Discouraged? Nah!

Attendance was down at our worship service at the prison last night. I'm sure it was because the NFL kicked-off the season with a great match-up. Part of me wants to be discouraged and upset about it. Are we really that shallow? Is the work that God has me doing among the inmate population so tenuous that many can blow-off the sacred for the secular so easily? Am I making any difference at all? Is it worth it? It makes one wonder.

But then I think of the ones who came. I replay it all in my mind. Their worship was sincere and vibrant. When I got up to preach I sensed their hunger. I preached a simple word. "God is at work in our lives. He promises to carry out that work. (Philippians 1:6) Be patient. Trust Him!" (I'm not over-simplifying it here - that was pretty much it.)
Afterwards, a number of them came to me with words of gratitude. Some said it was just the word they needed to hear. I could see in their eyes that they are sincere. They love the Lord. Most have been to places in life that "good people" never see except on Lifetime movies.
But they come.

So I'm encouraged today. As I begin to prepare yet another message (Sunday morning is coming) I'm excited. I see God at work. And I trust Him!

Where Else?

"Where else would you rather be than right here right now?!"
~ Marv Levy


Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy used to gather the Buffalo Bills around him each Sunday on the sideline just before kick-off and say those words. In the background, the intensity of seventy-two thousand raucous fans rose steadily to a crescendo that would last all afternoon. His point was clear. As football players, they wanted to be on the field. Not in the locker room. Not on the sidelines. They wanted to be in the game. Between the hash marks struggling with their teammates toward victory. That's what football players should want.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we can ask ourselves that same question. "Where else would you rather be than right here right now?" I am in Christ. I am in the will of Almighty God. He leads me and guides me. There is no place else for me to be.

I AM Creative!

I used to think creativity belonged to a select few. Those "artsy" types who wore sandals and blue jeans and did everything in a "funky" kind of unexpected way. For them a simple annoucement became a Shakespearian experience. A sermon wasn't just God's Word expounded upon but a Hollowood production complete with backdrops and supporting actors.
Drama. Comedy. Tragedy. You never quite knew what they may say or do. After all, they were being "creative."
I never thought of myself as a creative type. I was more logical than all of that. In my mind, 2 + 2 = 4. That's a fact. Don't mess with it. But things have changed over the past few years. I've learned that I am creative! Not in the narrow way I once defined it. But I'm made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). And God is a creator.

How does this new-found creativity work itself out in my life? Well, it's been there all along. Im just learning to recognize it. Preaching and teaching, and the preparation that goes into it is all a work of creation. Remodeling the kitchen, or painting a bathroom is creativity on display. Practicing the culinary arts to make new and bold dishes in the kitchen has become almost an obsession. Putting words on paper (or on this computer screen) fulfills an urge to create. I am creative!

Made in God's image, you're creative, too. Create something today.

David Still Beats Goliath

The buzz around the sports world this week is Appalachian State's victory over the Michigan Wolverines in the Big House at Ann Arbor. ESPN has been talking about it day and night since Saturday. It's being called the biggest upset in college football history. It is an upset of almost biblical proportions. In fact, I've heard the analogy of David and Goliath used to describe it. Which got me to thinking: What if ESPN had been there to cover the fight between David and Goliath? It might have gone something like this:

Play-by-play announcer: We're coming to you live from Socoh, near the valley of Elah, to bring you this epic battle today. But I've got to tell you, this looks like a mismatch all the way around. How can David stay on the field with the Philistine warrior? Let's turn to our color commentator.

Commentator: Well, this a tall order for the kid from Bethlehem to be sure. Goliath is supremely confident today. We talked to him earlier and he plans to feed David's flesh to the birds. It could get ugly out here today.

Play-by-play announcer: Goliath is stepping out onto the field now. He is an intimidating sight. But David doesn't seem to be backing down. There's a lot of trash-talk going on between these two.

Commentator: The talk has been going on for days now. Obviously, these two just don't like each other. Goliath has cursed David and all of Israel repeatedly. And David has responded with a calm assurance that somehow his God will give him the victory.

Play-by-play announcer: They're moving to the middle of the field now. Wait! David has broken into a run! He's running toward the Philistine now! And he's reaching into his bag. He's got a stone in his sling. And ... OOOOOHHHH! He's hit Goliath square in the forehead!
Goliath is down! Goliath is down!

Commentator: This is unbelievable! Who could have seen this coming? The young Israelite came in confident. But surely he could not have imagined this.

Play-by-play announcer: David is standing over the fallen giant now. He's taken the sword of Golaith and ... OOOOHHHH! He's cut off his head! It's over! It's all over! David has finished him off! David has finished it! This is the biggest upset in history! Can you believe it? Let's go down to our sideline reporter who's with the young hero.

Side line reporter: David! David! How'd you do it? Nobody expected this. How did you defeat such an overwhelming enemy?

David: I want to thank my God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He gave me the strength and ability. I just went out and executed the game plan and came away with the win.

Side line reporter: But weren't you intimidated today? You were a huge underdog.

David: I was confident in my God and the ability He gives me. With His help I'd already killed a bear and a lion with my bare hands. I felt good out there. I knew if I could get the shot off it would find its mark.

Side line reporter: There you have it. That's it from Socoh. An upset they'll be talking about for the next few thousand years. Now, back to the studio.

Sola Scriptura

Martin Luther began the Protestant Reformation with the bold proclamation, "Sola Scriptura". It was a call to return to the Word of God as the sole authority in the life of the believer. A return to simple faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's cruel cross. It was an indictment against church traditions which had arisen to muddy the waters. Traditions which called on those who would be the New Testament people of God to follow the edicts of men. "Sola Scriptura!" Scripture alone.

Even today it would seem we haven't arrived at Sola Scriptura. It's just too easy to substitute man-made traditions in our lives. We like catechisms. We like to be told to "do something" to prove we belong to Him. Somehow it makes us feel more righteous. As if we've done something to earn the favor of God. But when we do that we are dangerously close to crossing the line into works-based religion. We become "law keepers". And of course, the problem with trying to earn favor with God by keeping laws and traditions is that we can never be quite good enough. We'll always fall short. Not for lack of effort. But simply because God's standard is perfection.

The problem with religious traditions (even in the church) is that we have many millions of people walking around thinking they are at peace with God because they've performed some ceremonial tradition. " I was baptized as a baby." "I've earned Sunday School ribbons for the past forty-two years. Never missed a Sunday." But they are not born again. They've never had that moment when they make a personal and conscientious decision to trust Jesus Christ for their eternal salvation. In that, much of the religious tradition found in the church today (as in Luther's day) is outright deception.

Here is a modern-day call to "Sola Scriptura!" Let's examine our lives and our religious practices to be sure we are rooted and grounded in the Word of God alone. Be bold enough to single out all that is not Scriptural and call it what it is: Empty religion. Get alone with God's Word. Leave all of the commentaries and catechisms, and the theological debate behind and delve into the Bible with the Holy Spirit as your guide and teacher. You might be amazed at the simplicity you find.

Close to Heaven?

Have you ever tried to imagine what heaven will be like? Better yet, ever had one of those days that is as close to heaven as you can imagine? Today has been one of those "heavenly" days for me.

It's a beautiful day. A breezy eighty degrees (after more than a month of mid-nineties.) After church (which was fantastic) my best girl and me spent about an hour at Caribou with our favorite coffees and the Sunday paper. Then we enjoyed a leisurely Sunday lunch on the patio. Since then (about three hours) I've been laying in the hammock under a shade tree with a little Harry Connick Jr. on my IPOD and a good book at my side (okay, I've napped a whole lot and only read a few pages.)

Close to heaven? I don't know. But the day is definitely a gift from God.

Wow! Got to go. Sharon just brought me ice cream. It just keeps getting better.

Side Effects

I get a kick out of all of those tv commercials for prescription drugs. They can't be serious, can they? When they get to "... side effects may include ..." my head spins. One particular ad I've recently seen says, "if you experience greatly increased sexual desires or uncontrollable urges to gamble consult your doctor." Are you kidding?

Can you imagine that doctor's office visit? "Yeah doc, my elbow feels so much better, but ...uuh"