Sunday, February 12, 2012
True Spirituality
James 1:27 states "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" and 2:15-16 says "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?". These two verses makes it clear that true spirituality takes us away from ourselves and into the messy lives of other people. True spirituality is not introverted, but extroverted. It doesn't take us deeper into ourselves; it sends us further out. It doesn't make us more introspective but more extrospective--looking outward. In fact, real spiritual growth happens as we look up to Christ and what he did, out to our neighbors and what they need, not in to ourselves and how we're doing.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sleepless in Smith River
Last night I went to bed with every intention of getting a good night sleep and then waking refreshed this morning. Well, when I looked over at the clock at 2:30 am and I was still wide awake I knew that was not going to happen. So while I laid there the Lord seemed to say to me, “if you are going to stay awake all night why don’t you get up, get your Bible and spend some time with me in prayer,” which is what I did. I rolled out of bed, got my Bible along with a book I had received at a pastors conference in Jacksonville, turned on a light and sat in the quietness of our living room and began to pray. I just began to give things to the Lord, areas of my life that I wanted Him to take control over. There are some who think that just because you are a Pastor you are on top of everything..(well we are not). I have had people over the years say to me, “well I am not you”, as if I am able to handle everything that is thrown at me in life simply because I am in the ministry. So I began to pray and asked the Lord to give me wisdom and strength in various areas of life and ministry.
After a good time alone with Him in that semi-dark and very quiet room last night, I picked up that book and began to read. Before long it was 4:30 am and after just being in His presence for awhile and letting Him quiet my heart, I went back to bed and went right to sleep and woke up this morning probably more refreshed than I would have if I had gone to sleep right at first. Because the refreshment I got was not from physical sleep, but from the encouragement I got from prayer and what the Lord gave me through my reading.
On one of the pages of the book I read was a statement by Paul Tripp – counselor, pastor, and author. This excerpt comes from his book ‘A shelter in the Time of Storm’:
“You are clearly not in control of the details or destiny of your life, yet as a rational, purposeful, emotional being, you cry for a deep and abiding sense of well-being. In your quest, what you are actually discovering is that you were hardwired to be connected to Another…In this way, every human being is on a quest for God; the problem is we don’t know that, and in our quest for stability, we attempt to stand on an endless catalog of God-replacements that end up sinking with us…
There is a Rock to be found. There is an inner rest to be experienced that’s deeper than conceptual understanding, human love, personal success, and accumulation of possessions. There is a rock that will give you rest even when all of the things have been taken away. That rock is Christ, and you were hardwired to find what you are seeking in him. In his grace, he won’t play hid-and-seek with you. In your weakness and weariness, cry out to him. He will find you, and he will be your rock.
He is the rock for which you are longing, he is the one who alone is able to give you the sense that all is well. And as you abandon your hope in the mirage rocks of this fallen world, and begin to hunger for the true rock, he will reach out, and place you on solid ground.”
After a good time alone with Him in that semi-dark and very quiet room last night, I picked up that book and began to read. Before long it was 4:30 am and after just being in His presence for awhile and letting Him quiet my heart, I went back to bed and went right to sleep and woke up this morning probably more refreshed than I would have if I had gone to sleep right at first. Because the refreshment I got was not from physical sleep, but from the encouragement I got from prayer and what the Lord gave me through my reading.
On one of the pages of the book I read was a statement by Paul Tripp – counselor, pastor, and author. This excerpt comes from his book ‘A shelter in the Time of Storm’:
“You are clearly not in control of the details or destiny of your life, yet as a rational, purposeful, emotional being, you cry for a deep and abiding sense of well-being. In your quest, what you are actually discovering is that you were hardwired to be connected to Another…In this way, every human being is on a quest for God; the problem is we don’t know that, and in our quest for stability, we attempt to stand on an endless catalog of God-replacements that end up sinking with us…
There is a Rock to be found. There is an inner rest to be experienced that’s deeper than conceptual understanding, human love, personal success, and accumulation of possessions. There is a rock that will give you rest even when all of the things have been taken away. That rock is Christ, and you were hardwired to find what you are seeking in him. In his grace, he won’t play hid-and-seek with you. In your weakness and weariness, cry out to him. He will find you, and he will be your rock.
He is the rock for which you are longing, he is the one who alone is able to give you the sense that all is well. And as you abandon your hope in the mirage rocks of this fallen world, and begin to hunger for the true rock, he will reach out, and place you on solid ground.”
Monday, January 23, 2012
Extreme Makeover part three
All of us want to feel good. We want to feel good about life and we want to feel good about ourself. Take me for instance, yesterday afternoon I felt great. We had a great service at Smith River Baptist, we worshiped the Lord in music, spoke on the blessing of sharing the most liberating news to ever hit the planet and that's the gospel of Christ, did a skype video call to our missionaries in Chile and hear from one of our college students preparing for ministry on the mission field. I got to be with my church family and have a church dinner together afterwards in the gym.. I was feeling good. Then I came home, put on my Joe Montana no. 16 SF 49ers football jersey and got ready to watch them slay the NY Giants in a NFC championship title game. Nope, didnt happen. By the end of the night not only had the 49ers lost in the most ridiculous way, (2 fumbles on a punt return by the same player which put the Giants in field goal positions), but also I got crushed in xbox Madden football by a 10 year old boy from church, (Robby I want a rematch!!) and then I heard that the Oregon Ducks head football coach was going to leave in order to coach in the pros (which by monday morning he had refused) ..so, when I went to bed I wasn't feeling as good and joyful as I had felt a few hours before. Although I was feeling good for Robby that he went to bed knowing he had taken down his Pastor :)
Now, I totally realize those are trivial reasons for not feeling good and I mention them only in a humurous way. Because there are people who genuinely do not feel good about life and especially in regard to the context of this blog do they not feel good about themself. They get up in the mornng, look in the mirror and do not like what they see and they set out to do something about it. Thus their goal for the day is to feel better about themself.
What do you do when you want to feel better about yourself? Well, some people shop – “I’ve just got to buy something” they will say. For others, its eating or just the opposite - dieting. Everyone has something they do when they want to feel better. And for some people it’s trying to improve the way they look and how they dress and its not just women - it’s men as well. That’s why some men (and women) hit the gym and the weights, it is not just a health reason, they are doing something that will help them feel better about themself. But then their are others who go to an even more extreme idea in order to feel better. Their solution is getting a face lift, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, liposuction, and Botox, But you know, when it’s all said and done you’re still stuck with the same you on the inside.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve your outward looks. But God has a purpose for your life and that is to have a real attractiveness and beauty that comes from within. It’s a beauty that the finest beautician, plastic surgeon and fitness gym can not give. And that beauty and makeover begins in the heart with who we really are. God wants to make us into a totally new person – with a new character, new attitudes and new actions and it all begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, as we get into the Word of God, and we let it work itself out in our life we will then begin to see amazing changes take place.
We will start feeling better about ourself when we see ourself thinking, acting and talking different. That is when a real makeover has taken place.
Now, I totally realize those are trivial reasons for not feeling good and I mention them only in a humurous way. Because there are people who genuinely do not feel good about life and especially in regard to the context of this blog do they not feel good about themself. They get up in the mornng, look in the mirror and do not like what they see and they set out to do something about it. Thus their goal for the day is to feel better about themself.
What do you do when you want to feel better about yourself? Well, some people shop – “I’ve just got to buy something” they will say. For others, its eating or just the opposite - dieting. Everyone has something they do when they want to feel better. And for some people it’s trying to improve the way they look and how they dress and its not just women - it’s men as well. That’s why some men (and women) hit the gym and the weights, it is not just a health reason, they are doing something that will help them feel better about themself. But then their are others who go to an even more extreme idea in order to feel better. Their solution is getting a face lift, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, liposuction, and Botox, But you know, when it’s all said and done you’re still stuck with the same you on the inside.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve your outward looks. But God has a purpose for your life and that is to have a real attractiveness and beauty that comes from within. It’s a beauty that the finest beautician, plastic surgeon and fitness gym can not give. And that beauty and makeover begins in the heart with who we really are. God wants to make us into a totally new person – with a new character, new attitudes and new actions and it all begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Then, as we get into the Word of God, and we let it work itself out in our life we will then begin to see amazing changes take place.
We will start feeling better about ourself when we see ourself thinking, acting and talking different. That is when a real makeover has taken place.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Extreme Makeover part two
There’s a saying “Beauty is only skin deep but ugly goes straight to the bone” Well, that is somewhat true because some people are working so hard to improve their outward looks and doing nothing to change who they really are. They have no self control, they lack patience and as a result have little peace with themselves or others and as a result they act in unkind ways. But God can change all that and give you a true beauty and attractiveness that not only goes clear to the bone – But one that all will see.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Extreme Makeovers part one
It seems that more and more people today are getting makeovers, and while it may make you feel better about yourself and give one a sense of confidence and self esteem, it still leaves you as the person you really are on the inside. It doesn’t change the real you. Only God can give an internal makeover that can bring real peace, patience, self-control, kindness and goodness in your life and all the while give you an inward beauty that will truly be an extreme makeover.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Living for a Greater Cause
In my study for Sundays sermon I came across this article titled 'Living for a Greater Cause'. I am starting my message sunday morning with this and sharing it with my blog and facebook friends now. It is written by Os Hillman, president of Marketplace Leaders.
Living for a Greater Cause
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
What does it mean for businesspeople to live for a cause greater than themselves in our day and time? Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman in New York City who asked God to do this in his life in 1857.
In a small darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 337]
He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome" that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this businessman to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He began a businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, 1857. The meetings began slowly, but within a few months, 20 noonday meetings were convening daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the New York Herald issued articles of revival. It had become the city's biggest news. Now a full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York. By spring of 1858, 2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in Philadelphia the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent meeting.
Meetings were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one man stepped out. Annus Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun.
This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long considered the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had started on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin.
Could God do something extraordinary through you? Take a step. Ask God to do mighty things through you.
Os Hillman is president of Marketplace Leaders, an organization whose purpose is to raise up and train men and women to apply Biblical faith in the workplace. His email address is os@marketplaceleaders
Living for a Greater Cause
"I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).
What does it mean for businesspeople to live for a cause greater than themselves in our day and time? Jeremiah Lanphier was a businessman in New York City who asked God to do this in his life in 1857.
In a small darkened room, in the back of one of New York City's lesser churches, a man prayed alone. His request of God was simple, but earth-shattering: "Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 337]
He was a man approaching midlife without a wife or family, but he had financial means. He made a decision to reject the "success syndrome" that drove the city's businessmen and bankers. God used this businessman to turn New York City's commercial empire on its head. He began a businessmen's prayer meeting on September 23, 1857. The meetings began slowly, but within a few months, 20 noonday meetings were convening daily throughout the city. The New York Tribune and the New York Herald issued articles of revival. It had become the city's biggest news. Now a full-fledged revival, it moved outside New York. By spring of 1858, 2,000 met daily in Chicago's Metropolitan Theatre, and in Philadelphia the meetings mushroomed into a four-month long tent meeting.
Meetings were held in Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, New Orleans, and Mobile. Thousands met to pray because one man stepped out. Annus Mirabilis, the year of national revival, had begun.
This was an extraordinary move of God through one man. It was unique because the movement was lead by businessmen, a group long considered the least prone to any form of evangelical fervor, and it had started on Wall Street, the most unlikely of all places to begin.
Could God do something extraordinary through you? Take a step. Ask God to do mighty things through you.
Os Hillman is president of Marketplace Leaders, an organization whose purpose is to raise up and train men and women to apply Biblical faith in the workplace. His email address is os@marketplaceleaders
Thursday, December 15, 2011
The Name of Jesus
I have five grandchildren and one on the way. For the months that lead up to their birth, my wife and I wondered what their name would be or will be. My children and their spouse went through a variety of names for a variety of reasons until they settled on a name they both liked. For some parents they search through a baby book trying to find a name that has a good meaning to it. For others, it is a name that is connected to another family member. For others, they picked a Biblical name. Then there are those like the lady years ago whose last name was Dah who had a son and named him Zippity Do…Yes, that is the truth. My wife and I watched it on the news one night and the reporter asked her why that name. And she said she wanted her baby to be happy and then her and her mother began singing the song, “zippity do dah, zippidy aye….” Hm..I wonder if that baby will be happy now that he is a teenager. Or how about the late Texas Governor Jim Hogg (1895) who named his daughter Ima Hogg? Wikipedia says, “She endeavored to downplay her unusual name by signing her first name illegibly and having her stationery printed with "I. Hogg" or "Miss Hogg".” It’s obvious that some people put great thought into a name while others ..well.. makes one wonder.
But what is it about the name ‘Jesus’ that is so significant? What is it about His Name that is so profound and so inspiring that even today, 2,000 years removed from the events of Bethlehem that we are singing, preaching and praising His name?
When God sent His messenger to Mary declaring that she had found favor in the eyes of the Lord and she would give birth to the Son of God, God also gave instructions as to what name He was to be given. "You are to give Him the name Jesus."
Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, Jeshua or Jehoshua. Each means "God (Yahweh) will save" or "God is salvation." Now that's some name. If that didn't convey to Mary the overarching purpose and fundamental reason for Jesus to be born, her husband-to-be had no doubts. As Joseph wrestled with what to do after finding out Mary was with child, and we are told in scripture that a angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph was instructed to take Mary as his wife. Then, almost as if to insure both understood the importance of naming Him Jesus, the angel tells Joseph, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
The entire purpose of His coming was that He might save His people from their sins. Separated from God, mankind needed a Savior. We needed someone able to remove our sin once and for all. Jesus Christ was on a mission to save all of humanity by offering Himself on the cross for our sin. The manger may seem sweet and innocent, but the cross was in clear view from that barn on that first Christmas night. He came to us and for us. He loved us so much He gave Himself. He is the most expensive gift and the perfect gift. He's the gift for all people. You might buy me a crossbow for Christmas and that wouldn't quite fit me. For someone else it would be perfect. But Jesus is perfect for all because He died for all. And His name carries that message. He is called Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.
Christmas is a celebration of Jesus. His name is wonderful. His name is great. His name is matchless. His name is above every human philosophy. His name is good. His name is great. His name is majestic. His name is glorious. His name is holy. His name is near. His name is Jesus. "God will save" because God sent His Son Jesus to save us. He was born, lived a perfect life, died for our sin and rose again. And all who "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" will know the salvation and peace of God.
What should be our response to His name? We should praise His name, honor His name, proclaim his name, trust His name and love His name.
There truly is ‘something about that name.”
But what is it about the name ‘Jesus’ that is so significant? What is it about His Name that is so profound and so inspiring that even today, 2,000 years removed from the events of Bethlehem that we are singing, preaching and praising His name?
When God sent His messenger to Mary declaring that she had found favor in the eyes of the Lord and she would give birth to the Son of God, God also gave instructions as to what name He was to be given. "You are to give Him the name Jesus."
Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, Jeshua or Jehoshua. Each means "God (Yahweh) will save" or "God is salvation." Now that's some name. If that didn't convey to Mary the overarching purpose and fundamental reason for Jesus to be born, her husband-to-be had no doubts. As Joseph wrestled with what to do after finding out Mary was with child, and we are told in scripture that a angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph was instructed to take Mary as his wife. Then, almost as if to insure both understood the importance of naming Him Jesus, the angel tells Joseph, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
The entire purpose of His coming was that He might save His people from their sins. Separated from God, mankind needed a Savior. We needed someone able to remove our sin once and for all. Jesus Christ was on a mission to save all of humanity by offering Himself on the cross for our sin. The manger may seem sweet and innocent, but the cross was in clear view from that barn on that first Christmas night. He came to us and for us. He loved us so much He gave Himself. He is the most expensive gift and the perfect gift. He's the gift for all people. You might buy me a crossbow for Christmas and that wouldn't quite fit me. For someone else it would be perfect. But Jesus is perfect for all because He died for all. And His name carries that message. He is called Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.
Christmas is a celebration of Jesus. His name is wonderful. His name is great. His name is matchless. His name is above every human philosophy. His name is good. His name is great. His name is majestic. His name is glorious. His name is holy. His name is near. His name is Jesus. "God will save" because God sent His Son Jesus to save us. He was born, lived a perfect life, died for our sin and rose again. And all who "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" will know the salvation and peace of God.
What should be our response to His name? We should praise His name, honor His name, proclaim his name, trust His name and love His name.
There truly is ‘something about that name.”
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