Well, it's been too long since the last time I blogged. I need to probably do it daily because it is a good release for the soul. I have to be honest I am really struggling right now. I wonder why we refuse to change our lives and then blame everyone else when things don't go well. In our lives we keep repeating the same behaviors and expecting different results. In our churches we keep doing the same things and expecting different results. Is it just me or is there something really wrong with this picture? The values and methodology in the world today is vastly different than it was fifteen years ago. The majority of us find ourselves in a constant state of change. Even we value different things today then we did in the past. We are hungry for true authentic relationships where we can be who we are and accepted at face value. The greatest unchurched group in America is the group from ages 25-45 of which I am part. Many of this age group went to church growing up and got conditioned to church being a certain way and now find that it doesn't do anything for them today. So they avoid what they conceive as organized religion. Guess what?? Jesus' concept of the church was vastly different than what many Christians believe. It was vastly different than the way many churches do church. Jesus was all about open and authentic relationships. If the church is going to survive, it must become a place where we can be ourselves. We need to be able to come together as wounded and struggling followers trying to make sense out of this thing called life. We are going to make mistakes, we are going to sin and we are going to disappoint. Unfortunately we act more like the Pharisees than Jesus. I wonder how many times Jesus would have told me, "If you are perfect go ahead and throw that stone." We need to realize that we are trying to reach a group of people that do not want anything to do with their grandma's church. As long as that is what we continue to give them we will continue to drive them away. It's a double edge sword, if we change we are going to alienate those who like the traditional church. I struggle with the fact that the more I have studied, the more I realize that the traditional church is not Jesus' Church. If nothing else this is food for thought. Glad I could get that off my chest.
I have to admit I had mixed emotions when I was asked to help with this event. It had been years since I had done anything with the folks at Paden City. As I walked on to the Wetzel County 4-H campgrounds I was over taken by feelings of nostalgia. I was a camper here when my home church hosted the week long event known as Victory Christian Service Camp. The memories were awesome as I walked up the path to the cabin. I was thankful that I had the opportunity to introduce a whole new generation including my two youngest kids to something that had made a tremendous impact on my life. On Saturday, the Lord moved in an unbelievable way as thirteen kids came forward to accept Christ and be baptized. As we walked to the creek it hit me, this was where it all changed for me thirty-two years earlier. I walked this same path to the creek after I had accepted Jesus Christ and was baptized in these same muddy waters. Each of these kids like me started a new journey at this camp. Although the excitement will dull some and mistakes and poor decisions will happen, God's grace will always abound. If we will only allow His hand to remain on our lives He will guide us and help us rise above the mistakes we will make.
Well it is a wonderful day in the Ohio Valley. The humidity is high as the temperature is in the 90s. This is the type of weather where you get soaking wet doing very little and you get tired very easy. The heat and the humidity has the ability to literally suck all the energy out of us. Difficulties and trials have the same ability in regard to our spiritual energy. When we face these trials which could be in the form of a personal struggle or a church conflict we find ourselves feeling flat spiritually and usually very discouraged. During these low times Satan often tries to encourage us to give up. During these times we should heed this simple instructions that Paul gave the Galatians. "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." These are tough words, because at those times when we are spiritually dragging we find ourselves questioning God and if it is really worth all the heartache. However, Paul is saying that in the end we will look back if we hang in there and know that it was all worth it.
Yesterday we paused to remember those that sacrificed their lives in the service of our country throughout history. These individuals were willing to lay it all on the line for our nation and our freedom. If these individuals had not been willing to make these sacrifices then we would be living under the tyranny of an oppressor nation. As I reflected on these sacrifices, I had a thought. Each Sunday Christians celebrate memorial day. As we come around His table and take communion we remember the one who made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us. Although we were far from perfect God was willing to lay it all on the line for our freedom and eternity. If God would not have been willing to make this sacrifice we would still be forced to live under the tyranny of sin with no hope. As Americans we should be thankful for all those who gave their lives for our freedom. As Christians we should be thankful for the one who gave His life for to free us from sin.
From an early age we learn to ask why. I believe part of it is curiosity and the desire to learn and the other part of it is a direct challenge to authority. We tell a child to do something often the quickly fire back a loud "why." When something happens that frustrates us or that we do not understand we say it, "why." Where things really become difficult is when we ask "why" and do not receive a satisfactory answer. Often we think in the back of our minds that God is somehow offended by us asking "why" or that it shows a lack of faith. I believe the exact opposite that God welcomes us asking "why" because it shows that we are open to Him teaching us. I believe asking "why" is a part of the growth of our faith. "Why" causes us to investigate and to search for answers and opens the door for learning and growth. Remember God is our Heavenly Father and He desires His children to learn and grow. Yes, asking "why" is part of that process.
As my TV show was interrupted Sunday night with the news that Osama bin Laden had been killed by our troops I felt a mixture of disbelief and relief. This was a man that had orchestrated the attacks that killed so many innocent Americans on 9/11. He has been responsible for the deaths of countless others throughout the world. He lived as though he thought he would never have to answer for those atrocities. The struggle that I have and several have voiced to me is, how should we react to these recent events. God established the value of human life when in the Law He established the principle of a life for a life. If you took the life of someone your life would be demanded of you. I am pretty sure that we should not react with cheers but we should probably smile, breathe a sigh of relief and thank God for once again being faithful and bringing about justice. God is a God of justice but He is also a God of grace. Today, those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ now live under His grace. The justice for our offenses was served at the cross and we are free. Should we use this as a license to live any way we choose? No...gratitude for God allowing Christ to pay our penalty should cause us to desire to live a life that pleases Him and brings Him glory and honor. Our greatest task is to continuing to grow and allow our lives to be transformed into His likeness.
This week is a flurry of activities as we head into Easter. There are the final preparations being made for the Community Easter Egg Hunt. Preparations being made for our Senior High's trip to Teens for Christ on Friday. Then there is all the preparations for the Easter breakfast and Services on Sunday. I am amazed at how busy can we can get and forget about what we are really preparing to celebrate. The majority of us will be preparing for the Easter Dinner we will share with our families, getting those finishing touches ready for the Easter Baskets. Any Holiday has the ability to get us caught up in a time of great activity. I would like to offer you some things to briefly reflect on during this week. Thursday: Reflect on the Last Supper the Lord shared with His disciples and how important Communion is in helping us remember what He did for us. Friday: Reflect on the sacrifice He made for us on the Cross. Saturday: Remember the time He spent in the grave. Sunday: Celebrate the victory He won over sin and death.
The Lord has impressed on my heart a question that I would like to share. "Have I sacrificed a close personal relationship with Jesus for the sake of religion?" Ouch...I thought religion was related to Jesus. Actually religion stands in opposition to Jesus. Religion focuses on the outward appearance. It is all about keeping the rules and measuring up to the standards that we have set. Religion says that those who do not measure up to my standards must be chastised. In fact religion helps us justify our lives because we can always find someone that are not keeping the rules as good as we are. If you examine Jesus' life and ministry you will find that His biggest
critics were those who were very religious. They saw Jesus as a threat
to their religion, a threat to the status-quo. Religion has always been
about keeping the rules and maintaining the traditions. Jesus is not concerned with the external, He is concerned about the condition of our heart. Jesus' goal for our lives has never been to help us to follow the rules and traditions it has always been transformation. Being religious does not guarantee our salvation or help us please God but a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ does both. Being religious does not make us a Christian anymore than sleeping in the garage will make us a car.
If you are like me, there are times that we struggle with the idea of forgiveness. I was thinking about Hebrews 8:12 today and my mind was flooded with questions. The Hebrew writer highlights what Jeremiah had foretold in regard to the new covenant. "I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Does God really mean that? Is that the big question in your mind as you read this? The word "all" does mean everything. If that isn't convincing enough let's dare to be logical for a few moments. God is a holy God and He cannot look upon sin. So if we are going to have a relationship with Him and have Him hear our prayers, our sin would need to be gone. I admit that I cannot understand this because God is doing something that I am not capable of because regardless of how hard I try I remember all the sins I have committed. This verse is loaded with good news. There is no need for me or anyone else to carry around the weight of past sin because it has been taken completely away by the blood of Christ.
I can hardly believe that it is December. I was reminded of the fact that the holiday was upon us as I was fighting through the traffic on I-70 on our way to West Virginia to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families. Another clue that the holiday season was upon us came from the fact that Sirius has started their 24/7 Christmas Music channel. In the mix of holiday favorites I heard the song "There is No Place like Home for the Holidays." As I reflected on the words and their significance a couple of thoughts came to mind. Like the song I was one of many fighting through the traffic to be able to enjoy the holidays with my family. My thoughts turned toward the excitement that I was feeling about seeing my dad and brother for the first time in two years. And of course I was looking forward to the Thanksgiving day feast. However, the more I thought, I began to think of something that held even greater significance. As Christians our life is a journey home for the greatest holiday of all. We fight through traffic and difficulties as we make this journey. Regardless of how tiring and difficult the journey becomes we need to keep traveling always remembering the great celebration that will take place when we finally get home. Christmas reminds us of God's love and desire to brings us home. Easter reminds us of the great price that He paid to bring us home. Thanksgiving is the time set aside to thank Him for all He has done. My conclusion is this: "There truly is no place like home for the holidays!!!"
