Pastor Randy's Blog

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus in John

2012-02-01T11:49:00.000-05:00

I want to ask a simple question of you this week that falls in line with my message from this past Sunday - "Who is Jesus to you?" This question springs from a statement Jesus made in John 7 when he was in the middle of a teaching battle during a very holy week in Jewish traditions, known as the Feast of Tabernacles. In John 7:28, Jesus is teaching about the authenticity of his claims as the Christ, and as He teaches he makes this statement -

"Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own, but he who sent me is true. You do not know him, 29 but I know him because I am from him and he sent me."
John 7:28-29 (NIV)

The phrase for "cry out" means to scream. Jesus screams a rhetorical question in this passage – “Yes, you know me, do you?” In other words, you claim you know me, but do you really? So I had to ask myself, what does it look like to KNOW Jesus, and what is the proof in my life?

We all have images of what Jesus looks like and how we are to follow that image, but what if we had the direction and flow wrong. What if it were to be more like this is what Jesus looks like and this is how he flows from us.

Last week I shared about Christ's statements in John 6 about being the Bread of Life, and how Christ called us to consume His flesh and drink his blood. I don't believe for a second that Jesus was being literal, but I do believe He was calling us to an action that involved consumption and absorption of Christ. This is a change of direction and flow. It is us consuming and absorbing Christ and allowing Him to flow from within in us, so what people then see is less of us and more of Christ.

Some might suggest that this strips us of our individuality and freedom. I don't necessarily think so, because then Christ would be stripping us of those two very things which is contrary to His nature. The creative processes of Christ in creation was to provide individuality and freedom that each fell in place with the loving nature of God.

So when I ask, "who is Christ to you," I ask wondering directionally if it is Christ "flowing" through me, or if it is my following Him. Both are imperative, yes, but if out of order, a definite struggle.

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus from the Book of John

2012-01-26T16:23:00.001-05:00

In John 6, we see the first of seven "I AM" statements from Jesus Christ, seen only in the book of John. I did a study on the "I AM's" of Jesus Christ several years ago and found it to be a fascinating study. More so, because of the Old Testament connection to Exodus 3, Jesus was making in each of his statements.

In John 6:35, Jesus states, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again.” - John 6:35 (NLT). Jesus makes the same claim again later in John 6 -

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" John 6:48-52 (NIV)

The imagery from Jesus was a bit gruesome, you know, eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Not something your momma would approve of, nor mine. Now, a good juicy steak, with some pink in the middle, no complaints on my part. But when Jesus said "love your neighbor," this seems a bit contradictory.

What Jesus really wanted us to understand through all the muddle was quite simple. Jesus wanted us to understand was that eating his flesh and drinking his blood signified Jesus becoming "REAL" to us. It was Jesus analogy to help us understand what being "Christ-like" is all about. When we eat of his flesh (bread) and drink of his blood (cup) what is being illustrated is our willingness to absorb Christ into our lives. This is not a one-time action that turns us into a Christ-like product. A better understanding might be, as you are absorbing Christ into your life, otherwise known as becoming Christ-like.

Beatle George Harrison once said that the "first really decent guitar" that he owned was the Gretsch Duo Jet. The electric guitar, manufactured by Gretsch Guitars, was known for its trebly tone. In the early '60s, Harrison bought the guitar for 70 pounds (about $200 at the time).
Early in 2011, Gretsch Guitars announced that the company would manufacture a limited run of 60 exact replicas of George Harrison's Duo Jet guitar as a tribute model. USA Today reported that "Gretsch Guitars product manager Joe Carducci says master [craftsman] Stephen Stern re-created the guitar precisely, replicating the nicks and dings of a half-century's use, even using a CAT scan to determine the semi-hollow guitar's body-chambering style." The suggested retail price for the tribute Duo Jets would be $20,000. This is an expensive guitar because it replicates a valuable original so closely. In the same way, you and I find our highest value in becoming an amazing replica of Someone whose worth is infinite: the Lord Jesus Christ.

As you continually absorb the worth of the Savior, you will find yourself becoming a replica of Him carried out in your life.

(For the first person who responds to this blog there is a gas card waiting. Please comment.)

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus from the book of John

2012-01-10T13:26:00.004-05:00

John 5 begins what is known as the beginning of the greatest moments of hostility in the life of Jesus. Today’s text takes us to the Pool at Bethsaida, inside one of 8 gates known as the Sheep Gate (Herod’s Gate). It is a Sabbath day – possibly a regular Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles or Hanukkah (Dedication) - 1 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches -- John 5:1-3 (NLT)

The confrontation begins because Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. This man, for 38-years waited by the pool for a chance to be healed and was always denied the chance because of his ailment. Many of Jesus miracles were meant to confront human regulations that had gone against the flow of God’s design. This particular miracle points at breaking the regulations of the Sabbath, specifically the 4th Commandment.

The Religious Leaders made the Sabbath day a day of regulation, which was never the intention. All Jewish Sabbaths were to be “God-targeted.” It was meant to be a reunion. Sometimes a reunion of joy, sometimes irritation. The Sabbaths are days of reverence and devotion because God deserves it. Be careful that you don’t regulate your Sabbaths to become “ME” centered. The Sabbaths were meant to center on a completely different subject -- rediscovering grace.

Grace is defined as "an undeserved blessing bestowed on man by God." The Sabbath in Jesus day had become consumed with legalistic demands instead of promoting a new life of joy. What Jesus wanted his listeners to understand was that the Sabbaths were made to target a grace transformation, a blessing bestowed on us by God undeservedly, and in turn that grace transmitted into the lives of others.

The Sabbath had turned into a day of performance and expectation. What Jesus wanted us to understand through this miracle was that the Sabbath was "for" man not "about" man. There was nothing we could bring nor any performance we could offer that God needed. What He desired from us was quite simple - 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise - Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV).

No gift you can give will suffice God's expectation, except the gift honor with a heart laid bare before the Creator with awe, reverence and love.

Randy

TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus in the book of John

2012-01-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

90% of John’s gospel is unique in comparison to the other three gospels. All 4-gospels, however, target the controversial or antagonistic teachings of Jesus. Teaching that angered the Religious Leaders of His day. John 2, is just such a place. This is probably the middle or later third of Jesus ministry. In John 2, Jesus is preparing for the Passover, a Jewish Sabbath Day -- 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John 2:13-16 (NIV)

I know there have been numerous explanations for why Jesus would carry on like he did. I've read several myself, all of which have a reasonable explanation. The one that really seems to hit home for me, however, targets the issue of complacency.

Thomas Edison stated - "We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present." I think Jesus was angry because He saw complacency creep into temple worship. On one of the holiest days of the Jewish Sabbath celebrations, He witnessed how complacency had infected temple worship, both in the leaders and in the worshipers. Don't misunderstand, however, complacency begins from the top-down. Jesus was sending a message to the Religious Leaders of the day by pointing a finger at their lack of leadership and the complacency of their hearts by letting His Father's house become a place that was "man-centered" instead of "God-centered."

The same can be true and seen in the church today when we see God more in our buildings than our hearts; more in our personal needs than our spiritual giftedness and how that gift centers on engaging our neighbor and not our personal desires.

I remember a pastor I worked under telling his congregation once, "for those of you that are believers, God bless you, because we are going to spend eternity together in heaven. In the mean time, please allow me to spend time with those that are lost instead of visiting you in your homes."

Tough statement to make to your church family, I know, but it attacked the heart of what could have led to complacency within the church he served. Don't get me wrong, we need to care for one another, but complacency will always center on self if we are not careful in reminding ourselves of our mission and target, and how we get there.

Randy

The Final Act - Act 6: Glorification

2011-12-27T11:32:00.000-05:00

Here is how Jan Winebrenner defines Glory...

"Glory is a cheap commodity these days. Or what passes for glory... It's obvious, we're pretty confused about wht real glory is. But we do have one thing right: Real glory only happens when we're in proximity to another person, in relationship. But we've gotten the "someone" all wrong. It isn't the audience on the other side of the television camera... Glory captures you. God, through Christ, enters our world and captivates us with the sweet allure of His indescribable magnificence."

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth -John 1:14 (NIV).

"We experience the glory of Christ by being in His presence..." Winebrenner goes on to connect the "glory" of Christ to our personal afflictions. She states that, "glory will be inextricably bound to suffering."

Thomas Merton concurred when he wrote, "Afflictions work for good, as they are means of loosening our hearts from the world. When you dig away the earth from the root of a tree, it is to loosen the tree from the earth; so God digs away our earthly comforts to loosen our hearts from the earth."

To summarize in my own words, in order to experience the true essence of God's glory in my life, there will be suffering and affliction, but it is suffering with a just cause. It is loosening the soil of this world to prepare me for another, one that reveals the wholeness of God's glory. The glory of this world is momentary. The glory of my eternity is timeless. "Come Lord Jesus, Come!!"

The Final Act: Act 5 - Redemption

2011-12-19T11:08:00.000-05:00

The word redemption is one of those "50 cent" words you don't randomly throw around for the simple reason people might think you are an unapproachable intellectual, or in other words "to big for your own britches." Let me see if I can summarize redemption in an easily understood way. To be redeemed means to beforgiven, the core of Christianity. Thetwo words are interchangeable.

Here is how Catherine Marshall organizes the two ideas - "Forgiveness has two sides that are inseparably joined: the forgiveness each of us needs from God, and the forgiveness we owe to other human beings. Most of us prefer not to face up to the fact that God's forgiveness and man's are forever linked. Jesus warned us that if we want the Father's forgiveness, there is only one way to get it: Start the flow of forgiveness between heaven and earth by forgiving our brother from the heart."

The flow of redemption - heaven to human heart - was never meant to have dams installed, slowing or stopping the flow of redemption from our own hearts to those who need to experience reconciliation from us. Isn't the concept of giving someone the "other cheek" meant for us to ignore our natural impulse to stay angry or to get even?

Growing up I had a coach that used to have his athletes write on their chest - CH_MP. After the game was done the athlete had to decide whether to place a "U" or an "A" in the blank. To truly understand the concept of reconciliation with forgiveness, especially towards an enemy, being a CHAMP means first being a CHUMP. This is not a recipe for being weak, it is a recipe for knowing that the ingredients of true forgiveness and reconciliation will cost us first because we are the agents of pursuit. We are the engineers that disassemble the dams and allow the grace of reconciliation to flow into us and through us to our enemies.

A daunting task? You bet! One that cannot be accomplished without first admitting personal weakness and laying it before the Lord in prayer seeking His assistance to accomplish a painting that we cannot visualize on the canvas.

Randy

The Final Act: Act 4 - Citizenship

2011-12-12T13:09:00.000-05:00

In his 2010 memoir, A Journey: My Political Life, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair shares the following story:

A friend of mine whose parents were immigrants, Jews from Europe who came to America in search of safety, told me this story. His parents lived and worked in New York. They were not well off. His father died when he was young. His mother lived on, and in time my friend succeeded and became wealthy. He often used to offer his mother the chance to travel outside America. She never did. When eventually she died, they went back to recover the safety box where she kept her jewelry. They found there another box. There was no key. So they had to drill it open. They wondered what precious jewel must be in it. They lifted the lid. There was wrapping and more wrapping and finally an envelope. Intrigued, they opened it. In the envelope were her U.S. citizenship papers. Nothing more. That was the jewel, more precious to her than any other possession. That was what she treasured most.

I love this story for the same reasons, the preciousness of her citizenship. This connects so well with what I shared in my message this week on Heavenly Citizenship and how precious that citizenship should be to each of us. As I was reading from Matthew 7 this morning, I discovered one other element of our citizenship that I know I often forget, the seeking part. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find..."

I thought to myself this morning about the message Sunday and the connect I was making this morning to Matt. 7, to seek out my citizenship and the rewards of heaven. Maybe that is why this lovely Jewish immigrant never needed to leave the U.S., because she sought out and experienced the rewards of her citizenship.

Randy

The Final Act: Act 3 - Justification

2011-12-05T15:49:00.001-05:00

Much of what Martin Luther did leading up to the Protestant Reformation surrounded the issue of our justification by faith. The term actually means to be "acquitted" of a crime. I like this definition - “displays God’s justice in condemning and punishing sin, his mercy in pardoning and accepting sinners, and his wisdom in exercising both attributes harmoniously together through Christ." Paul addressed this topic with the Roman Christians - For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law -- Romans 3:28 (NIV).

The Roman Catholic Church of Luther's era, believed that justification was a process not an event. They believed that justification was a process that continued after death in Purgatory, in which, Christians were assured of entering heaven but only after years of enduring the punishments deserved by sin in this life. Luther emphatically denied any truth to this and instead saw Paul's words in Romans 3:28 as sufficient for our eternity, simply that we are "justified by faith" alone.

He illustrates this truth using the analogy of placing a cloak around his young son Hans before he left the house on a cold winter’s day. In the same way God covers us with His righteousness to shield us from the consequences of our sin and final judgement. We are cloaked in Christ and protected from the punishment we deserved. Because we are cloaked in Christ at faith through God's grace, we know that there is "now, no more condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus" -- Romans 8:1. How we view this certainly affects how we worship. I can't believe we could ever worship without celebration knowing that Christ has covered and protected us from certain punishment.

I've had to do a little soul searching myself, and evaluate my own mindset in personal worship and service. I think of it this way, if I was on trial and was acquitted of a crime that had a price tag of death, how happy would I be?

Randy

The Final Act: Act 2 - The Gift of Reconciliation

2011-11-29T10:34:00.001-05:00

Webster's Dictionary defines Reconciliation in this way - "the restoration of a friendship after estrangement." Simple definitions like this I find so useful in helping me understand such profound truth. I love what Athanasius says about reconciliation - "Incarnation is reconciliation." Simply put, the Incarnation, the "God with us," is the story behind restoring a friendship after it has been estranged. The friendship is "God to us." We often see it as "us to God," which is completely incorrect.

God is solely the initiator of reconciliation, we are only recipients of His gift of grace. Think of it as someone handing you a gift during this Christmas season that you could never repay. Human nature usually shakes her head no at such an exorbitant gift because we deem it to pricy to repay, and that is exactly the point. The offer of reconciliation in any relationship should be beyond the recipient's ability to repay and it should cost us. Cost us what? It should cost us our pride. Pride is what keeps us from shedding aside the issues that hinder us and allowing love to be the catalyst that pursues the mending of a relationship, either between you and your enemy, or between you and God.

So may I ask, what are you going to shed this Christmas season in order to accept the gift Christ offers you, the gift of reconciliation.

(Don't forget the offer is still on. There is a special prize for the person that comments on either this weeks or last weeks blog.)

Randy

The Final Act - Act 1: Gift of Access

2011-11-21T15:07:00.001-05:00

We begin a new series on gifts that come our way by way of salvation. The passage we want to really focus on is Ephesians 2, which draws together the message of Advent with the message of Paul to the Ephesian church – the message and gift of salvation. Ephesians 2 is called, “The clearest, most expressive, and most loved descriptions of salvation in the New Testament." Specifically Ephesians 2:8,9 - 8 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it -- Eph 2:8-9 (NLT)

There seems to be a recurring desire, pursuit (call it what you may) of finding the supernatural in this world. I find it interesting how we desire to find the supernatural, whether in the form of a ghost, a spirit, or whatever, but when it comes to a supernatural element that might be a supernatural Creator that's not alien, we quickly respond negatively.

Within all of us there is an inward tug to discover the supernatural. The problem remains finding the supernatural. I think the message of the Old and New Testament is God's plan of reintroducing us to an access with the Creator.

The story of the Old Testament centered around Israel and her relationship to God. You could see this specifically in how their worship experience was set up within the tabernacle which lead towards the most sacred sabbath of the year the Day of Atonement. On this Day, the glory of the Lord would descend and meet with the High Priest in the Holy of Holies. It was here that the High Priest would sacrifice the Passover Lamb and sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the Bema Seat, the ark of the covenant, for the forgiveness of Israel's sins - the supernatural met with humanity.

Isn't this what we so often seek? Clear evidence of the supernatural before us. But what makes us think that the same thing doesn't continue to happen? Paul tells us that salvation is a gift of God, a gift that reintroduces us to access to the supernatural, our Creator. We forget that at salvation, as Paul reminds the Ephesian church, the supernatural resides in us. We become the home, the Holy of Holies for the glory of God, resting within us. The evidence of this may not come as a lightening strike, but it certainly takes place within us, and the evidence is the glory of God as it emanates from within us. Here is the most expressive part, the glory of God shines from within us as we discover more of Him. His glory doesn't just spring upon us and immediately transform us like we were an Autobot. It is a transformation that is the result of training and preparing for a race, a race that takes time and pursuit.

That's the beauty of the pursuit, along the route of the workout we study, examine and learn more about him, and as we do we come to know the supernatural Creator in a way that He could not impose on us.

For those of you that read this I want to take a moment and let you know that we are doing a test to see how many actually read this blog. Here is what I am doing. I have a prize for the first person that makes a comment to me about this blog. You need to register your name and send me a comment. If you do there will be a prize waiting for you. I will notify you if you are the winner.

Can't wait to hear from you,

Randy

Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Boehm & Otterbein

2011-11-15T15:42:00.001-05:00

Today we culminate several weeks of studying the Early Church Fathers of our faith with a study of two key figures within the ranks of the United Brethren Church. This denomination has an astonishing history, all beginning during the Great Meetings of the late 1700’s. Revival movements were springing up across this new frontier. One in particular, was at Isaac Long’s Barn in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1767. These meetings, or revival movements, would go on for days where preachers would come in and preach, sometimes in nearby varying locations, all at the same time.

One particular meeting held at Long’s barn was hosted by a Mennonite preacher by the name Martin Boehm. Following his message another pastor, William Ottebein, a German Reformed Pastor, who was deeply moved by Boehm’s message of his conversion, stood up and embraced Boehm and said, “We are Brethren," and here the stone was cast into the water and started the ripple effect which today is known as the United Brethren in Christ Church.

Martin Boehm became a pastor in 1756 at the Mennonite church in Byerland, Pennsylvania. It was an unusual path to ministry. One writer put it this way - “In those days, when a church needed a new pastor, persons from the congregation were nominated for the position, and each nominee selected one of the Bibles standing before them. Only one Bible contained a slip of paper with Proverbs 16:33 written on it" -- The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord" - Proverbs 16:33 (NIV). Boehm selected that bible and became a pastor.

His history as a pastor had a difficult beginning. He struggled with preaching and often found himself stammering out a few words and then sitting down in embarrassment. He agonized over this, until one day he came to the realization that he wasn’t even a Christian.
“One day as he plowed his fields, he knelt at the end of each row to pray, and the word, ‘Lost, lost,” continually hovered over him. Finally, halfway through the row, he broke. Falling to his knees, he cried out, ‘Lord save, I am lost!"

Boehm writes, "In a moment, a stream of joy was poured over me. I praised the Lord and left the field.” From that day forward he preached with great joy, and he zealously spread the message of salvation and the Great Awakening came to the Mennonites.

Philip Otterbein was of the German Reformed Church and came to America as a missionary to assist in the development of new churches. Otterbein was one of seven children, all of whom, entered the ministry, while his one and only sister married a minister.
He attended the University of Herborn and was influenced by the sermon writings of the Netherland preachers who emphasized justification with regeneration, and got caught up in the pietistic movement that spread from Europe to the America’s.

The message that was so harmonious between Otterbein and Boehm was their emphasis on faith with action. Both men strongly believed that faith required action, and faith without action produced stagnation.

One of the key problems faced by Otterbein, inEurope and America, and Boehm primarily in America, was the issue ofINDIFFERENCE that plagued the church. Bothwere radically trained and changed by the pietistic movement of the1700’s. Otterbein, early in hisministry, was known for putting a great emphasis on observing the law, loyaltyto the church and being devout in spiritual matters. These were reflected in his preaching which angered those labeled as“INDIFFERENT,” because they saw the requirement of scripture as it was preached by both men. W.H. Zeigler put it this way -- “Theyfelt that his [Otterbein] emphasis on righteousness, living in the light of regeneration,was altogether too severe and too troublesome to the conscience.”

What Otterbein and Boehm saw more than anything else, however, was the need for the church to live out regeneration by way of faith. They called the church to live differently and to pursue righteousness as a response to true faith. They not only preached it, but they also saw the power of the Spirit to transform. It was because of this kind of preaching that Otterbein and Boehm could say on that day in 1767 - "We are Brethren."

Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Augustine

2011-11-07T21:05:00.002-05:00

As we come to the close of this 3-phased Sermon Series I must say I am a bit saddened. This has been such a great series for me, especially the time of study and what I have learned about the individuals that took on so much affliction on behalf of the development of the church.

This last week we took a look at one of the early church fathers - Augustine. There is not enough time share all of what Augustine brought to the development of the church, but we are going to try and share some.

Augustine was a man of great intelligence with a troubled spirit. It is said, while occupied as a Professor of rhetoric, that one day as he sat under a fig tree, he cried out, “How long, Lord, how long? Will it be tomorrow and always tomorrow? Why does my uncleanliness not end this very moment?” It was about this time that he overheard a young child share "Tole lege, tole lege, tole lege." (“Take up and read. Take up and read. Take up and read.”) It was music to the Professor’s ears. He immediately picked up a manuscript from Paul the Apostle - 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Romans 13:13-14 (NLT)

At some time following this awakening, Augustine gave his life to Christ and eventually wrote extensively and became known as the father of orthodox theology. One particular area he wrote about targeted the doctrine of creation. It was Augustine that wrote about creation, ex nihilo,creation out of nothing. Augustine established a Theology of Creation that contradicts much of what we are forced to learn today within our educational systems.

· First, he emphatically states that God is the source of all there is. All that is, comes from Gods’ will, nothing in existence was created evil.

· Second, we are created dependent upon God. We are created both free and intelligent, which may be used to affirm or deny our relationship to our Creator. God equips us to understand sin and grace and He equips us to rebel or accept Him through Jesus Christ.

· Third, God creates in freedom with purpose. The act of creation was an expression of the character of God - love.

All of these are topics that have produced great debate through the centuries, but because of Augustine, were made more concrete, while still requiring the aspect of God's activity and faith. Historically we know that Augustine's writing on creation had a profound affect. R.C. Sproul’s life was dramatically transformed because of Augustine’s teaching on creation. "Then one day the professor started to lecture on Augustine's view of creation. He got my attention. I sat there and had an experience that was almost as powerful as my conversion, where all of a sudden my understanding of the nature of God just exploded. I went downstairs and changed my major to philosophy just so that I could have a more in-depth understanding of God."

Even then it was understood how the doctrine of creation could make a profound impact on the development of our faith.

Love to hear from you.

Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Luther

2011-10-31T14:23:00.000-04:00

We are skipping ahead a few years to the 1500’s and looking at an individual who helped shape what is known today as the Protestant Reformation – Martin Luther. There are several historical items concerning Luther's life that you may not have known about:

· He was born in Eisleben, 120 miles south of modern day Berlin, Germany.
· He studied at the University of Erfurt when he was only 13-year old.
· He was called into ministry at the age of 21 while fighting a thunderstorm and a lightening bolt struck near him. He cried out, “Help me St. Anne! I will become a monk!”
· In 1521, while he was in ministry, he was called to an assembly at Worms, Germany, to appear before Chales V, Holy Roman Emperor. He quickly discovered that he was called for his own trial to recant his views – Show video clip
· He translated the Bible into German.
· He composed the song, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
· He was labeled as an “anti-Semitic,” especially towards the end of his life.
· He was also known to have a bad temper and a foul-mouth.

All of these things considered, what Luther is most known for is what we know today as the Protestant Reformation. This came about because of Luther's struggle with the Catholic churches abuses of indulgences and the connection they made of indulgences to faith and salvation. In 1517 Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church as a means of presenting questions for open debate.

What Luther discovered after reading from Romans 1:17, what this, that man is saved by faith alone. Luther understood that through God’s grace and sheer mercy we are pardoned through faith in Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf. Our actions and deeds have nothing to provide for us or for God's expectation of a sacrifice in order to pay the necessary price for our sin.

Luther's teaching on faith and salvation alone raised the attention of the Catholic church, especially when he began to point fingers at the Pope, accusing him of leading the Catholic church down a road that was unscriptural. Luther argued that indulgences did not remove guilt, and gave a false sense of eternal security. His understanding of salvation was transformed from an attempt at winning personal salvation, to receiving salvation on the merit of faith. He understood what Paul meant when he write the Roman Christians, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" -- Romans 3:22 (NIV)

Luther understood that our ability to bring about spiritual cleanliness was completely taken care of through Christ and offered to us unconditionally through faith in him. This message turned the Catholic church on its ear and created what we know today as the Protestant Movement (the Protesters), and spring boarded the church into a new way of thinking and worshiping.

Luther would tell you that this discovery was not new, but was a return to the original message of the Apostles and a return to the very foundation of the church.

If you would like to read more on Luther visit www.ccel.org.

Randy

Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Origen

2011-10-24T14:50:00.000-04:00

Origen is by far the most thought-provoking and somewhat controversial character we have dealt with yet. He was born during a period of intense persecution of the church. His father Leonides was beheaded as a martyr for the faith and then had his fortune confiscated, leaving the family poor and dependent on Origen to take care of his mother and six siblings. Origen wanted to die a martyr but his mother prevented him from this by hiding his clothes.

Some interesting facts concerning Origen.

· Believed that because there are 2 creation accounts in Genesis, there was 2 literal creations – First – “spiritual;” Second – “material," instead, of there being two separate accounts of the same creation event.
· Attempted to combine Christian faith with philosophical Platonism.
· Believed that in the end even Satan would be saved and creation would return to its original state.
· He wrote several commentaries on the Bible.
· It is estimated he wrote 6,000 separate writings.

Origen was considered by some to be a heretic because his views and writings sometimes were contrary to the standards held by the church at that time. In particular, was his view on the Trinity. Origen described the Trinity as a hierarchy instead of an equality between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Some found difficulty with him because of his "self-mutilation" which he deemed was in accordance with Matthew 19:12 - "12 Some are born as eunuchs, some have been made eunuchs by others, and some choose not to marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.” -- Matthew 19:12 (NLT)

In 553 the Council of Constantinople pronounced him a heretic, three centuries after his death. Much of what he wrote quite possibly lost due to his condemnation.

You could write-off an individual such as this, because of his views, which may lie contrary to your own. Let me be frank, that was the direction I was taking at first. Then I spoke with one of my Graduate School Professors who reminded me that historically the early church had many individuals who were influential in the construction of the early church, who at the same time, dabbled in views and teachings that today might be deemed heretical.

What I find so fascinating about Origen was his willingness to stand for the essentials of the faith. The scriptures as the inspired word of God was never to be forsaken. He states - “Since scripture is from God, it ought to have the distinctive characteristics of the Divine works: truth, unity and fullness. The Word of God cannot possibly be untrue; hence no errors or contradictions can be admitted in Scripture.” Origen worked for 20 years on the Hexapla, his analysis of the Old Testament to answer Jewish and Gnostic Critics of Christianity - six parallel columns: one in Hebrew and five in Greek. It became an important part to the development of, what today we call, our Bible.

My point then, is the care we take in making sure, when it comes to the Early Church Fathers and to those very influential in the development of the church, that we don't "throw out the baby with the bathwater." Yes, many of our Early Church Fathers dabbled in what today we would deem heresy, but at the same time they became a formative part in the development of our belief systems that carry us today, and because of that I am thankful, while being careful at the same time.

Randy

Cross Training - Agent of Faith - Ireneaus

2011-10-18T09:16:00.000-04:00

So let me ask the question again, "who kept the church going after the disciples were gone?" I know I have already proposed this question to you, but I am so fascinated by the men and women of the early church and their willingness to stand up for this fledgling church. An individual that rose to prominence during this early part of the second century was a man named Ireneaus.

Ireneaus, like Polycarp and Clement, had a close association with the teaching of the Apostles. Some believe he was a student of Polycarp, who was also, as you might remember, a student of the disciple John. Little is really known about him, but what we do know is that he was a giant in defense of the faith. He was a Bishop to Lyons (Southern France); he fought to keep the date for Easter in accordance with Jewish dates instead of with the equatorial fullmoon; he wrote 5 books against Gnosticism entitled – “Detection and Overthrow of the False Knowledge.

Of course, like the other Early Church Father, Ireneaus also had a heart that beat with the message of Christ. In particular was his desire to see God's creation, you and I, reconnected to the Divine. Ireneaus coined a term entitled, "Divinization." It was a term to describe what Ireneaus saw as God's activity in recreating communion between lost humanity and its Creator.

From the beginning, God's activities, Old Testament and New, always centered around communion between the Divine and humanity. Those same activities continue in the life of the church through the power and influence of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives. Ireneaus saw communion with our Creator as a catalyst for personal worship. Much of what he wrote seemed to suggest that worship to him involved at least three fundemental elements: Study - Obedience - Service. These three actions were what made up ones worship. I call it the SOS of Worship.

Justo Gonzalez in his book, "History of Christianity," said it this way - “God’s purpose is to make us ever more like the divine… God’s initial purpose included being united with humankind… Even before the incarnation, and from the very moment of the first sin, God has been leading humanity toward closer communion with the divine.”

Irenaeus knew that a personal / closer communion with the divine would enable us to live in renewed freedom. Renewed freedom starts with forgiveness: personal and corporate. Freedom then is chased in our Worship (SOS) – Study – Obedience – Service. As these become developed and defined the realization of our freedom in Christ will become more pronounced. Our service to Christ would then become more about the fruit and less about the beauty of the tree.

Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Clement

2011-10-10T14:20:00.002-04:00

Polycarp, being one of the first "Church Fathers" of the early church, was followed closely by another by the name of Clement. Clement came along during the second generation of leaders following the Apostles.

The 1st Century Church was under a great deal of strain, struggling with explosive growth, stretched borders with no authority and leadership, and persecution from inside the ranks of the newborn church, as well as, influence from outside pagan influences. Clement was known for the following:

· Consecrated by St. Peter as one of the first Apostolic Fathers of the early church, and is known to be a leading member of the 1st Century Church.
· Assisted St. Paul.
· Possibly the Clement Paul spoke of in his letter to the Philippians -

3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life -- Philippians 4:3 (NLT)

· Wrote 1st Clement to the church in Corinth. A second letter was written, however, most believe it was by a different author.

Clement, like Polycarp, loved the church and resisted frequently the influences that emerged and attempted to infiltrate the church. Clement was very concerned about the world's influence and pull on a believer. He warned that divisiveness within the church is not started with groups but with individuals. Individuals who spread dissension to hungry ears. Clement said this -- “Every kind of honour and happiness literally, “enlargement” was bestowed upon you, and then was fulfilled that which is written, 'My beloved did eat and drink, and was enlarged and became fat, and kicked.” Hence flowed emulation and envy, strife and sedition, persecution and disorder, war and captivity.'"

He went on to say, "For this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you, inasmuch as every one abandons the fear of God, and is become blind in His faith, neither walks in the ordinances of His appointment, nor acts a part becoming a Christian, but walks after his own wicked lusts, resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy, by which death itself entered into the world."

Clement stood by the church and her defense as a guardian and all the while, like Polycarp, continued to encourage the church to love and care for one another within her ranks. His love for the church was obvious in his message to her, the message of repentance with confession.

"Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world.”

Acts 13 speaks of the power of repentance - 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord -- Acts 3:19 (NIV).
The term "refreshing" means to recover your breath, like what happens when you get the wind knocked out of you and you suddenly get your breath back. The same analogy is true when it comes to repentance, which Clement believed to be a necessary part of a Believers walk. Clement understood that repentance brought refreshing and release to the life of a believer, versus heaviness and guilt, which only strip one of joy and the ability to bring release to another struggling with the same weight.

Clement loved the church, and he especially loved a church that lived under the canopy of joy that was a result of true confession. The same principle applies today. For many of us, heaviness is a daily infection that plagues us and keeps us from truly living the promises of Christ. Often the answer lies simply in confession of personal sin or the restoration of a relationship gone awry that was partly or completely our fault. You can fill in the blanks. Times of refreshing await us when we take the steps necessary to bring joy and life to our bones.

Give it a try!

Randy

Cross Training - Agents of Faith - Polycarp

2011-10-10T13:01:00.000-04:00

For the next several weeks we are going toinvestigate the individuals who were responsible for carrying on the message ofJesus Christ and the Apostles, and who were responsible for assisting in theestablishment of the church. Withoutthese individuals we would not exist as a church today. One of the individuals that was an earlyinfluence on the fledgling church was a man by the name of Polycarp. History tells us a great deal about his life and ministry. For instance...

· Tradition holds that he was a disciple of John -- “Instructed by Apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ.” (Polycarp – “To The Philippians”)
· Polycarp was a teacher to another Church Father, Irenaeus.
· Tradition states that he was a Bishop to the church in Smyrna (One of the churches John writes about in the book of Revelation).
· He held strong disdain for any type of heresy.
· He confronted the heretic Marcion.
· He was a direct but uneducated man.
· He was born just 4-years after Peter and Paul were martyred.
· Some claim that he was the first martyr in post New Testament church history.

Christian History magazine states this about Polycarp -- "Helived during the most formative era of the church, at the end of the age of theoriginal apostles, when the church was making the critical transition to thesecond generation of believers. Tradition has it that he was personallydiscipled by the apostle John and that he was appointed as bishop of Smyrna (inmodern Izmir in Turkey) by some of the original apostles.” (Christian History; 8/8/2008).

If you were to study Polycarp's life and ministry you would find a reoccuring heartbeat that described what was truly important to him. First, he spoke a message of encouragement within theranks of the church. Second, he believed that a simple faith would reflectitself in lifestyle, and finally, he fought against the heresies of his day with thetruth of God’s word.

I think I can summarize his ministry easily - Polycarp loved the church and would defend her even to his own death. Historically we know Polycarp was burned at the stake because he would not recant his faith in Jesus Christ and turn his attention to the Roman emperor. I love the fact that here is a man that stood against the heretic Marcion, stood against Rome, all because he loved the church and the people that made up the church.

Now, I find this fascinating, because there are times I wonder whether I would die for some people I know of in the church. Don't get me wrong, Polycarp died for what I would call the macro-church, the church as a "whole," but he loved the micro-church, the people that made up the whole. I believe I would die for the macro-church, but there are times I question whether I would die for the some of the individuals that make up the community of the church.

Polycarp loved and encouraged and defended the individuals of the church, and continued to preach the message of Christ as it was handed down to him by the Apostles, for the glory of God. His example is what I hope to be my example. You see, we live in an environment today that has become limp in its defense of values and moral obedience. But then someone like Polycarp comes along, a hero in defense of the gospel.

So why do we need hero's? Because we live in a world that holds on to nothing. Listen to what Peter James Lee said concerning how to handle heresy in the church today, quoted by Chuck Colson in "Break Point" - "If you must make a choice between heresy and schism, always choose heresy." Like we have no other choice! But we do, the choice to stand for truth at all costs even when it doesn't fit well with our immediate culture.

Randy

Cross Training - Doctrine of Faith and the End Times

2011-09-29T15:41:00.000-04:00

Sorry for such a long delay in getting this blog out. I will probably have to skip a few topics since I have been so behind over the last few weeks. I have really enjoyed the topic of the Doctrines of our Faith over the last several weeks. It has been a great study for me.

This last week we looked at the topic of the Doctrine of Eschatology or the End Times. Not any easy topic to teach appropriately in just 2-weeks, so what I did was attempt to give some of the essential truths of this topic that each person needs to be aware of.

First, beware of too much concern over the return of Jesus Christ. I have been with people who become so engrossed with the return of Christ and teaching about His return that they become no kingdom good. The purpose of the church was to be "sharp" and "ready" for Christ's return without ignoring her kingdom duties. I find there are many who spend all of their time predicting and looking for signs of Christ's return and forget that we are a church that is Commission driven.

Second, beware of too little concern. Strange, but I also know individuals that spend no time educating themselves or their church about the inevitable return of Jesus Christ. They, as well, become no earthly good because they don't, as I see it, connect Christ's return with the purpose of the church.

Finally, beware of those who make predictions. This is a tough one for me to write about because there are so many nuances and descriptions of Christ's return, and so many different authors, historians and theologians who define His coming again in so many different ways. But of course, we can't ignore those that make headlines and predictions stating that Christ will come again on THIS date. We are all aware of Harold Camping and his prediction of May 21, 2011, and how that came to an end.

The reality of Christ's coming again and the priority of this event is really quite simple. We don't know the day or the hour, nor does Jesus Christ, and the church has a task and that is to "Get Moving." Notice what the angels said to the disciples following Christ's Ascension.

9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!” -- Acts 1:9-11 (NLT)

The message seems clear enough that the church is to be mission targeted in Christ's absence, not gawking into space trying to decipher when He might come again. Don't get me wrong, I think we are to be educated and prepared for the signs that the Lord left us, but we also need to be discerning about the time we spend researching His return when truly our mission is to be preparing His creation to enjoy His return.

I would love to share more on this topic. Send me your questions.

Randy

Cross Training - Doctrines of Faith and the Church

2011-08-29T12:34:00.000-04:00

I find very few things as difficult as taking an immense topic, beyond our normal scope of thinking, and cramming it into a 2-week sermon series. That's the dilemma I face as I share with you the topic of the Doctrine of the Church. My experience in the church has led me to believe, right or wrong, that there are two attributes I believe to be essential within the framework of the church – the Church Missional and the Church Incarnational. The Church Missional targets the outward movement of the church in creation. The Church Incarnational targets the inward advances of the Holy Spirit moving through a Believer for the advance of God’s kingdom. Both are absolutely necessary for the health and advancement of the body of Jesus Christ.

Gilbert Belizikian uses a term to describe one aspect of the mission of the church in his book "Christianity 101." He states that the church is to be, not only a community of oneness, but a centripetal community. It is defined as moving in a direction towards an axis or center. Strangely enough, this last Sunday I used this word to describe the church as a community that moves away from an axis or center, like a centrifuge. Oops! I guess this week I will be apologizing. Nevertheless, the principal, as it applies to the church, is necessary. The church community is called to oneness, and oneness is accomplished when the individuals within the church recognize the purpose behind a centripetal force that draws people to this place. This in turn also has a centrifugal affect on the health of the church because when the body of Christ moves together in health and oneness the ripple effect of influence on their communities becomes nuclear.

A church, or community of oneness resembles a building that is living and breathing, while at the same time inputting breath and life into Christ's creation. Listen to Peter's analogy of the church in 1Peter 2:5 - "And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God."

I like the description "living stones," because it doesn't describe a building material that over time disintegrates and falls apart. It describes a building material that is intended to constantly have new life breathed into it. That new life is not forced in, but instead is absorbed in mutually, the willingness of the individual or stone, and through the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, the power and influence of the church begins with the individual who finds health through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in turn, provides health to the surrounding building blocks that also make up this structure called the church. When individuals pursue personal obedience and holiness it adds strength to the organism of the church that is felt throughout, not just within the individual. I share this with you so that you are encouraged to persevere in obedience because it does and will make a difference though you may not see the influence.

Talk later.

Cross Training - Doctrines of Faith and Salvation

2011-08-15T11:49:00.000-04:00

I believe it was Fredrick Nietszche who coined the phrase "Ideation," which states that, “there are many possible conceptual schemes, or perspectives in which judgment of truth or value can be made. This implies that no way of seeing the world can be taken as definitively "true", but does not necessarily entail that all perspectives are equally valid.” What he is stating is that truth can come at you from multiple angles, none being absolutely right and none being absolutely wrong.

This last Sunday we began the next rung of the ladder of the Doctrines of our Faith and the doctrine of Salvation. The doctrine of Salvation is one that needs to be understood correctly. Here are some simple truths regarding salvation.

Salvation did not begin at the cross, but in the garden.
Salvation is a free gift - God gives all, we give nothing.
Salvation is God's action for restoring His creation.

Let me give you an illustration that might help you understand what God was doing in His saving activity.

For her 54th birthday, Shirley Dygert of Teague, Texas, decided she needed some more excitement in her life. So this grandmother of three signed up for her first lesson to leap out of a plane from roughly thirteen-thousand feet.

When the big day arrived, Shirley suited up for her jump and strapped herself to her instructor, Dave Hartsock, in order to do a tandem dive. After jumping from the plane, instructor and student pulled the rip cord. The rip cord worked properly, but the parachute became tangled and only opened partially. Of course skydivers also carry a reserve parachute for such emergencies. Unfortunately, the primary parachute had wrapped itself around the release point for the reserve parachute. As Dave Hartsock tried to untangle the two parachutes, he realized they were running out of time. Later, Shirley Dygert said, "I thought … . this is how I'm going to die. I thought, God help us."

Spiraling toward the ground at a 40 mph, Hartsock gave Shirley a strange command: Lift up your feet. Although she didn't understand the request, she obeyed her instructor. Hartsock then rotated his body under hers in order to bear the impact of their landing. Dave Hartsock was going to be Shirley Dygert's cushion. Hartsock told CBS News, "People keep telling me that it was a heroic thing to do. In my opinion it was just the right thing to do. I mean, I was the one completely responsible for her safety."

I cannot explain the brilliance of God's salvation better than that, David Hartsock became Shirley Dygert's cushion. In other words, God's plan of salvation, beginning in the garden and culminated at the cross was Jesus Christ becoming YOUR cushion. What a wonderful story!!!.

Randy

Cross Training - Doctrines of Faith and Humanity

2011-08-08T16:43:00.000-04:00

Susan Klebold, the mother of Columbine shooter Dylan Klebold made this statement concerning her sons actions of killing 12 Columbine High School students and one teacher. “In raising Dylan, I taught him how to protect himself from a host of dangers: lightning, snake bites, head injuries, skin cancer, smoking, drinking, sexually transmitted diseases, drug addiction, reckless driving, even carbon monoxide poisoning. It never occurred to me that the gravest danger—to him, and as it turned out, to many others—might come from within.”

That is a heart-wrenching realization, to look at all the evil in the world and come to the conclusion that the greatest of all evil lies within. This is not a popular subject in sociological and psychological circles. Most people would dare say that humanity is good with a hint of evil, but that humanity is evil and that evil lies within each individual, never.

I've always looked at my own nature as two opposing forces (not to be confused with Star Wars), one evil the other good, almost like an alter ego. I looked up the term alter ego and found that the Latin definition of the term is - "The Other I." The Bible refers to the "other I" as the "old self." I heard one pastor refer to the "old self" as the "Dirty Old Man." For some strange reason that stuck with me.

Paul addressed this issue in his letter to the church in Ephesus -- 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires…Ephesians 4:22 (NIV). Paul's use of the action phrase "put off" meant to "lay aside" or to "throw away," and then to move on, meaning to walk away from our own evil desires. Solomon understood the same principle concerning what he knew of human nature - 11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness... Proverbs 26:11 (NLT)

That is a "truth" concerning human nature that is difficult to swallow isn't it (Pun intended). But the reality remains to be true, the fact that we struggle with evil at all means that we are inherently evil because we struggle with evil.

I think Paul is on to something then when he tells us the Roman Christians the answer - 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with... Romans 6:6-7 (NIV). The antidote is the cross. Don't get me wrong, nor misunderstand what Paul is writing. The antidote is the cross, but the evident power of the cross is seen in us as we yield our sin nature more and more on to the power of the cross, or the transforming power of the cross as it yields a "new self."

So truly, the cross becomes a lifestyle of dedication, daily approaching the cross as a means of grace instead of daily approaching the dinner from last evening we regurgitated just minutes before.

Still want to hear what you think.

Randy

Cross Training - Doctrines of Faith and Jesus Christ

2011-08-08T15:47:00.000-04:00

In Philippians 2:1-11, Paul writes to a good church about a potential bad problem, one that feeds off of and devours entire communities and relationships. It smells like the breath of a man that just one a hot dog eating contest. This problem has both an evil side and a good side. One side destroys while the other has the potential to build up and encourage. The problem is pride.

Paul wrote the Philippian church to take heed the example of Jesus Christ when it comes to the opponent of pride - humility.

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

John Boykin said this concerning pride - "Reading God's hand into circumstances can be an evasion of genuine commitment to being His person in them. It can be an insidious alternative to giving Him your heart -- because it keeps your attention directed outward rather than inward, where His chisel bites... We have elevated coincidence to the status of miracle, and the interpretation of coincidence to gospel. We can routinely ask God to intervene in our circumstances while hoping He'll keep His nose out of inner things like our spiritual indifference and pride."

I like what Paul wrote at the beginning of Philippians 2, because I believe what he gave was medicine, necessary medicine to counteract the side-effects of pride.
1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)
Here Paul introduces the four medicinal "if's" to counteract the viral affects of pride in any individuals life - Encouragement -- Comfort -- Fellowship -- Tenderness and/or Compassion. Here is what I find so amazing about the reason he shared these "if's." Think carefully now. How hard is it to be prideful when you are attempting to be encouraging, or comforting, hospitable or compassionate. I think Paul wanted the church to understand that the remedy for prideful actions are actions that favor our neighbor.

But let's not think for a moment that reversing our pride is as simple as visiting a long-lost friend or taking cookies to an enemy. NO, NO!! It's more then that, because stripping pride away with encouragement or compassion, fellowship or comfort will require surgery if our pride has been left to fester for too long. What I mean is, reversing the effects of our pride will demand that the four "if's" be implemented in a way that is brutal and life-altering, not just simple and superficial.

Good luck!

Cross Training - Doctrine of Faith and the Holy Spirit

2011-08-08T15:46:00.000-04:00

A certain harbor in Italy can be reached only by sailing up a narrow channel between dangerous rocks and shoals. Over the years, many ships have been wrecked, and navigation is hazardous. To guide the ships safely into port, three lights have been mounted on three huge poles in the harbor. When the three lights are perfectly lined up and seen as one, the ship can safely proceed up the narrow channel. If the pilot sees two or three lights, he knows he’s off course and in danger.

Our study on the Holy Spirit follows the same principle in the life of a believer. The purpose of the Spirit is to give direction in this life in order to get us to God’s destination. Notice, it's God's destination and not OURS, to fulfill God's purposes not OURS! You might say that Spiritual Gifts are meant for service to edify Christ through the church. I think that was Christ's primary lesson to the disciples in John 13.

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end… 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him - John 13:1, 4-5 (NLT)

Don't you find it ironic that Jesus amazing example of service in John 13 would be supported later when Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit coming as the Counselor that would assist the disciples in accomplishing the very same task - service.

12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12 (NIV)

This makes me contemplate just how I have used my own gifts within my lifetime. I wonder if my gifts have truly been used as an expression of Christ's activities through my service.

Cross Training - Doctrines of Faith and Humanity

2011-08-01T12:16:00.000-04:00

Charles Ryrie in his book, "Survey of Bible Doctrine," states this - “The question, ‘What is man?’ is without a doubt the most basic of philosophical, theological and practical questions. Man is only a body, says the materialist. Man’s body is nothing but an idea, says the idealist. Actually, says the pragmatist, we know nothing of either material or immaterial entities – only relationships.”

None of these really make much sense to me, maybe because I was brought up with a different definition of the value of human life. I love how Jesus approached this issue in Matthew 10, as He was instructing the disciples on what to look out for as they encountered people in their journey's -

29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT)

I took some time to read about this particular analogy because I was interested in why Jesus would illustrate His point with a "sparrow." What I discovered was the power of God's love in comparison to the significance of the sparrow. You see, a sparrow was considered an insignificant creation because the sparrow brought no value to life. And yet, the sparrow was considered of great value to God because God took care of the sparrow and knew that even when the sparrow's existence came to an end, God was aware. Jesus then connects God's care for the insignificant sparrow to humanity and how his care for us holds even greater significance then a "whole flock of sparrows."

This made me think about all the events going on in the world today and how more and more places internationally are devaluing human life, from the unborn to the ethnically diverse, from women to those physically handicapped. I sit back and watch the news of one more suicide bomber, or a crazed Norwegian, or a Syrian crackdown on pro-democracy groups, and I wonder to myself, what makes us do the things we do. I believe the answer lies in the value we hold for God's creation - humanity.

Matt Chandler said it best when he stated, "this world we live in is broken! It's broken!" I sit back exasperated at times when I see what is going on in the world today, and then I look at the purpose of the church in that world, and all I can do is sigh heavily, shake my head and ask, "Lord God, how? How can we make a difference?", especially when we live in a world that has people that are more concerned about where they can get money to pay their cable and cell phone bills, but won't buy food for their family or take their children to the doctor or therapist, or even takes necessary steps to bring oneness back to a broken marriage. I think it all comes full circle with our own personal value for humanity.

Thank you Lord, for the reminder that we are more "valuable than a whole flock of sparrows." I needed to hear that.