsorship at that time, for He had prepared places for me to preach, minister, and help. I asked God to open the doors He wanted me to walk through. He has certainly done that! The following day (Friday) my brother called me and offered me a job with the company he works for, Far West Insulation. Believe it or not, Sunday I talked to the superintendent at church and he said it's a go. I called the union today, was placed on the out of work list, and tomorrow I go in for work!
Within five days of arriving home, I have a full-time journeyman level job in a trade that will be a great asset to me in securing a visa to Australia. It is truly nothing short of miraculous. Trades tend to slow down during the Christmas holiday season, yet I have an opportunity in a tough economic period to support my family and save money for our family to be established in Australia. I praise God for His provision and I can say that it is really the story of my life. What do I have that God has not graciously provided? He has given me hands to labor, and a mouth to witness of His greatness. Let us use all our assets and all the time He has allotted to glorify Him.
When God closes a chapter of your life, look forward to God's future. Don't attempt to recreate the past or dwell on past success or failure. Look to Jesus, for He will always lead us according to the Father's perfect will. It is our God who works in us both to will and do His good pleasure. God has done miracles in my life, and to the common eye they seem natural. Through eyes of faith, however, His supernatural hand is seen! May we sing with those who stand in victory as written in Rev. 15:3: "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" As God is our Provider, may we provide Him abundant praise for the marvelous things He has done!
The moment came last Thursday (11/19) when I stepped onto the tarmac of the commuter terminal in San Diego. That surreal moment was 60 days in the making as I toured and preached in churches and houses throughout Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Canberra. But it wasn't just a preaching trip: it was a learning, growing, connecting with people trip. It was a great opportunity to have a real taste of Aussie culture and process through a wilderness experience with God alone, who guided and sustained me. At the moment my feet hit the pavement, I had no idea what I would be doing on Tuesday (11/24).
The day I arrived home (Thursday), I spoke to my brother Mat about work. During my trip it was affirmed constantly the best way to enter the country would be through a permanent working visa through my trade, mechanical insulation. I chose not to pursue this potential while in OZ because I believe God did not desire that I run around seeking sponsorship at that time, for He had prepared places for me to preach, minister, and help. I asked God to open the doors He wanted me to walk through. He has certainly done that! The following day (Friday) my brother called me and offered me a job with the company he works for, Far West Insulation. Believe it or not, Sunday I talked to the superintendent at church and he said it's a go. I called the union today, was placed on the out of work list, and tomorrow I go in for work!
Within five days of arriving home, I have a full-time journeyman level job in a trade that will be a great asset to me in securing a visa to Australia. It is truly nothing short of miraculous. Trades tend to slow down during the Christmas holiday season, yet I have an opportunity in a tough economic period to support my family and save money for our family to be established in Australia. I praise God for His provision and I can say that it is really the story of my life. What do I have that God has not graciously provided? He has given me hands to labor, and a mouth to witness of His greatness. Let us use all our assets and all the time He has allotted to glorify Him.
When God closes a chapter of your life, look forward to God's future. Don't attempt to recreate the past or dwell on past success or failure. Look to Jesus, for He will always lead us according to the Father's perfect will. It is our God who works in us both to will and do His good pleasure. God has done miracles in my life, and to the common eye they seem natural. Through eyes of faith, however, His supernatural hand is seen! May we sing with those who stand in victory as written in Rev. 15:3: "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!" As God is our Provider, may we provide Him abundant praise for the marvelous things He has done!
22 November 2009
Unfathomable wisdom of God!
I came across an interesting verse during our family's Bible reading after dinner. It's a verse that has struck me before, but I couldn't escape it even as I went to bed. Let me give a little background: Jeroboam was king of Israel and had led the people into idolatry. He had a child named Abijah (meaning father, i.e. worshiper of God) who became sick. Jeroboam asked his wife to disguise herself and visit the prophet of God named Ahijah (meaning brother, i.e. worshiper of God). God spoke to Ahijah who was blind and told him that the wife of Jeroboam would come in disguise. Interesting, isn't it, that the one who was blind would be so spiritually perceptive?
Ahijah pronounced a stern judgment against Jeroboam and all his descendants since he had done more evil than all the kings before him through his idolatry and casting God behind his back. Concerning the child Abijah, the prophet said these words to Jereboam's wife: "Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. [13] And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam." (1 Kings 14:12-13) The Hebrew word "child" used here is used for the range of age from infancy to adolescence. This is a stunning passage for those who think they have the ways of God figured out. Here was a lad in whom was something good towards the Lord God from the house of Jeroboam, but God would permit his death.
Some might trip up over this passage, saying that it would be unfair for God to allow the child to die seeing as there was some good towards God in Him. Jeroboam had placed his family under a curse for his gross sin, and the most righteous of his family would perish as a result. All Israel would mourn the lad, for his heart had a loyalty towards God. He did not perish for his father's sin, but as the result of sin entering into the world through Adam. Sin separated man from God, and the wages of sin is death. Because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, sin has passed to all men (Romans 5:12). As a consequence of Jeroboam's wickedness, his house was cursed like many after Adam: the house of Eli (1 Samuel 3:12-14), Joab (2 Samuel 3:29), Ahab (1 Kings 21:21-24), and Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27). Adam doomed not just his household to a curse, but all humanity after him. The first thing this teaches me is a single action can have extreme consequences not just for me, but for my children as well.
The second thing this passage teaches me is God's wisdom is better than man's wisdom. We would spare the righteous son out of pity. Yet God in His mercy, allowed His own Son Jesus Christ become a sacrifice for all people that we might be saved from the curse of sin and death brought into the world through Adam's sin. Can you fathom what it cost God to allow His only begotten Son to perish at the hand of sinful flesh for sinful flesh? What pain and suffering God endured as Jesus Christ was torn apart by the whip, battered with fists, and pierced being the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish or spot? It is a horrible thing to lose a son who has faults: how unthinkable to lay down the life of the One whose heart was only good towards God, being God incarnate? God does not deliver man from sin because of pity, but out of his mercy, love, and justice: 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ satisfied God's justice while His love was gratified as John 3:16 teaches us: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God is willing to sacrifice the good so the wicked might repent and live. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Jesus did not remain in the grave, but rose again on the third day and remain alive to this day! Abijah perished because sin had entered the world, even though there was good in him towards God. All men who walk the earth physically perish, some earlier than others. But God has made a way for us to obtain eternal life through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, so we might glorify God on earth and live with Him forever. Jesus says in John 11:25-26, "...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. [26] And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Now there is a question! It is not how you answer with your mouth that determines your eternal destiny. Anyone can mouth the words, "I believe." When God looks inside your heart, does He see something good in you toward Him? Paul says in Romans 7:18: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find." My friends, there is nothing good in any of us. Philip. 2:13 says, "...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." The only way that God can find good in a human being is if His Holy Spirit has regenerated our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ! No amount of positive thinking or good deeds can cleanse us from sin. There is none good but God, and He is able to transform us from sinners to saints through His grace and mercy. Let us stop looking to ourselves, but look unto Jesus and be saved!
Ahijah pronounced a stern judgment against Jeroboam and all his descendants since he had done more evil than all the kings before him through his idolatry and casting God behind his back. Concerning the child Abijah, the prophet said these words to Jereboam's wife: "Arise therefore, go to your own house. When your feet enter the city, the child shall die. [13] And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam." (1 Kings 14:12-13) The Hebrew word "child" used here is used for the range of age from infancy to adolescence. This is a stunning passage for those who think they have the ways of God figured out. Here was a lad in whom was something good towards the Lord God from the house of Jeroboam, but God would permit his death.
Some might trip up over this passage, saying that it would be unfair for God to allow the child to die seeing as there was some good towards God in Him. Jeroboam had placed his family under a curse for his gross sin, and the most righteous of his family would perish as a result. All Israel would mourn the lad, for his heart had a loyalty towards God. He did not perish for his father's sin, but as the result of sin entering into the world through Adam. Sin separated man from God, and the wages of sin is death. Because of Adam's sin in the Garden of Eden, sin has passed to all men (Romans 5:12). As a consequence of Jeroboam's wickedness, his house was cursed like many after Adam: the house of Eli (1 Samuel 3:12-14), Joab (2 Samuel 3:29), Ahab (1 Kings 21:21-24), and Gehazi (2 Kings 5:27). Adam doomed not just his household to a curse, but all humanity after him. The first thing this teaches me is a single action can have extreme consequences not just for me, but for my children as well.
The second thing this passage teaches me is God's wisdom is better than man's wisdom. We would spare the righteous son out of pity. Yet God in His mercy, allowed His own Son Jesus Christ become a sacrifice for all people that we might be saved from the curse of sin and death brought into the world through Adam's sin. Can you fathom what it cost God to allow His only begotten Son to perish at the hand of sinful flesh for sinful flesh? What pain and suffering God endured as Jesus Christ was torn apart by the whip, battered with fists, and pierced being the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish or spot? It is a horrible thing to lose a son who has faults: how unthinkable to lay down the life of the One whose heart was only good towards God, being God incarnate? God does not deliver man from sin because of pity, but out of his mercy, love, and justice: 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ satisfied God's justice while His love was gratified as John 3:16 teaches us: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." God is willing to sacrifice the good so the wicked might repent and live. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Jesus did not remain in the grave, but rose again on the third day and remain alive to this day! Abijah perished because sin had entered the world, even though there was good in him towards God. All men who walk the earth physically perish, some earlier than others. But God has made a way for us to obtain eternal life through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, so we might glorify God on earth and live with Him forever. Jesus says in John 11:25-26, "...I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. [26] And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Now there is a question! It is not how you answer with your mouth that determines your eternal destiny. Anyone can mouth the words, "I believe." When God looks inside your heart, does He see something good in you toward Him? Paul says in Romans 7:18: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find." My friends, there is nothing good in any of us. Philip. 2:13 says, "...for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." The only way that God can find good in a human being is if His Holy Spirit has regenerated our hearts through faith in Jesus Christ! No amount of positive thinking or good deeds can cleanse us from sin. There is none good but God, and He is able to transform us from sinners to saints through His grace and mercy. Let us stop looking to ourselves, but look unto Jesus and be saved!
21 November 2009
Evidence of Life
I am the first of three children born to my parents. My mom told me how horrified she was when a group of medical students walked by when she was giving birth and someone yelled out, "Look, she's crowning!" and they looked in with their clipboards in hand. I can't remember if it was me or one of my siblings, but my mom was very annoyed at one of the nurses because right after birth the nurse strongly flicked the newborn's feet with her fingers to make the baby cry. Strong crying ensures that the lungs are clear of fluid and that life-supporting oxygen is reaching the brain. Although crying is not desirable in a baby at 2am, it is almost a comforting sound to a mother and father to know, "He's breathing. He's alive." How devastating is silence at birth!
I know many people close to me who have suffered miscarriages or given birth to stillborn children. How horribly painful and depressing to have a baby forming in the womb with all the excitement and potential of new life, and the first breath of oxygen is never drawn. That is pain enough to break the heart, and depress the soul in sadness. As terrible as it is to give birth to a stillborn child, there is a spiritual parallel. James says in James 2:26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." As a body without breath is lifeless, so faith without works is dead. When we are born again of the Holy Spirit, God gives our souls dead in sins new life. God removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. A stillborn child is no more alive than a stone, but those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and are cleansed with His blood and rejoice in abundant life.
Like a baby arrives crying into the world, no one comes to Christ until they have cried out to Him! Thomas Watson says: "Are there pangs before the birth? So before Christ is born in the heart, there are spiritual pangs; pangs of conscience, and deep convictions. "The were pricked at their heart." (Acts 2:37) I grant in the new birth all have not the same pangs of sorrow and humiliation, yet all have pangs. If Christ be born in thy heart, thou hast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is never born in the heart without pangs. Many thank God they never had any trouble of spirit, they were always quiet; a sign Christ is not yet formed in them." (A Body of Divinity, pg. 199) We are not called to make others cry through violence, but to make sure we have had those violent cries. We tend to focus on the pain the mom must endure in childbirth because of the intense severity, but consider how child is squeezed and forced into the world with intense pressure. Spiritual birth is no easier than physical birth, but is as fundamentally simple.
There is more to life than just breathing, however: there is also eating and drinking. When a baby is first born, one of the first things the nurse will do is put the baby to the breast of the mother. When a person is born again by the Holy Spirit, he will crave and desire the Word of God. Watson writes, "The word is like breast-milk, pure, sweet, nourishing; and the soul in which Christ is formed desires this breast-milk. Bernard, in one of his soliloquies, comforts himself with this, that he surely had the new birth in him, because he found in his heart such strong breathings and thirstings after God. After Christ is born in the heart, there is a violent motion: there is a striving to enter in at the strait gate, and offering violence to the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 11:12) By this we may know Christ is formed in us" (A Body of Divinity, pg. 200). As a midwife looks to the breathing, cries, and appetite of a baby as evidence of good health, so there are physical indicators that enable us to consider our spiritual life and health. Do you desire the pure milk of the word? Do you desire to please your heavenly Father, as Jesus did? Are there works coupled with the faith you profess? Let this be a personal examination that we might cry out to God that His work would be performed in us.
Too much church activity is like hooking up a ventilator to a stillborn child. There are people in church fellowships throughout the world that have the appearance of a new birth, but are not truly born again. Life-support only works when there is life to support! If there is no life in the members, church activity is simply warming a corpse, like when Elisha laid upon the Shunamite's son and breathed into him in 2 Kings 4. It is God who gives life. It is only God who can bring a child into the world with violent cries, and it is only by His grace and mercy that we can be born again through faith in Christ. Even a living child can become ill. How has your appetite been lately? A bad appetite in adults can be the sign of ill health. If a person notices their dog hasn't eaten a bite of food in two days there would be cause for concern: what of yourself and your children? When God has given us fresh manna in His Word day by day we are fools if we do not gather of it. And when you have gathered, may you partake of it as you have of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.
Do you find in your heart "strong breathings and thirstings after God?" Faith without works is dead. A body is full of inner workings: respiration, pumping of blood, perspiration, digestion, brain activity, and muscles pumping, organs working according to design. A fully-functional body and mind has been created to do, not to sit around and do nothing. Because God has done an inner work in us, let us do outer works that please Him. It is in our God we find satisfaction, and we have been made alive that we might live unto Him for His glory.
I know many people close to me who have suffered miscarriages or given birth to stillborn children. How horribly painful and depressing to have a baby forming in the womb with all the excitement and potential of new life, and the first breath of oxygen is never drawn. That is pain enough to break the heart, and depress the soul in sadness. As terrible as it is to give birth to a stillborn child, there is a spiritual parallel. James says in James 2:26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." As a body without breath is lifeless, so faith without works is dead. When we are born again of the Holy Spirit, God gives our souls dead in sins new life. God removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. A stillborn child is no more alive than a stone, but those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and are cleansed with His blood and rejoice in abundant life.
Like a baby arrives crying into the world, no one comes to Christ until they have cried out to Him! Thomas Watson says: "Are there pangs before the birth? So before Christ is born in the heart, there are spiritual pangs; pangs of conscience, and deep convictions. "The were pricked at their heart." (Acts 2:37) I grant in the new birth all have not the same pangs of sorrow and humiliation, yet all have pangs. If Christ be born in thy heart, thou hast been deeply afflicted for sin. Christ is never born in the heart without pangs. Many thank God they never had any trouble of spirit, they were always quiet; a sign Christ is not yet formed in them." (A Body of Divinity, pg. 199) We are not called to make others cry through violence, but to make sure we have had those violent cries. We tend to focus on the pain the mom must endure in childbirth because of the intense severity, but consider how child is squeezed and forced into the world with intense pressure. Spiritual birth is no easier than physical birth, but is as fundamentally simple.
There is more to life than just breathing, however: there is also eating and drinking. When a baby is first born, one of the first things the nurse will do is put the baby to the breast of the mother. When a person is born again by the Holy Spirit, he will crave and desire the Word of God. Watson writes, "The word is like breast-milk, pure, sweet, nourishing; and the soul in which Christ is formed desires this breast-milk. Bernard, in one of his soliloquies, comforts himself with this, that he surely had the new birth in him, because he found in his heart such strong breathings and thirstings after God. After Christ is born in the heart, there is a violent motion: there is a striving to enter in at the strait gate, and offering violence to the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 11:12) By this we may know Christ is formed in us" (A Body of Divinity, pg. 200). As a midwife looks to the breathing, cries, and appetite of a baby as evidence of good health, so there are physical indicators that enable us to consider our spiritual life and health. Do you desire the pure milk of the word? Do you desire to please your heavenly Father, as Jesus did? Are there works coupled with the faith you profess? Let this be a personal examination that we might cry out to God that His work would be performed in us.
Too much church activity is like hooking up a ventilator to a stillborn child. There are people in church fellowships throughout the world that have the appearance of a new birth, but are not truly born again. Life-support only works when there is life to support! If there is no life in the members, church activity is simply warming a corpse, like when Elisha laid upon the Shunamite's son and breathed into him in 2 Kings 4. It is God who gives life. It is only God who can bring a child into the world with violent cries, and it is only by His grace and mercy that we can be born again through faith in Christ. Even a living child can become ill. How has your appetite been lately? A bad appetite in adults can be the sign of ill health. If a person notices their dog hasn't eaten a bite of food in two days there would be cause for concern: what of yourself and your children? When God has given us fresh manna in His Word day by day we are fools if we do not gather of it. And when you have gathered, may you partake of it as you have of the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.
Do you find in your heart "strong breathings and thirstings after God?" Faith without works is dead. A body is full of inner workings: respiration, pumping of blood, perspiration, digestion, brain activity, and muscles pumping, organs working according to design. A fully-functional body and mind has been created to do, not to sit around and do nothing. Because God has done an inner work in us, let us do outer works that please Him. It is in our God we find satisfaction, and we have been made alive that we might live unto Him for His glory.
20 November 2009
AUS and USA differences
One of the most common questions I am asked about Australia is, "What are the biggest differences between Australia and the States?" This is a difficult question to answer because everything is very similar yet everything is a little different. A common misconception is that people assume that Australia is the same as the United States because they speak English. People also believe that Australia is a Christian nation because America is. These are both false assumptions and the longer you live in Australia the more clear this becomes. But because inquiring minds want to know, here are my top five differences between the States and Australia in no particular order:
- Australian people have an insatiable appetite for American news, especially politics. When I met new people, one of the first things people would ask is about President Obama or health care reform. Australians care more about American politics than most Americans by far! Australian newspapers and newscasts are completely saturated with American news. The "balloon boy" hoax, swine flu, the Fort Hood shootings, even obesity in America is captivating and intruiging to Aussies. I spoke to a gentleman who travelled to Chicago around 2001 and experienced what he thought was poor reporting. To receive the news coverage of America he was accustomed used the internet to access Australian news channels to get American news! We don't hear much about Australia, save natural disasters like wildfires that have been raging for weeks before we hear about them. And if there is one in a million in America that knows Kevin Rudd is the prime minister of Australia or any of his recent policies, that would surprise me.
- Buying anything in Australia is expensive. When I arrived back in the United States, I felt like an American going to Mexico for cheaper prices! All electronics are at least twice as costly in Australia as in the States. A new video game for the Wii is $110 plus tax, and CD's are around $25. A Snickers bar at Cole's or Woolies is $1.75. Tools are at least two to three times the cost and the quality is far inferior to American tools. Some American brands like Channelock and Rigid are availble but at a inflated cost. A gallon of Zinser primer which costs $15.99 at Home Depot runs $88 at Bunnings (Australia's "do it yourself" style store). Two polo shirts in the mall I saw on special for $79, and Old Spice aftershave costs $19.99. And then there's added cost to drive on the motorway (freeway) with automated tolls as you drive under them, costing around $2.50 a beep. It is not uncommon on a trip covering 20 kilometers to have at least $15 in tolls that will automatically be deducted from an account. Buying a car? Let's not even get into that! And mobile phone plans? Downright criminal.
- Christian religious education is compulsory even in public schools from grade 8 and down, and is optional in college (grades 9 - 12). Volunteers are allowed to go into public schools and teach the Bible with curriculum provided by the state which is actually quite good. I spoke to two people on planes who were not believers but thought it invaluable their children be taught the Bible so they could make an educated decision on what to believe. There is ignorance but also a openness to solid Bible teaching. Even unbelievers believe that there is some truth contained within that pages of scripture, and after a brief explanation are convinced that there might be more to the Bible than previously thought! Despite the religious classes, there is not the Biblical foundation that we have in America in churches. The vast majority of people do not know the scriptures, and they are unlikely to be exposed to the Bible in most churches because of the topical, subjective style "studies" that are held forth as sermons. Pray that real Christian volunteers with a passion for God's Word and anointed to teach are in these classes!
- Everyone from grade 12 and below wear school uniforms, complete with hat. It reminded me of school children in England when I would drive during the mornings when kids walked to school. Every school has their uniform: boys wearing suits or jumpers with girls wearing skirts and sweaters (jumpers). It is a law that all kids outside while at school or participating in sport wear a hat. Most of these hats are round wide-brimmed for girls and boys resemble old-school painter's hats with a piece of fabric hanging from the back. Unlike the States where uniforms are not the norm, the exact opposite is true in Australia.
- Australians see themselves in relation to the world and relish their country. As I watched television adverts or listened to the news, I began to hear something said over and over again: "in the world." For instance, I read that Brisbane had the largest gathering for Buddah's birthday in the world. Brisbane also boasts the hottest (spiciest) hamburger in the world. Every day I would hear things like, "Australia has the most cases of skin cancer in the world," "Australia has the largest underwater forests in the world," "Australia has taken the title of the most obese country in the world from America," "Koalas are unique in the world only to Australia," and even "Australia has the best bees in the world!" When I went to a house, I said "Australia has 5 of the top 10 most venomous snakes in the world!" A young bloke said with enthusiasm, "Yeah, and they are the top 5 of the top 10 as well!" This is not true according to my study of the subject, but you understand my point. In America, we often don't compare ourselves with "the world." Maybe it's because we're not insecure or we're very self-focused. I think the latter is likely more true.
15 November 2009
Furyball!
During my time in AUS, I've had a lot of unique experiences. Today I ate kangaroo and crocodile for the first time, and experienced a game that I have to shake my head with a smile and say, "Only in OZ!" It's called Furyball, and I made a video to share a little slice of country life in Canberra. Enjoy the action!
13 November 2009
All in Due Time
It is a great challenge to wait upon the LORD expectantly. We find a great deal of comfort with schedules, future plans, meetings, and appointments. We find joy in looking to the future and saying things like, "This time next year, we'll have a baby" or "A month from now, we'll be living in our new home." There's a certain amount of joyful expectation for me to say, "In five days, I'll be back in the States." I know I have a ticket for a plane departing to LAX next Thursday, so this isn't a stretch. If by God's grace I manage to be at the airport at the right time, I have a seat reserved for me to go home.
People love to predict. Watch any pre-game NFL program and listen to the commentators posture and argue concerning game predictions. Every single week ESPN has predictions of the points each player will score. It seems that predictions seem to give a sense of control in the outcome, even though they do not affect the scoring in any way. We find this same prediction-mongering in politics, government, newscasts, reporters, and even among religions. There is a certain amount of comfort in believing we know how things will turn out in the end.
I remember when I spoke to my wife's parents about marrying Laura. They asked me reasonable questions about my future plans, which at the time centered around joining the Local 5 Insulator's Union. I was asked what I would do if the plan to join the union fell through. I really didn't have a "backup" plan apart from working hard and using all God-given ability to be successful. It turned out that I was able to excel in the trade and I worked up the ranks from pre-apprentice, apprentice, journeyman, and later a foreman. There was a logical progression which was very predictable. At a point I could say, "In two years, I will be a journeyman and make such and such a wage."
It is strange to me that I have no such logical plan laid out before me and my family than obedience to God. The stakes seem higher to people now that I have two boys in addition to my wife, but they remain the same: will I be obedient to God and allow Him to direct my future? God can provide food for the sparrows and knows when a single one falls. Won't He abundantly supply my needs as well as my wife and kids? I can make no prediction about what I will be doing in Australia, where I will be living, or how God intends I serve Him beyond preaching and serving. Is that enough? It is enough for me, and I don't know how much labor I should put into convincing others. It boils down to faith.
Hebrews 11:13 says this concerning the patriarchs of faith: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Here are prime evidences of faith: assurance that God's promises are true, embracing the promises and denying even what is seen, and confession of these promises in word and deed. I suppose we can ask ourselves, how do we measure up to this standard of faith? How willing am I to take God at His word? Am I willing to lay aside all things that my arms might be free to embrace God's truth? Whether we live of die, may we do it for the glory of the God who is, was, and who ever will be. Faith needs no backup plan when faith is placed in God's Word.
People love to predict. Watch any pre-game NFL program and listen to the commentators posture and argue concerning game predictions. Every single week ESPN has predictions of the points each player will score. It seems that predictions seem to give a sense of control in the outcome, even though they do not affect the scoring in any way. We find this same prediction-mongering in politics, government, newscasts, reporters, and even among religions. There is a certain amount of comfort in believing we know how things will turn out in the end.
I remember when I spoke to my wife's parents about marrying Laura. They asked me reasonable questions about my future plans, which at the time centered around joining the Local 5 Insulator's Union. I was asked what I would do if the plan to join the union fell through. I really didn't have a "backup" plan apart from working hard and using all God-given ability to be successful. It turned out that I was able to excel in the trade and I worked up the ranks from pre-apprentice, apprentice, journeyman, and later a foreman. There was a logical progression which was very predictable. At a point I could say, "In two years, I will be a journeyman and make such and such a wage."
It is strange to me that I have no such logical plan laid out before me and my family than obedience to God. The stakes seem higher to people now that I have two boys in addition to my wife, but they remain the same: will I be obedient to God and allow Him to direct my future? God can provide food for the sparrows and knows when a single one falls. Won't He abundantly supply my needs as well as my wife and kids? I can make no prediction about what I will be doing in Australia, where I will be living, or how God intends I serve Him beyond preaching and serving. Is that enough? It is enough for me, and I don't know how much labor I should put into convincing others. It boils down to faith.
Hebrews 11:13 says this concerning the patriarchs of faith: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." Here are prime evidences of faith: assurance that God's promises are true, embracing the promises and denying even what is seen, and confession of these promises in word and deed. I suppose we can ask ourselves, how do we measure up to this standard of faith? How willing am I to take God at His word? Am I willing to lay aside all things that my arms might be free to embrace God's truth? Whether we live of die, may we do it for the glory of the God who is, was, and who ever will be. Faith needs no backup plan when faith is placed in God's Word.
10 November 2009
Only God Knows
"He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. [5] As you do not know what is the way of the wind, or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, so you do not know the works of God who makes everything. [6] In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not withhold your hand; for you do not know which will prosper either this or that, or whether both alike will be good."
Ecclesiastes 11:4-6
One aspect of following Jesus Christ in faith is not knowing exactly where He is heading. We know that all things work for good to those who love God, but we often don't know how He will make good of a situation. It is not until much later we begin to recognize the hand of God leading, guiding, and protecting us. During my evening reading last night, I came upon this verse and was very blessed. I have been asked many times by people in OZ how the LORD is leading me in future decisions: if I have a sense where I will move, how I will obtain a visa, or if God has revealed His ultimate plan for my family and myself. I know this is a small precursor to the barrage of questions I will no doubt face upon my arrival back in the States, and frankly I'm not prepared to answer them.
What goodness and peace we gain from the Word of God! As I was reading, this verse was a great comfort to me. With all of my travels, personal connections, and newly forged friendships, I don't know how God will use them in the future. But just like I don't know how the bones of a child form in the womb of a mother, so I cannot comprehend the ways of God. Solomon paints a picture of a reluctant farmer who will not plant because the wind is too strong, or will not harvest because the sky is overcast. In his wisdom Solomon exhorts that we not be slack in our labor because of supposed hindrances, but labor while it is day. It is God who will bring the increase. Jesus said in John 9:4, "I must work the works of Him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."
I have no doubt the connections I have made throughout Australia will be instrumental in my future by the grace and mercy of God, as true as I know that a healthy pregnancy results in a baby. I don't know how God knits the baby together, but I know that He does. Conception preceeds new life. When the call of God is fertilized with faith, new life develops that can only be imagined at first, not explained. But as the child emerges into the world, the parents rejoice to see the little person God fashioned according to His perfect design. In the same way, I don't know how God is using this trip. But I know He is using it to change me and prepare everyone for the work He wants to do. And when this baby ministry is brought to the birth, all will see and rejoice in what God has done. It is a miracle that God includes man in His plan.
I encourage you to trust God whether you know how He is using your present situation or not. When God has spoken truth to your heart through His Word and Holy Spirit, add to that truth faith in Him. He says in Isaiah 66:9: "Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God." God makes all things beautiful in His time, and childbirth is a painful, laborious process. A life of faith is a difficult one, but wrought with countless blessings. A life of faith is one without end, for Christ gives all those who trust in Him eternal life. Only God knows the difficulties and struggles you face, and He is able to use every one of those for good that He might be glorified. Rejoice in the process, for the end result is beyond compare!
09 November 2009
Truth Without Change (over time)
I read an interesting book recommended by Bob, my host in Sydney. He has a lovely family: Jacqui his wife, Samuel (7) and Kate (4). The book is called "Already Gone" by Ken Ham and Britt Beemer which claims the teaching in most churches today does not answer fundamental questions and doubts that people have. Children are taught Bible "stories" and emphasis is not placed on their historical, scientific, and archaelogical fact. When kids continue to go through school, they are bombarded with scientific "facts" which often contradict a Biblical worldview. Due to these doubts not being directly addressed from the pulpit or Sunday School classes, many people leave the church during their college years on in their 20's. Since I have worked with youth for many years and have seen the staggeringly high attrition rate among "churched" youth, this book did not come as a surprise or shock.
Darwin's "Origin of Species" published in 1859 shook the foundations of the common belief that the world was relatively young. The scientific community had given the world a theory of the origin of mankind and world without the necessity of God. This theory of evolution of the species was not a result of reading the Bible, but the idea of a man. Many today have tried to inject evolutionary teaching into the Genesis account, saying that the ideas are not opposed to one another. Others say that it does not matter if the earth is billions or thousands of years old: only belief in Jesus Christ is important. I heartily disagree with these modern views.
The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them in six twenty-four hour periods and rested on the seventh day. He made every star, plant, animals both male and female that live on land and in the sea, and breathed a living soul into man. No one in the Old Testament, nor Jesus or any disciple in the New Testament suggest that macro-evolution (one species changing over time into a different species) was the way that God made all we see today. Jesus says in Mark 10:6: "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." Both the species and two sexes were created from the beginning as they remain to this day. Though we see varieties within a species today, every species was distinct and fully-functional from the beginning. The chicken came before the egg.
As I walked through the Melbourne Museum and saw reconstructed skeletons of dinosaurs, the supposed ages of the bones ranged in the millions of years. God operates outside of time and can create in an instant, but He chose to create the heavens and the earth in a seven day period, one week. For macro-evolution to even be considered in a theoretical sense, enormous amounts of time is needed. It is my belief that an infinite amount of time is not enough for macro-evolution to take place, but that is another matter. It was not until 1859 that people began to suggest, "The earth may be much older than we might have thought" to allow the possibility that Darwin's theory might be considered plausible.
You might think, "But what's the big deal? Couldn't the world be 4.5 billion (this number changes all the time!) years old and God used creation without evolution?" Remember, God doesn't need time. The current scientific community is convinced that evolution without question is the way things work. The current age of the universe (which is considered billions of years older today than it was twenty years ago) is based on new discoveries and data which push back the prospective time of the "big bang." The more we learn the more difficulties are forced upon the theory of evolution, so more time is allotted to work out these problems. A kid walks into Sunday School and hears a "story" about how God created the heavens and the earth in a literal week, and then on a class field trip hears "facts" from experts that the world is billions of years old and the dinosaurs that excite his imagination became extinct millions of years ago. His doubts begin to grow during middle school and high school as he weighs these contrary views, and these doubts progress into unbelief of the Word of God in college. That is why it is critical that the Word of God is held forth as fact supported by science, not as fairy tales.
If the beliefs of people in the Genesis account are eroded by modern-day scientific teachings concerning the age of the earth, it is likely they will not believe the Bible is the Word of God without error or flaw. If the Bible is seen as a flawed book written by men, the Gospel itself will be brought into question. The Bible is the true Word of God delivered by the Holy Spirit through men inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:21 says that God's Word did not originate from man, "...but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." In Jude 1:3 it is written: "...I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." It has held up under fierce scientific, moral, historical, prophetic, geological, archaeological, and biological analysis. It is completely perfect concerning earthly things, and equally insightful and flawless concerning spiritual things. There is no book in the world which so perfectly explains the nature of a man, moral and social issues, and how God not only created all things but sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. The resurrection of Jesus Christ still cannot be disproved by any means.
As Bible-believing Christians, we must hold fast to the truth of scripture without yielding to the pressure of those who do not believe. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:20-21: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: [21] which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen." As the saying goes, "Truth can bear examination." Good science involves observation, formation of a hypothesis, the testing of a hypothesis in a controlled environment, and conclusion based upon the evidence. Neither creation or evolution can be validated through the scientific method, because no one knows the conditions that were in place before time began. But unlike scientific journals that change from year to year, the Word of God has never changed. It has never been proven false. It is on the merit of its unshakable truth I believe the Bible is the inspired, unchanging Word of God through which we learn who God is, what He has done, and teaches all the way of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. As Romans 3:4 says, "Let God be true, and every man a liar..."
Don't take my word for it: test the Word of God for yourself and be convinced in your own mind. God has revealed His truth, and we are all without excuse! It's time to stand up for the truth of God's Word, and teach our children what is right. I refuse to be bullied by people who choose not to believe what is true, and neither should you. The truth will not change over time! What's true will remain true, and God's Word will never pass away!
Darwin's "Origin of Species" published in 1859 shook the foundations of the common belief that the world was relatively young. The scientific community had given the world a theory of the origin of mankind and world without the necessity of God. This theory of evolution of the species was not a result of reading the Bible, but the idea of a man. Many today have tried to inject evolutionary teaching into the Genesis account, saying that the ideas are not opposed to one another. Others say that it does not matter if the earth is billions or thousands of years old: only belief in Jesus Christ is important. I heartily disagree with these modern views.
The Bible says that God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them in six twenty-four hour periods and rested on the seventh day. He made every star, plant, animals both male and female that live on land and in the sea, and breathed a living soul into man. No one in the Old Testament, nor Jesus or any disciple in the New Testament suggest that macro-evolution (one species changing over time into a different species) was the way that God made all we see today. Jesus says in Mark 10:6: "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female." Both the species and two sexes were created from the beginning as they remain to this day. Though we see varieties within a species today, every species was distinct and fully-functional from the beginning. The chicken came before the egg.
As I walked through the Melbourne Museum and saw reconstructed skeletons of dinosaurs, the supposed ages of the bones ranged in the millions of years. God operates outside of time and can create in an instant, but He chose to create the heavens and the earth in a seven day period, one week. For macro-evolution to even be considered in a theoretical sense, enormous amounts of time is needed. It is my belief that an infinite amount of time is not enough for macro-evolution to take place, but that is another matter. It was not until 1859 that people began to suggest, "The earth may be much older than we might have thought" to allow the possibility that Darwin's theory might be considered plausible.
You might think, "But what's the big deal? Couldn't the world be 4.5 billion (this number changes all the time!) years old and God used creation without evolution?" Remember, God doesn't need time. The current scientific community is convinced that evolution without question is the way things work. The current age of the universe (which is considered billions of years older today than it was twenty years ago) is based on new discoveries and data which push back the prospective time of the "big bang." The more we learn the more difficulties are forced upon the theory of evolution, so more time is allotted to work out these problems. A kid walks into Sunday School and hears a "story" about how God created the heavens and the earth in a literal week, and then on a class field trip hears "facts" from experts that the world is billions of years old and the dinosaurs that excite his imagination became extinct millions of years ago. His doubts begin to grow during middle school and high school as he weighs these contrary views, and these doubts progress into unbelief of the Word of God in college. That is why it is critical that the Word of God is held forth as fact supported by science, not as fairy tales.
If the beliefs of people in the Genesis account are eroded by modern-day scientific teachings concerning the age of the earth, it is likely they will not believe the Bible is the Word of God without error or flaw. If the Bible is seen as a flawed book written by men, the Gospel itself will be brought into question. The Bible is the true Word of God delivered by the Holy Spirit through men inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:21 says that God's Word did not originate from man, "...but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." In Jude 1:3 it is written: "...I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." It has held up under fierce scientific, moral, historical, prophetic, geological, archaeological, and biological analysis. It is completely perfect concerning earthly things, and equally insightful and flawless concerning spiritual things. There is no book in the world which so perfectly explains the nature of a man, moral and social issues, and how God not only created all things but sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. The resurrection of Jesus Christ still cannot be disproved by any means.
As Bible-believing Christians, we must hold fast to the truth of scripture without yielding to the pressure of those who do not believe. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:20-21: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: [21] which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen." As the saying goes, "Truth can bear examination." Good science involves observation, formation of a hypothesis, the testing of a hypothesis in a controlled environment, and conclusion based upon the evidence. Neither creation or evolution can be validated through the scientific method, because no one knows the conditions that were in place before time began. But unlike scientific journals that change from year to year, the Word of God has never changed. It has never been proven false. It is on the merit of its unshakable truth I believe the Bible is the inspired, unchanging Word of God through which we learn who God is, what He has done, and teaches all the way of salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. As Romans 3:4 says, "Let God be true, and every man a liar..."
Don't take my word for it: test the Word of God for yourself and be convinced in your own mind. God has revealed His truth, and we are all without excuse! It's time to stand up for the truth of God's Word, and teach our children what is right. I refuse to be bullied by people who choose not to believe what is true, and neither should you. The truth will not change over time! What's true will remain true, and God's Word will never pass away!
08 November 2009
Challenged...but Changed?
I'm the kind of person that loves a challenge. I enjoy challenging myself to improve at everything from bowling, building, speaking, writing, in practically every area of my life. I like board games that challenge me to think. I like to read books and listen to sermons that provide strong challenges. When muscles are not strained through strenuous exercise, they begin to atrophy almost immediately. In the same way, when I am not spiritually challenged I feel like my strength begins to wane. Fellowship with other believers, being challenged by the Holy Spirit as I spend time in the Word and prayer, and through the testimony of other strong believers, my "spiritual fitness" level is greatly increased.
But there is a catch to every challenge: it involves the necessity of action on our part. For a new reader, even the simplest of words are a challenge to read and pronounce. As reading improves, what was once a challenge no longer provides the same stretching and exercise of our minds. At my son's (Zed) school, there is a reading assessment system that ranks books according to difficulty. If a student tests at 1000 points, he can only read for credit books that are ranked at 950 or above. This ensures that the student is being challenged with new words to enlarge vocabulary and improve comprehension. The reason why this program exists is because most kids will not voluntarily challenge themselves. The same tendency toward apathy and ease exists in the heart of every person on earth.
Some people feel they have accomplished a great feat if they have been challenged. Being challenged doesn't count for squat. It is only when challenge results in change that gives challenge any value at all. People are sometimes challenged to roll out of a warm bed into a cold room, but that does not mean congratulations are in order! When God speaks to us, it will always be challenging. Once God transforms us through spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ, we still live in a body of flesh which tends toward selfishness and sin. It is contrary to our flesh to be conformed into the image of Jesus. Because we are not naturally like God there will always be a resistance to His ways.
Sitting down under solid Biblical doctrine ought to result in personal challenge. But we cannot be satisfied with going to church, being challenged every Sunday by God, and then not seeking to meeting that challenge. I once heard a pentacostal pastor tell his staff (and I paraphrase), "If you pray and fall down, then you better be different when you get up - otherwise, why fall down?" Now I distance myself from falling down or providing "catchers" at prayer meetings for lack of Biblical precedence, but I agree with the sentiment. What's the point of effort without change? Why listen to sermons we are not willing to put into practice? Why read the Bible if we refuse to obey? Why ask God to speak to us if we aren't willing to listen?
I praise God that He is able and willing to change me, because I am incapable of changing myself. Physical effort will not result in spiritual transformation. No amount of outer discipline can produce inner change. It is our God who works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure. We are His workmanship, we are His building, and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The work God has begun He will be faithful to complete. I like being challenged. It's being changed that I tend to risist. God wants to change that about every one of us. We need to be challenged. But more than that, we need to be changed. May God have His perfect will performed in each one of us as we yield to His truth and conform to His ways.
But there is a catch to every challenge: it involves the necessity of action on our part. For a new reader, even the simplest of words are a challenge to read and pronounce. As reading improves, what was once a challenge no longer provides the same stretching and exercise of our minds. At my son's (Zed) school, there is a reading assessment system that ranks books according to difficulty. If a student tests at 1000 points, he can only read for credit books that are ranked at 950 or above. This ensures that the student is being challenged with new words to enlarge vocabulary and improve comprehension. The reason why this program exists is because most kids will not voluntarily challenge themselves. The same tendency toward apathy and ease exists in the heart of every person on earth.
Some people feel they have accomplished a great feat if they have been challenged. Being challenged doesn't count for squat. It is only when challenge results in change that gives challenge any value at all. People are sometimes challenged to roll out of a warm bed into a cold room, but that does not mean congratulations are in order! When God speaks to us, it will always be challenging. Once God transforms us through spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ, we still live in a body of flesh which tends toward selfishness and sin. It is contrary to our flesh to be conformed into the image of Jesus. Because we are not naturally like God there will always be a resistance to His ways.
Sitting down under solid Biblical doctrine ought to result in personal challenge. But we cannot be satisfied with going to church, being challenged every Sunday by God, and then not seeking to meeting that challenge. I once heard a pentacostal pastor tell his staff (and I paraphrase), "If you pray and fall down, then you better be different when you get up - otherwise, why fall down?" Now I distance myself from falling down or providing "catchers" at prayer meetings for lack of Biblical precedence, but I agree with the sentiment. What's the point of effort without change? Why listen to sermons we are not willing to put into practice? Why read the Bible if we refuse to obey? Why ask God to speak to us if we aren't willing to listen?
I praise God that He is able and willing to change me, because I am incapable of changing myself. Physical effort will not result in spiritual transformation. No amount of outer discipline can produce inner change. It is our God who works in us both to will and do of His good pleasure. We are His workmanship, we are His building, and we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The work God has begun He will be faithful to complete. I like being challenged. It's being changed that I tend to risist. God wants to change that about every one of us. We need to be challenged. But more than that, we need to be changed. May God have His perfect will performed in each one of us as we yield to His truth and conform to His ways.
06 November 2009
First Impressions
Looking back on my life, historically my first impression would be better classified as a wrong impression. There have been many times I had a negative first impression of people who later ended up being among my best friends! The first glance or personal interaction can distort the truth of reality. People are more than just a face and a name, and it is a shame for us to judge by appearance. It is not above a man to do what is shameful, or to even make a practice of it.
When I arrived in Sydney, I took the train from the terminal to the home I am staying at in Baulkham Hills. The train was creaky and old, and as I rode the train from the Central Station tall graffiti-covered brick walls loomed on either side of the tracks. Rubbish lined the sides of the tracks as we sped under grey, overcast skies. Serious people stared straight ahead as the train jostled from side to side. Abandoned buildings with broken windows, the same red bricks, the same graffiti flew by kilometer after kilometer. It would be a lie if my first impression of Sydney was very good. Everything looked grim, dim, run-down, and tired.
The next day I took the same train on a trip to the wharf where the world-famous Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge are. They were an amazing sight, as the sun filtered through patchy fog and wind brushed cool upon skin. As I spoke with a couple pastors on the wharf, countless people walked by taking pictures and videos of the famous sights. Ships carried sightseers through the choppy water in the bay. I didn't bring my camera with me, but I'll never forget the sights of Circular Quay.
Since my arrival I've met many beautiful people, experienced wonderful hospitality, and have seen a beauty that was indistinguishable at first. I flew into Sydney as a tourist and after five hours I had a picture of what Sydney was like. But as I might have predicted, my first impression was not a correct impression. Sure, there are abandoned buildings and tons of graffiti, but a city is more than buildings and weather. The beauty in a city is not in design or ornamentation, but in the people and relationships you have there. In the same way, the beauty of a person is not in their proportion, face, or figure, but their possession of a God-breathed soul. In every person there is the mark of the divine, for God has formed man in His image.
Had I designed or engineered a world-famous landmark, I would have an appreciation that no one else could possibly have. The architect would not love the structure he designed because the opera or plays that take place within, but because he poured his own ideas and creativity into it. When we look at a person, we may not see what strikes us as physical beauty. But in every human body God has breathed a living soul, an everlasting component unique to a human being. God does not have wrong first impressions of a person, for He does not see as a man sees. God looks upon the heart, and sees His creation through eyes of love and deep affection. The God who created the heavens and the earth, knows all the stars by name, and made every person unique knows intimately all His creation.
I am blessed beyond measure to know that God always judges righteously. He does not "rush to judgment" or make a mistake based on a wrong first impression. God's natural inclination is to love what He has created, for all that He has made is good. It is man who refuses that love by rebellion, sin, and doing what is right in our own eyes. God has revealed His love to us by sending Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He demonstrated His love for us, for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Sydney is a beautiful place, and all that God has created is good. Man pollutes, destroys, ostricizes, hates, judges, and lies. But God is not like a man that He should lie or speak unrighteously. His judgments are not tainted by first impressions, for He knew your name before the foundations of the world were laid. God is not like me, who judged a city by the rubbish and graffiti that litters the railways. Regardless if you see yourself as a graffiti covered building or a downtown high-rise, God sees you in truth. If God is for you, who can be against you?
When I arrived in Sydney, I took the train from the terminal to the home I am staying at in Baulkham Hills. The train was creaky and old, and as I rode the train from the Central Station tall graffiti-covered brick walls loomed on either side of the tracks. Rubbish lined the sides of the tracks as we sped under grey, overcast skies. Serious people stared straight ahead as the train jostled from side to side. Abandoned buildings with broken windows, the same red bricks, the same graffiti flew by kilometer after kilometer. It would be a lie if my first impression of Sydney was very good. Everything looked grim, dim, run-down, and tired.
The next day I took the same train on a trip to the wharf where the world-famous Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge are. They were an amazing sight, as the sun filtered through patchy fog and wind brushed cool upon skin. As I spoke with a couple pastors on the wharf, countless people walked by taking pictures and videos of the famous sights. Ships carried sightseers through the choppy water in the bay. I didn't bring my camera with me, but I'll never forget the sights of Circular Quay.
Since my arrival I've met many beautiful people, experienced wonderful hospitality, and have seen a beauty that was indistinguishable at first. I flew into Sydney as a tourist and after five hours I had a picture of what Sydney was like. But as I might have predicted, my first impression was not a correct impression. Sure, there are abandoned buildings and tons of graffiti, but a city is more than buildings and weather. The beauty in a city is not in design or ornamentation, but in the people and relationships you have there. In the same way, the beauty of a person is not in their proportion, face, or figure, but their possession of a God-breathed soul. In every person there is the mark of the divine, for God has formed man in His image.
Had I designed or engineered a world-famous landmark, I would have an appreciation that no one else could possibly have. The architect would not love the structure he designed because the opera or plays that take place within, but because he poured his own ideas and creativity into it. When we look at a person, we may not see what strikes us as physical beauty. But in every human body God has breathed a living soul, an everlasting component unique to a human being. God does not have wrong first impressions of a person, for He does not see as a man sees. God looks upon the heart, and sees His creation through eyes of love and deep affection. The God who created the heavens and the earth, knows all the stars by name, and made every person unique knows intimately all His creation.
I am blessed beyond measure to know that God always judges righteously. He does not "rush to judgment" or make a mistake based on a wrong first impression. God's natural inclination is to love what He has created, for all that He has made is good. It is man who refuses that love by rebellion, sin, and doing what is right in our own eyes. God has revealed His love to us by sending Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. He demonstrated His love for us, for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Sydney is a beautiful place, and all that God has created is good. Man pollutes, destroys, ostricizes, hates, judges, and lies. But God is not like a man that He should lie or speak unrighteously. His judgments are not tainted by first impressions, for He knew your name before the foundations of the world were laid. God is not like me, who judged a city by the rubbish and graffiti that litters the railways. Regardless if you see yourself as a graffiti covered building or a downtown high-rise, God sees you in truth. If God is for you, who can be against you?
03 November 2009
Mr. Universe?
"Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God, [8] who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. [9] He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry. [10] He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. [11] The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy." Psalm 147:7-11
On the first Tuesday in November, the Melbourne cup horse race is held annually in Victoria, Australia. It is often called "the horse race that stops a nation." For many people in Victoria it is a holiday where men don suits and women wear dresses and fancy hats to watch the horses race. Even people who are not horse racing fans gather to watch the powerful steeds, pick their winner, and place their bets. All can appreciate the quickness and power of a horse running at top speed. God is the One who has given him strength and clothed him with thunder (Job 39:19). God is pleased with His creation, but it is not the strength of a horse that gives Him greatest delight. God takes pleasure in those who fear Him.
Proverbs 20:29 says, "The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is their gray head." Young men do glory in their feats of strength, ability to run, bench press max, and how many push-ups or sit-ups or pull-ups they can do. Entire stores are dedicated to nutrition for building lean muscle and maximizing the effect of a workout. Pictures of heavily-muscled copper-toned bodies plaster the magazine covers and tubs of protein powder. Man has engineered chemicals and workouts to make the human body so muscular it almost looks foreign. Though man may glory in his strength, God is not impressed or moved by the muscles in a man's arms or legs. He is not intimidated by "Mr. Universe" in pink drawers, complete with 22 inch arms and 57-inch chest: God takes pleasure in those who fear Him and those who hope in His mercy.
Isn't it ironic that man would create an award dedicated to someone deemed "Mr. Universe," the limits of whose body can be measured in inches with a piece of tape? One man earns the title of Mr. Universe one year, and the next year another will take his place. A horse deemed the Melbourne Cup winner one year is not guaranteed even to show the next. I ask you, how great is our God? How amazing are His infinite eternal attributes! He is the Creator of the Universe and covers the sky with clouds, and provides food and water to support life on earth. We who are intimidated by a man who stands six inches taller than us should be absolutely overcome with abject humility before the One who spoke the world into existence and knows all the stars by name. We ought to cower before a God of such power and might. The universe itself is far too minuscule a measuring unit for any attribute of the God of heaven.
If God takes pleasure in a man who fears God and hopes in His mercy, may those qualities mark our lives. We are not capable to change ourselves any more than we are able to shake the earth by stomping our feet. As God says in Zech. 4:6, "...Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." It is not by the power of a horse or the strength of a man where we ought to glory, but in our awesome God who is our Father, Savior, and LORD. We should be as the men of faith when threatened with being burned alive in Daniel 3:16-18: "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. [17] If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
Is your god whom you serve able to deliver you from a fiery furnace? Is your god able to deliver you from death, sin, hopelessness, and fear? My God is able, for His strength far exceeds the strength of any created thing, for He is the Creator of all. Instead of fearing what man can do to us, let us fear God in the beauty of His holiness. We should not serve God because of all the good we have received from Him, but because He is worthy of all praise, honor, and glory in Himself. Men admire a horse because of his speed and a man for his muscles, but our God is the "Over and Above All One." Know that our God values those who fear Him above all which a man admires. Man's desires perish with Him, but those who fear God will eternally remain the apple of His eye. Rejoice in this, O man, for this is a great privilege and honor we are unworthy of! Glorify your Maker through your trust and faithfulness, for those who rest in Him will never be put to shame.
01 November 2009
The Big Day...
Today was a significant day in my walk with Jesus. It was a fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken to me seven years ago: "You will preach, and you will be sent." I believed in seven years I would see the word of God fulfilled. Never could I have imagined in 2002 that God would have moved me out of the trade that I loved, into a full-time position working at a church, and later leave that position to pursue the call of God to march forth to the east side of Australia. As I stood before the congregation at Calvary Chapel Melbourne, it struck me that God has done a marvelous thing. He truly does all things well.
If you follow the blog you know a little of my testimony. I never aspired to be a preacher, and never planned on serving in the Body of Christ in a pastoral role. Yet the call of God to preach was clear, as clear as His call to minister in Australia would later be. Australia is certainly new territory for me, but the same LORD has never left or forsaken me. I have never requested to preach at any point, yet God by His grace has provided opportunities across the world! It's too great a thing for my mind to fully grasp.
This morning I preached on Jephthah, and tonight we had a Bible study on Barak. Between the two at this point, I find more in common with Barak, a man listed with notable people of faith in Hebrews 11. Barak is not introduced to us in Judges 4 as a mighty man of valor, a warrior, general, rugged outdoors-man, or administrator. But Deborah the prophetess of God called him, told him to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and muster on Mt. Tabor to fight Sisera God had delivered he and Jabin's army into the hand of Israel. Barak was hesitant at first, not willing to go through with the plan unless Deborah the prophetess accompanied him. After he was assured of her support, he was obedient to the end. Barak demonstrated his faith in God when he came when called, obeyed God's commands, offered himself willingly, and praised God for His great victory.
I believe there is a little of the reluctant side of Barak the son of Abinoam in all of us. We respond when Christ calls us, but we stop short of obedience unless the conditions we dictate are met. Like a spoiled child we rebel against the command because we want to go our own way. Though God has delivered us from sin and death and granted us life, we act like He owes us something. But a slave cannot dictate his form of slavery. He has no authority over the command of his master. God in His grace is exceedingly patient in His training of us to follow Him. Like the Good Shepherd He is, He does not drive the sheep but leads them.
I thank God for the opportunity to preach today and pray that His Holy Spirit will quicken our hearts to receive of His truth and wisdom. I have not come to Australia because I have a gift to share with the world, or I possess a rare gift or talent: I have been sent here to glorify Jesus Christ and lift Him up that He might draw all people to Himself. It has basically nothing to do with me, save I am a vessel in His hand. It has all to do with the refinement process of teaching me to rely upon God, opening my mouth as He leads. I was very reluctant to preach the message this morning because it is not an easy passage. But God be praised, who enabled me to preach Christ crucified and point to Him from a passage that seems to divide more than unify. Only our God can do that!
In my opinion, I could use more of the faith Barak showed by his obedience to God and willingness to offer himself willingly to God. As the last stanza of Deborah and Barak's song of victory says in Judges 5:31: "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength." As Jael pierced Sisera's temple through with a tent peg and hammer, may God skewer dead our unbelief! Too long have we been oppressed by the iron chariots of fear, uncertainty, and the lies of Satan. It is time that God's people stand in obedience with the faith of Barak, who came when called, obeyed the command of the LORD, and willingly offered himself. With man this is impossible: but with God all things are possible for those who believe.
I am in awe of my heavenly Father, who has brought me into green pastures far out of the range of my nearsighted vision of even a year ago. As a sheep I cannot discern the blades of grass at my feet except the Good Shepherd direct my gaze. Sometimes I believe the LORD is generous and gracious to call us sheep, for few sheep are as stubborn and feeble-minded as mankind is spiritually. May God grant us the grace and faith to trust Him that we might bring honor to His holy name. In Australia and in all the earth, may the nations laud and praise the One who is worthy of all worship and honor. May we shine for Jesus as the sun shines in full strength!
If you follow the blog you know a little of my testimony. I never aspired to be a preacher, and never planned on serving in the Body of Christ in a pastoral role. Yet the call of God to preach was clear, as clear as His call to minister in Australia would later be. Australia is certainly new territory for me, but the same LORD has never left or forsaken me. I have never requested to preach at any point, yet God by His grace has provided opportunities across the world! It's too great a thing for my mind to fully grasp.
This morning I preached on Jephthah, and tonight we had a Bible study on Barak. Between the two at this point, I find more in common with Barak, a man listed with notable people of faith in Hebrews 11. Barak is not introduced to us in Judges 4 as a mighty man of valor, a warrior, general, rugged outdoors-man, or administrator. But Deborah the prophetess of God called him, told him to gather 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and muster on Mt. Tabor to fight Sisera God had delivered he and Jabin's army into the hand of Israel. Barak was hesitant at first, not willing to go through with the plan unless Deborah the prophetess accompanied him. After he was assured of her support, he was obedient to the end. Barak demonstrated his faith in God when he came when called, obeyed God's commands, offered himself willingly, and praised God for His great victory.
I believe there is a little of the reluctant side of Barak the son of Abinoam in all of us. We respond when Christ calls us, but we stop short of obedience unless the conditions we dictate are met. Like a spoiled child we rebel against the command because we want to go our own way. Though God has delivered us from sin and death and granted us life, we act like He owes us something. But a slave cannot dictate his form of slavery. He has no authority over the command of his master. God in His grace is exceedingly patient in His training of us to follow Him. Like the Good Shepherd He is, He does not drive the sheep but leads them.
I thank God for the opportunity to preach today and pray that His Holy Spirit will quicken our hearts to receive of His truth and wisdom. I have not come to Australia because I have a gift to share with the world, or I possess a rare gift or talent: I have been sent here to glorify Jesus Christ and lift Him up that He might draw all people to Himself. It has basically nothing to do with me, save I am a vessel in His hand. It has all to do with the refinement process of teaching me to rely upon God, opening my mouth as He leads. I was very reluctant to preach the message this morning because it is not an easy passage. But God be praised, who enabled me to preach Christ crucified and point to Him from a passage that seems to divide more than unify. Only our God can do that!
In my opinion, I could use more of the faith Barak showed by his obedience to God and willingness to offer himself willingly to God. As the last stanza of Deborah and Barak's song of victory says in Judges 5:31: "Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it comes out in full strength." As Jael pierced Sisera's temple through with a tent peg and hammer, may God skewer dead our unbelief! Too long have we been oppressed by the iron chariots of fear, uncertainty, and the lies of Satan. It is time that God's people stand in obedience with the faith of Barak, who came when called, obeyed the command of the LORD, and willingly offered himself. With man this is impossible: but with God all things are possible for those who believe.
I am in awe of my heavenly Father, who has brought me into green pastures far out of the range of my nearsighted vision of even a year ago. As a sheep I cannot discern the blades of grass at my feet except the Good Shepherd direct my gaze. Sometimes I believe the LORD is generous and gracious to call us sheep, for few sheep are as stubborn and feeble-minded as mankind is spiritually. May God grant us the grace and faith to trust Him that we might bring honor to His holy name. In Australia and in all the earth, may the nations laud and praise the One who is worthy of all worship and honor. May we shine for Jesus as the sun shines in full strength!