Rescue Me

Looking into the life of Joshua has been quite interesting. Clearly the salvation of God is seen around every corner as Joshua leads the people into the promise land that had been promised years earlier. Joshua lives as a rescued man, saved by God who has delivered him up out of wandering and into a new world full of unlimited possibilities. It is obvious from the story of Joshua that God rescues his people. In fact, Joshua’s name reflects this salvation. Joshua literally means- YHWH Rescues (The Lord Rescues). As an Israelite looking for a land and home to call one’s own, knowing of such salvation would be crucial for enduring the difficult journey.

In the New Testament, we read of one who also understood God’s salvation. This man had rescued his friends when trapped at sea. As an instrument of God, this man promised to lead those who followed him into a land of rest and prosperity. This Jewish carpenter clearly knew God’s salvation. Maybe that is why his name was Jesus, or as they say in Hebrew “Joshua.” The Lord Rescues.

The Reality Of Jesus

Above my desk is a picture frame divided into four sections. These quadrants are filled with images of Christ’s life. We see Jesus washing feet, praying in the garden, hands tied behind his back, and carrying his cross. These are all images that reflect the final days of Christ’s life. These are pictures that in some sort of way remind me what his life was like.

As I look at these images and think about who I am, think about what I’ve done, and consider the road I have walked, I can’t help but feel pain in my heart. Maybe that pain comes from the reality of the task that I am to take part in. Perhaps I realize what I should be and have not lived up to. Possibly my pain comes from the knowledge that he did so much and I have done so little. In each section, each quadrant, I observe the one who paid such a price for me. I notice the one who lived and died and gave me an example to follow.

Death. This is what he called me to. Yes, he called me to faith, to love, to obedience, and to many other things as well. But, he also called me to death. Can I drink the cup he drank? Even writing about it makes me sound either super-spiritual or super-delusional. I cannot even say what I am called to without questioning my motives or thinking to myself “Have you lost your mind?” And yet, the reality remains. Christ has called us to death.

I’m not a big fan of dying. The times I have seen death have been burdensome to me. When I have experienced the loss of my pride, the loss of my friendships, or the loss of my dreams, I have felt this death creeping into my life almost as a shadow of the things to come. No one wants to lose those things closest to them. As I read Christ’s words, I cannot help but think that so much of Christianity is about loss. To be honest with you, I’m in my early thirties, healthy, saved, with a family, and I’ve already tasted enough death to want to move on from this world. I can’t imagine what so many face on a daily basis.

My faith looks ridiculous to those who taste death daily. And yet, I have tasted enough to know that the death I am called to is so much scarier than I ever dreamt. This death is not just the loss of life, but the loss of freedoms, the loss of pride, the loss of relationships, the loss of dreams, the loss of finances, and the loss of power. For Christ’s sake can I give up these things? Believe me, I have not tried to lose these things and have sought to protect them. But as I have begun saying “you don’t have to go looking for the grim reaper, he will come looking for you.” Around every turn I discover more and more loss, whether I want it or not.

Today was a hard day for me. Like most hard days, the things bothering me were not as large or painful as Jesus faced on a daily basis. The things I faced today were not as difficult as you have faced. It wasn’t much dying today, just a little. A little loss here, a little pain there. Just a good reminder of what he did and what we are called to.

Death.

God's Work of Art

Philippians 1:6- “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the stories we find ourselves in. Often times, life seems to be marked by individual events (both positive and negative) that determine our path and define our identity. Birth, marriage, illness, shortcomings, adventure, vacation, death, achievement, failure, trauma, religion, education, and work are among many of the categories of events that make up one’s life. As can be clearly seen, these events help to shape human character and work to chart one’s course for the future.

When considering the events of one’s life, it is often easy to forget that there exists a bigger picture. The human story is painted with much broader strokes than we often times realize when considering our tiny place in the universe. The master artist began a work years ago, and has yet to complete his stunning success. This masterpiece details the story of a loving God and his relationship towards his precious people. One could call this remarkable image a portrait of human existence, designed and inked by the creator of the universe himself. And yet, too often the details get blurred as we live this life on earth. Human beings focus in on the events of the moment, and forget to take a step back and enjoy the bigger picture. Paul, in prison and awaiting death, writes the Philippian church to remind her that God began a good work and will complete it in Jesus. Possibly Paul wants the church to remember that life is bigger than the events of the moment. Perhaps Paul hopes that the church will take pleasure in God’s masterful work of art.

Pitching A Tent The Week After Camp

Hebrews 11:8-10

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

It is good to say that we had a successful week out at Camp Rock Creek. Things were very positive as I saw the Lord working in all sorts of ways in the lives of our kids, their parents, and our staff. Needless to say, there is a reason why people keep returning to camp. It is a place where lives are changed.

Having spent a week away from home, I can say that I am glad to return to the comfort of having my own bed, my own shower, and my own stuff around me. Of course, I hardly roughed it at camp this year. I enjoyed sleeping in the director’s cabin with AC, a private shower, and a nice bed. On the other hand, Jessica (my wife) slept on a tarp in a hot wooden shack with ten little girls. Relatively speaking, camp was not too difficult for me. Still, there is something nice about sleeping in one’s own bed.

As the week unfolded, I did consider again a verse that I love from Hebrews 11. In verse 8 we learn of Abraham’s faith to go where God sent him. But by verse 9 we see exactly what motivated Abraham. The Bible says in this verse that Abraham arrived in the promise land, only to live in tents for the rest of his life. Not only did Abraham dwell in tents, but so did his children and grandchildren. When I read these words, I honestly at times pass over them as culturally irrelevant. Abraham lived thousands of years ago. Didn’t everyone back then live in tents? According to Hebrews 11, they didn’t. Abraham had the chance to live in a house but chose to live in a tent, because of his conviction that God had been preparing a greater dwelling for him. Talk about commitment. I couldn’t dwell in a cabin more than a week, but Abraham lived his life like a sojourner, because of his God. What a powerful faith Abraham had! Too often, my words are “give me my bed” instead of “I long for you, God.”

Fish-birds

This week I’ve been reading from C.S. Lewis’ classic Mere Christianity and thinking about the idea of how all life is governed by God’s laws and guidelines. As Lewis points out, life is made to follow the rules and purposes written for it. The purpose of a fish is to swim, and the fish is obedient to God by swimming, thus glorifying his maker. Again, the bird is made to fly, which it does and once again glorifies its maker. In all of creation, one can observe those beings created, doing exactly what God created them to do. But in the case of man, the rules change. Because human beings have free will, humans have a choice as to whether or not they will obey their creator. According to Lewis, human beings are the only beings in all of God’s creation that choose not to do what the maker planned. Imagine a fish that has rebelled and chosen to fly or a bird that has decided it will go against the flow and swim (flying fish and ducks excluded). But humanity, designed for the purpose of obeying and serving God, more often than not chooses to do that which the creator has said it should not do. Lewis’ ideas are thought provoking and remind me of Jesus who came to earth and obediently became what all of mankind should have become. Jesus behaved the way Adam should have, as one compliant to the laws of God. By his faithfulness and obedience, we are given the opportunity to live as Christ did, according to the will of our creator!

WWJD- Where Would Jesus Dwell?

It has been nice to finally have a place to call “home.” Working with a church home and having actual elders to shepherd us has been a huge blessing. Likewise, having a roof over our heads and a backyard for the kids to play in is a true joy. Last week as we were finalizing the process of closing on a house, I ran across a verse that touched me. In Psalm 84, the psalmist speaks of the dwelling of the Lord. The author says-

Psalm 84

1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young— a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. (Selah)
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. (Selah)
9 Look upon our shield, O God; look with favor on your anointed one.
10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.

I really like verses 1,3,4,& 10, as they relate to having a place to live and dwell. I don’t know the living situation of the psalmist. Did one who lived in a castle or a tent write these words? All I know is that this psalmist is truly in love with God! I must confess, home ownership is neat and having a backyard is fun, but living in the presence of God is life changing.

Self-Esteem

I have been doing some study on self-esteem and thought I’d try something interesting. Here is the Rosenberg self esteem test (one of the more prominent self-esteem tests on the market). Try taking the test based on how you typically feel.

Instruction: Circle the number that best represents your response.

*1. I feel that I am a person of worth, at least on an equal basis with others.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

*2. I feel that I have a number of good qualities.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

3. All in all, I am inclined to think that I am a failure.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

*4. I am able to do things as well as most other people.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

5. I feel I do not have much to be proud of.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

*6. I take a positive attitude toward myself.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

*7. On the whole, I am satisfied with myself.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

8. I wish I could have more respect for myself.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

9. I certainly feel useless at times.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

10. At times I think I am no good at all.

1. Strongly agree 2. Agree 3. Disagree 4. Strongly disagree

To get your total score, reverse-score *’d items 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 (make 1 = 4, 2 = 3, 3 = 4, and 4 = 1). Then add the new scores to your original scores on items 3, 5, 8, 9, and 10. Scored this way, higher numbers indicate more positive feelings about oneself.

Source: From Rosenberg, 1965.

Now that you’ve taken the self-esteem test and know where you are, look over the questions again. This time, think about these questions in light of the Gospel message. Think about how God created you in his image and called you his child. Next, recall how he made you so uniquely with specific DNA, fingerprints, characteristics, talents, looks, abilities, and etc. to make you unique. Now, consider how your sin and rebellion has caused a need for Jesus to die on the cross for you. Finally, remember the price paid so that God could give you his Holy Spirit and mark you as a new creation to receive eternal reward some day. Think about it all- the good, the bad, and the holy. Now, take the test again with this story in mind. Isn’t it amazing how a Gospel view of self alters one’s self-view?

The Founding Fathers Knew Something!

As we celebrate the freedom that we share as American citizens this week, I consider two quotes from the founding fathers of this country.

“Had the doctrines of Jesus been preached always as pure as they came from his lips, the whole civilized world would now have been Christian.” – Thomas Jefferson

"He who will introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity, will revolutionize the world." – Benjamin Franklin

Jefferson and Franklin both saw something about Christianity that should be reconsidered today. Christianity in its basic and most principle form has the ability to revolutionize the world. Are these statements true? Ask the 3,000 at Pentecost!

Acts 2

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

First Impressions

Most people have heard about the importance of making a good first impression. I too have given this idea considerable thought, especially while moving to a new city to begin a new work. After all, no one wants to start a job off on the wrong foot and convince others that he or she is socially awkward or incapable for the task. Needless to say, first impressions really do matter to most people.

As I read through scripture, I find myself “standing in awe” of God as he makes first impressions on his people. I think about the impressions God made on Adam by proving himself to be the great creator of all things. My mind then recalls stories of Moses and Pharaoh, who were both exposed to the holiness of the Lord as he demonstrated that all of nature is under his control. Next, I remember the impression God made on the Israelites, who learned to trust in the one who saved them from slavery. Without a doubt, on countless occasions God has made a lasting first impression by showing himself to be holy and greater than all others.

Still, there is one first impression made by God that has a tendency to surprise people. The story of Jesus is an amazing story because here God chooses the most unlikely of ways to demonstrate to his people who he is. While scholars awaited the great Messiah, and religious zealots anticipated a war hero Christ, few expected the birth of a baby boy in a manger. What an unexpected first impression Jesus made! There was no room for him at an inn, he was hunted to be killed, he was honored by the most unlikely guests (astrologers and shepherds), and on top of all this, Jesus’ birth was surrounded by scandal and controversy following a miraculous conception. A good first impression? Few would have believed so. Still, it is here that we find a picture of God's character that could not be put into words. God is with us, and he is one of us!