To Live is Christ

There is hardly a sin more needless or tragic than bad preaching.  In an attempt to be relevant, some sacrifice truth.  Others, though they speak truth, do so without applying the text in a way that impacts the hearers.  The preacher's work is not to stimulate minds but engage hearts through the Holy Spirit's anointing and power.  Charles Spurgeon lamented of those who missed the mark in his day:  "For instance, the great problems of sublapsarianism and the supralapsarianism, the trenchant debates concerning eternal filiation, the earnest depute concerning the double procession, and the pre- and post-millenarian schemes, however important some may deem them, are practically of very little concern to that godly widow woman, with seven children to support by her needle, who wants far more to hear of the loving-kindness of the God of providence than of these mysteries profound.  I know a minister who is great upon the ten toes of the beast, the four faces of the cherubim, the mystical meaning of badgers' skins, and the typical bearings of the staves of the ark, and the windows of Solomon's temple:  but the sins of business men, the temptations of the times, and the needs of the age, he scarcely ever touches upon." (Lectures, pg. 75)

What is the point of preaching if you miss the point?  I have been mulling over how we Christians tend to think like Christians and only see things from our point of view.  We think it is imperative to prove Jesus is the Christ while unbelievers see no need for a Savior in the first place.  Some preach over people's heads, and some preach only to themselves!  The pulpit is not an opportunity for a preacher to let the world know what he thinks but to hold forth what God says.  But let us not think that sermons are reserved only for pulpits.  Our Christian witness during the ordinary mundane activities of our lives is quite possibly the only sermon some people might be exposed to.

Christians, like most people, tend to think that if we just had all our facts straight with a little "shock and awe" we could convince anyone to our position.  This is simply not true.  Very little of the great quantity of soul-work is done in minutes.  Often it takes years - years of not saying things, but living a life for Christ which demonstrates His love to others that makes a huge impact.  Facts do not save people from hell and pithy sayings cannot change a man:  it is God who does that!  It is God who makes a man, opens his eyes, and transforms him too.  If we are willing to allow God to change us, He'll also change others through us.  It is a change which begins in the heart and reverberates through the soul by God's grace, not because we memorized the "Roman's Road."  If we talked a little less and did a little more our sermons would have more substance worth chewing on.

Jesus wasn't just a preacher:  He was a doer.  His works opened doors for Him to speak.  People heard of all the things He did and were intrigued to hear what such a Man had to say.  It is one thing to have an opportunity to speak for God's glory:  it is another thing for people to want to listen!  Proverbs 18:16 says, "A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men."  Jesus is the greatest gift I have ever received.  When we choose to live for Jesus we share Him with the world.  A man's words can be disputed and debated, but an entire life lived for God silences even the harshest critics.  Let your righteous life of purity weigh upon the consciences of God-hating men.  That way Jesus will do all the talking.

Year in Review

My first post on this blog was July 8th, 2009.  It's amazing to think a year has passed since I started posting.  To be honest, it feels like much longer.  I suppose 200 posts in a year isn't too shabby!  It has been a cathartic exercise to share what God puts on my heart in this format, and I hope you have been blessed as I have.

In looking back over the past year, much has changed.  In July 2009 I was the youth pastor at Calvary Chapel El Cajon and heading off to summer camp at Green Valley Lake.  What followed camp was the realization that our (my wife and I) ministry with the youth was fulfilled.  I resigned my position in September and left for a two month trip to Australia.  To make a full year very short, I came back to the States and we sold our house.  Laura and I went for a two week trip to Australia this year and we are awaiting word on a possible ministry opportunity on the east coast.  It's remarkable how much has happened and even more amazing the work that needs to be done.

If I had to sum up some things God has taught me during this year it would be the importance of being Spirit-led in everything.  It is so easy to walk by sight and not by faith.  It is natural for us to rely on the opinions of others, experience, and our own abilities rather than trusting God to fulfill His Word.  We are often like Sarah, who suggested that since God said Abraham would sire a son and she was barren to take Hagar the Egyptian as a concubine.  Ishmael was the product of that union, and Abraham loved him.  But that was not God's way.  No, God informed them:  in spite of Abraham's impotence and Sarah's barrenness they would have a son together.

I have grown a lot in patience, especially since the last two trips to Australia.  There are often long spells between communication with my Aussie mates and if I did not grow patient I would go insane.  It seems for years now Laura and I have not been able to plan because we don't know - and when I say we don't know, I really mean that!  We do not know how, when, or where God will use us in Australia for His glory.  But we constantly go back to the things we do know:  I am called to preach and will be sent, and our affections, interest, and desire continues to grow for the people of Australia.  There is an insatiable longing in my heart which cannot be explained outside of the love of God.  The depth of this love shatters logic.  Whenever we are tempted to doubt, God confirms his word yet again.  I will cite two recent examples of this.

I walked into our office/den the other day to see a paper drawn by my eldest son Zed, age 10.  Drawn in pencil, a picture of "Ned Kelly and his Gang" sat on the desk. There was Ned Kelly wearing the famous armor, guns blazing.  (The part I loved the most was the legs riddled with bullet holes!)  If someone had stumbled upon this drawing, one would have assumed Ned Kelly was a common subject of mine or I put the boys to bed every night with the famous shoot-out and hanging that marked the end of Ned Kelly's life.  The fact is I haven't mentioned that name in months and because the story has been rehearsed maybe once or twice by me in the last year at most, I was pleasantly surprised!  I am so proud...and blessed to have kids who are so excited about Australia.

Just yesterday I sat down to an e-mail from Schmap which is a website that has pictures of tourist destinations around the world.  It turns out a picture of Coogee beach in Sydney I uploaded to flickr was chosen to be on the short list of potential pictures to be used on their website for that location.  The picture may or may not be used in the most recent Schmap edition, but I find it amazing that someone would choose my picture for that location.  (Thanks Fiona for taking us!)  Just when we think it may be an impossible dream, the reality of God's Word is sent home to our hearts again.

Thanks for reading and joining us in the wild ride of our lives:  following Jesus at any cost!  May we be completely spent for His glory!

Broken First!

Many people come to Christ as one decides to go to the doctor.  The only relationship most people have with their doctor is not a personal relationship at all.  When a man feels sick enough, he makes an appointment and goes to the doctor for an exam or prescription of medication.  Once out of the office and feeling better, most will never even think of their doctor again until the next time they are ill.  When people's lives are out of order, they decide to give Christ a try - they attend a service, see a pastor for counsel, or something along those lines.  If things improve, they will likely never think about God until the next time their lives unravel.  On the other hand, if things don't improve quickly they will be hardened towards God and Christianity, now convinced it is all rubbish.

It is a simple thing to realize other people are messed up.  It is also easy to notice when things are not going smoothly in our personal lives.  But because of pride, selfishness, stubbornness, or a host of other reasons, we stop short of seeing ourselves as the failure.  Although we are the only common link to all the issues we are having, it is rare we come to the conclusion that we are entirely to blame.  When a car doesn't run, it is because necessary components are broken.  Until the car is broken, there is no fixing required.  Newer cars can be hooked up to a diagnostic computer that directs the mechanic to the system or part that is broken.  It is an objective, programmed tool to aid in repairing the vehicle.  Our main hindrance is we recognize there is a problem in our lives but we don't want to believe the source could be us.  If only diagnosing the human condition was as easy as pushing a button!

I am convinced that God will not fix a man until he is broken.  Many of the "conversions" that take place these days are similar to the "doctor/patient" relationship already described.  That is the description of a man who realizes things aren't right but wants to make a deal with God so things can be better.  It would be better for the man to realize that not only is his life a mess, but he is a bigger mess himself.  There can be no regeneration without repentance, and no salvation without humility.  The only requirements some churches make to hail new Christians is a hand-raising or repeating praying words after a preacher who says, "Repeat after me."  Brokenness precedes fixing, and sickness goes before healing.  The tax-collector who cried, "God be merciful to me, a sinner!" went home justified while the public prayer of the Pharisee only added to his guilt.

I do not remember the moment I was justified but I remember distinctly the first instant I was broken.  After struggling with a particular sin I finally was broken by the fight and melted with great sobs.  There had been a war raging within and without, and at last down to the deepest depths my soul agreed with God:  He had been right, and I had been wrong.  It was a mixture of profound sorrow mixed because of my guilt, yet mixed with deep joy knowing that I was delivered from my sin.  Waves of grace washed over me in a flood of peace impossible to be described for beauty and comfort.  There was a resolve - not aroused in my fickle flesh - but by the Holy Spirit in my heart to choose Christ and serve Him alone.  God fixed me that day.  He fixed my heart upon Him.  Ongoing maintenance is certainly required, for perfection is not in me.  But in another way perfection IS within me, for the Holy Spirit has taken up residence within my heart.

What sort of relationship do you share with God?  God cannot be Savior if you will not allow Him to be LORD.  A business-only relationship with God is no relationship.  If a relationship between a husband or wife can be termed strictly a "business" relationship, could any say there is love involved?  We love Christ because He first loved us.  Once we receive of His love, His love flows back toward Him and others through us.  Horses will not break themselves:  they must be intentionally broken by skilled riders.  In the same way, no man can break himself.  God is gracious to use circumstances in our lives, sickness, trials, and all manner of difficulty to reveal to us we are sinners desperately in need of a Savior.  An unbroken man is a proud man, a man too good in his own eyes to need fixing.  Humble us so we might be broken!  Break us God, so we might be fixed!

Spent for a Worthy Cause

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt, words from a speech delivered on April 23rd, 1910

From the moment these words were spoken, they have been unsurpassed on this point:  it would be better to try and fail than do nothing.  A prime obstacle which stands in front of valiant attempt is fear.  Everything a Christian is called to do can only performed supernaturally though God's strength.  With God all things are possible.  Even so, we can be consumed with needless fear which prevents us from attempting the impossible.  Psalm 27:1-3 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? [2] When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. [3] Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this I will be confident."

Perhaps we fear because we have not allowed God to become our strength.  Fear of failure, man, or wickedness need not strike fear in our hearts once they have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit's power.  When my sons were young, their fears were swallowed up in love and trust of dad and mom.  Now that they are growing older, it is amazing to me the things that have power to frighten them!  Their eyes have been opened to potential dangers their once innocent minds could not have imagined.  The more a man knows, the more he realizes can go wrong.  The danger is no more real than before, except knowledge has the power to excite a man to fear all kinds of foes.  A child is not concerned about contracting flesh-eating bacteria or paramecium from swimming in a lake - but adults can be!  A boy's thoughts are only about retrieving his ball so play can continue, while his mom imagines him mangled under a truck's tires.

It is simple to aspire to greatness.  It is easier to be a critic than to work at mastery of a talent.  To my knowledge Robert Ebert has never directed or acted in an Oscar-nominated film and Simon Cowell has never sung a hit single.  Though everyone is a critic, in America we pay well those who have mastered the craft of being their critical selves.  Criticism when constructive is highly valuable, for without it we would likely never progress nor see our need.  But if fear of criticism itself keeps us from obedience to the will of God, our priorities have been distorted.  The benefits of an honest critic far outweigh any negatives.  Resistance builds our character and makes us better.  We learn more through difficult repeated failures than success at the first go.  If we never tasted defeat we would never relish the victory.

Are you willing to spend yourself in the highest cause:  the glory of God through your life?  This may not look like a great achievement in the eyes of the world, but the world will not endure for eternity nor the memory of it.  Isaiah 65:17-18 says, "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. [18] But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy."  With all the effort we put into having fun and happiness on earth today, what a life it will be in heaven to experience the gift of eternal joy in the presence of God.  Accomplishment on earth is likely measured by our peers, and to some of our critics our best efforts may amount to nothing.  Only God knows and judges the heart.  The man who truly accomplishes something or amounts to anything only does so by God's grace and according to His standard of righteousness.  It is Jesus who has accomplished everything, and it is our choice if we will trust Him enough to obey Him.  It is for us to choose to take the next step in His strength.  It is God who makes our way prosperous:  it is He who gives us success (Josh. 1:8).  The face marred by dust and sweat and blood that glows with the glorious countenance of joy in Jesus will never know regret for effort.