Kindness

I've been chewing on this Scripture for the past few weeks -

"So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" - Romans 2:3-4 NIV

There are a few things I want to point out before I dive in any deeper -

1. You can’t read this Scripture out of the context that Paul defines in the previous chapter. Go read Romans 1:18-32 right now. No, seriously.
2. These verses in no way condone the sin. Chapter One addresses several sins specifically including ALL TYPES of sexual immorality but it also talks about disrespectful children, gossiping and greed to name just a few.
3. In Chapter One Paul addresses the depravity of man without Christ. In Chapter Two he rebukes the church for walking in those same sins and yet condemning those who don’t know Jesus.

This Scripture parallels perfectly how and what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:1-5. Jesus instructed his followers to consider the ‘log’ in their own eye before addressing the ‘speck’ in others. However, many people miss that the goal of dealing with the ‘log’ was to see clearly so we can help others with their ‘speck’. Jesus never intended for us to leave people with a speck in their eye.

Recently I was working on a project and ended up with the tiniest, least little flake of metal in my eye. At that moment EVERYTHING STOPPED! My eye was watering out of control, I couldn’t see anything and by the amount of pain I felt I was convinced something the size of a steak knife had to be protruding from my skull. Nope. Not even close. To be perfectly honest a ‘speck’ was being generous. It took me and a friend a couple of minutes just to find it. Even though it was so small I can tell you nothing else mattered until it was dealt with. Getting it out RIGHT NOW summed up my total life’s goal in that moment.

Specks can be a HUGE deal and Jesus wants us seeing clearly so that we can help others experience that same freedom. So this is what I believe the Bible is saying -

1. Deal with your own issues first. Maybe before we slam the Pride Parade on Facebook we should take a look at our own porn addiction. Global Christian Center’s website states that, “The use of pornographic material among Christians continues to rise, reaching near epidemic proportions in the church. Shocking statistics released by Net Accountability reveal that 50 percent of evangelical pastors viewed pornography last year. A study by Internet Filter Review revealed that 53 percent of Promise Keeper men viewed pornography the week before the survey, and 17 percent of women admitted to struggling with pornography addiction. Focus on the Family recently reported that one in seven calls to their pastoral care line concern Internet pornography.” Both are sexual sin period. But is it possible that the Church might have a log problem?
2. Remember ‘how’ you say something is often more important than ‘what’ you say. If it’s God’s ‘KINDNESS’ that brings heart change then maybe that should be the tone of our voice and the attitude of our heart.
3. Don’t forget it’s GOD’S STRENGTH in OUR WEAKNESS that brings freedom. We really don’t have much room to judge, just offer others the same hope that God has given us. Humility is key.

So let’s let God deal with our stuff. And let’s be kind when God allows us to help others with theirs.

Why I became a missionary.

So way back in 1997 I was in a ministry training school and part of that program was to go on an international ministry trip. My pastor invited me to be part of a team that was traveling to the former Soviet Union. To be honest I wasn't entirely sure how to feel or what to expect. Up until that point my foreign travel consisted of 1 trip across the Canadian border. If you haven't visited our neighbors to the north it's a lot like the US but colder aye. On top of that I am probably the last generation that grew up being taught to fear/hate the Russians. After all if the world came to an abrupt end it would surely be their doing. Now when I say my Pastor 'invited' let me be more clear - I was voluntold. 

I boarded a plane and before I knew it I was standing in Moscow. The following day we traveled to the Black Sea to host a leadership conference for pastors. I was a 23 year old punk Bible College student. What did I know that these men and women of God needed or even wanted to hear? I was given one teaching slot and at my pastor's request discussed the importance of youth ministry. I wrapped it up and we headed for lunch. The missionary we were working with came over to the table to inform me that I would be teaching on the subject again that afternoon. And the following day. The Holy Spirit sparked something in those leaders that day and He used me to do it. It was incredible to think that I made a difference in another nation. But that wasn't the only difference that was made that day. Little did I know that the biggest change was taking place inside of me. I've had the privilege of sharing Jesus and training leaders around the world and here are some of the things I've learned along the way.

1. God is WAY bigger than we realize.
2. People are just people regardless of where they were born or where they live.
3. There is a big beautiful world out there.
4. Where God guides He provides.
5. The Holy Spirit is the same no matter where you go.
6. The good ole USofA doesn't have the corner on Jesus, the Church and certainly not worship.
7. Speaking of the good ole USofA I didn't appreciate how truly blessed we are until I left her behind.
8. I've made some incredible friends along the way. You get to know people better in a week on the mission field than a year in church.

I used to think that we were doing a good thing by going. I now realize that He is doing a God thing and we are the real recipients of the blessing when we answer the call. In 20+ years of following Jesus I have found NOTHING that can impact a believer's walk with Christ like a short term mission trip can. And that's 'Why I became a missionary'. And that's why you should too. I'll leave you with a couple of thoughts to ponder.

"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."" - Matthew 28:18-20

""Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"" - Isaiah 6:8 NIV

Shared?

This is one of my wife’s favorite Scriptures -

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." - Philippians 4:8 NIV

What a different world it would be if we all actually put this into practice! See there is power in what we choose to focus on.

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” - Luke 6:45 NIV

"From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." - Proverbs 18:20-21 NIV

So I have a question and a challenge for you. Ready? Here we go -

QUESTION - Of your last 10 Facebook posts (or Twitter, or conversations if you are technologically adverse) how many of them are positive and how many of them are negative? Be honest with yourself. Just so you know 9 of mine were positive and one was negative (I mentioned a mouthful of kerosene I had while working on a furnace but it was intended to be funny). I have actually started unfollowing people who are always fussing, fighting and complaining. Life is too precious to surround yourself with negative people.

CHALLENGE - For the next week make it a point to only share positive things and have positive conversations. If it’s not uplifting then it’s not uploaded! I promise it will brighten your day as well as everyone else’s around you.

Driving along and then BAM!

The other day I was driving nowhere in particular and for no specific reason I just had this almost overwhelming feeling of how much I absolutely love life. It was so intense that it caught me off guard to be perfectly honest. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a pretty positive person most of the time but I’m certainly not one of those eternal optimists. You know the ones with a perpetual smile plastered on their face right? There are lots of great things in my life but there are also just as many challenges. But this was bigger than all the bad stuff. And somehow at the same time it was bigger than all the good stuff.

It was grace.

It was a revelation of God’s undeserved favor.

In a moment I felt like the Holy Spirit gave me a glimpse of just how good God REALLY is, just how much He REALLY loves me (us) just how incredible my (our) future REALLY will be! Like you I encounter the ups and downs of this life with all the accompanying emotions involved. But the longer I walk with God the more I realize that those things aren’t what really matter.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

I want you to know that I have prayed and asked God to give every person reading this their own God moment. I think I have a new appreciation for what the Apostle Paul felt.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” - Ephesians 3:17b-19 NIV

So don’t be surprised when God shows up and peels back the curtain to give you a glimpse of His grace. As a matter of fact I would encourage you to expect it!

Turkey quesadilla anyone?

Turkey soup, turkey sandwiches, turkey quesadillas, turkey pot pie…

Now that we are all turkey-ed out I want to talk about Thanksgiving. Not as a holiday but as a lifestyle. I love that we set aside a day to remind ourselves to be thankful for all that we have. In general it is short lived and I’m not just talking about our homage to consumerism and the foolishness of Black Friday.

What I mean is this - for the vast majority of us it is easier to see the negative rather than the positive, to focus on what’s wrong rather than on what’s going right. I’ve heard it takes 18 positive comments to cancel out 1 negative one. Or was it 16? Who knows what the real number is. But does it really matter because Abraham Lincoln once said, ‘87% of statistics on the internet are made up anyway.’? What we do know is that that criticism often outweighs compliments and that we don’t lie awake at night losing sleep over all the wonderful things that are or might happen to us. My college psychology class taught me that this negative bias is human nature. But we have another nature.

Every day of the year should be Thanksgiving for a Christian!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” - Psalm 118:1 NIV

An attitude of gratitude is the hallmark of a man or woman of faith who trusts God in all situations. Thanksgiving LITERALLY ushers us into his presence.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” - Psalm 100:4-5 NIV

I’ve recently been convicted in my personal prayer life as to how much time I spend praying for protection,  provision, power, people, problems, etc. versus how much time I spend simply saying, “Thank you!” I mean to change that. I choose to see the good in the people and the situations I encounter today. I determine to live my life in such a way that I demonstrate my appreciation for all that Jesus has done for me.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” - Philippians 4:4-9 NIV

Read it again. We not only have the peace of God, we have the God of peace!!! That's reason for Thanksgiving.

Great steaks and a clear conscience.

I really enjoy a great steak. Everyone has their own opinion on how to prepare a great steak but most people agree that the first step in cooking a great steak is to SEAR the meat. Heat that grill or griddle up, slap it on and listen to it sizzle. It’s beautiful music to the ears of every carnivore!

Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines SEAR as to cook the surface of quickly with intense heat. But it also defines it as to burn, scorch, mark, or injure with or as if with sudden application of intense heat or to make withered and dry. Good for a nice ribeye but not great for your conscience.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” - 1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV

I want to point out of few things in these two verses -

1. It is talking about people who once had a vibrant relationship with God. It seems to me that you have to have something before you can abandon it.
2. It refers to them as hypocritical liars. A hypocrite is someone who says one thing and does something else. It actually says that someone who once served God has now become a hindrance to Him and a help to the enemy!
3. It says that their consciences have been seared or burned, scorched, marked, or injured with a sudden application of intense heat rending it withered and dry. This is what I would like to focus on.

First let me clarify that in context this verse is discussing the freedom we have in Christ and not campaigning for more rules/regulations/religion. However we need to understand that Jesus has set us free from sin. He has not set us free to sin. There is a line! Now I’m not going to give you a list of do’s and don’ts because it is truly the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to guide us into righteousness. But here is the kicker… the more we ignore Him the easier it becomes. A seared conscience is one that has spent too much time too close to the fire. A little compromise here and there and before we know it we find ourselves in a place we never thought possible. Sin is a slippery slope and the question is how much is too much?

If you are reading this and you feel ‘a little heat’ (pun intended) don’t despair. That is proof positive that the Holy Spirit is still working in your life. Start by asking God to define the lines for you. Sometimes you have to take some radical steps to break free. I know a young man who was struggling with a pornography addiction that took a hammer to his laptop. By the way he is in full time ministry today. We often know what to do we just lack the conviction to walk it out. We need our behavior to match our beliefs. Are we willing to not see the latest movie, engage in gossip around the water cooler and refuse to cheat on our taxes? Other than going to church on Sundays (or at least most of them) are we really any different from people who don’t know Jesus? WE ABSOLUTELY ARE AND OUR LIVES SHOULD REFLECT IT!

Let Freedom Reign

Tomorrow is the 4^th of July, a day when the United States of America celebrates their independence. We will fill up the coolers, fire up the grills and set off countless fireworks in the name FREEDOM - a concept near and dear to our hearts. FREEDOM was an idea also precious to the Apostle Paul.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1 NIV

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines FREEDOM as -

     1.  the quality or state of being free: as

          a.  the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action

          b.  liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : independence

          c.  the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous 

The Greek word used is Eleutheria and it means -

     1.  liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation

     2.  true liberty is living as we should not as we please

Paul understood the price that Christ had paid to purchase our FREEDOM. He also recognized that the promise without the proper application is wasted. See the church in Galatia was trading their FREEDOM for empty religious tradition. On the other side of the spectrum the church in Corinth used their FREEDOM as a license to sin. Both missed the point and more importantly the power of God operating in their lives. See Jesus calls us into a relationship with him, founded on faith rather than rules, regulations and rituals. At the same time that relationship calls us (and empowers us) to live the life we were created to live, not to settle for something less - aka SIN.

The truth is that most people know very little about true FREEDOM. They may consider themselves free but in truth are slaves to debt, slaves to dysfunction in their relationships, slaves to sickness, slaves to empty religious exercises and slaves to sin. Paul said the promise is there but the key is in our hands - “…do not let…” As we pass the burgers and watch the night sky light up with colorful displays let’s remember that we are FREE. Not just in theory but in practice. Not just in the sweet by and by but right here, right now. God has greater things in store for us!

So I leave you with this question - In what area of your life has Jesus given you FREEDOM that you are currently not experiencing and what do you plan to do about it?

DREAM ON! (Acts 2:17-18)