2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (NIV)
It’s a hard time to be a Presbyterian right now, because our mainline denominations are failing. It’s as if we've reached the end of the line and that after 400 years of Reformed Faith, people no longer want to hear the doctrines of predestination, total depravity, or the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Instead, people want to make up their own brand of faith, something that will suit their life-style choices, which will not interfere with their decisions or make any judgments about the way they live their lives. What people want out of religion is something that will guarantee immortality at the end of their earthly lives, without any catches, conditions, or commandments to disbar them. It’s a bit like being in someone’s garden and wanting to steal apples from their tree without there being any consequences. It’s the same old sin of Adam and Eve – wanting to be immortal like God and trying to steal it from Him.
I'm not perfect, even although I'm a pastor. I've sinned many times against God and let Christ down time and time again. Each day I always say or do something that I'll regret later on, or I forget to do something and break a promise. Time just seems to consume me and I'm left wondering if I'm making any difference in the world that I know.
My role is to counter the culture that is choking the Christian faith. My call as a pastor is to help the people I know get past the sickness that is killing our society. My place is to be a prophet who preaches against the ways of the world that are leading people astray from Christ. At times, I feel like I'm chosen to be the Shepherd’s collie dog, snapping at the feet of the sheep in order to keep them in the fold and out of danger.
And then I read Paul’s letter to Timothy and I realize that the church has seen times like these before. When Timothy became a bishop to his people, he had to deal with the world; he had to preach against secularism; he had to keep people on the right track in order to get them home to Jesus. The people in Timothy’s time were itching to hear what they wanted to hear…and people are still the same today. Things may look different, but people are still the same – they want short cuts to salvation; they want the express lane to immortality; they want to cut in ahead of everybody else to get Christ’s blessings.
It’s hard being a Presbyterian these days, but it’s not harder than what Timothy’s people had to endure. It’s not harder than what pastors in China are suffering; it’s not harder than what Christian families in Nigeria are enduring; it’s not harder than what millions of Christians around the world have to overcome for the faith each day. And because of that, I've got to start drawing a line in the sand and say this day, we retreat no further. We will not quietly acquiesce to the world’s demands. We will not fade away into faithlessness. We will not continue to compromise our Reformed beliefs, our Calvinistic codes, our Presbyterian traditions.
It’s time to re-emerge. It’s time to revive. It’s time to reform. The itching has gone on long enough. It’s time to stop scratching and start fighting the good fight.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, our Presbyterian church is in a mess and people like me have caused it to be so. Instead of waiting and watching for Your return, I've been wallowing in sin and at ease in Zion. Forgive me, Lord, for all of those wasted years and sinful moments. Restore me, Lord, to the love and zeal that I once had for You alone. Help me, Lord, to climb out of this religious rut and back on to the highway to Heaven. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.
Short daily devotions for busy Christians and Church meetings
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Meeting
Audio version here ... or here
1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. (NIV)
I’m meeting with the care team sub-committee of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry this morning to have a discussion with them about what happened at the last Presbytery meeting. If you read these devotionals on a daily basis, you may remember that I asked several questions of a candidate for ministry, whose answers revealed that she would not be bound by the scriptures, nor would she confirm that Jesus is the only way to salvation.
Both of those answers perplexed me, for what is the point in being a Christian pastor if you don’t believe fully in Christ, nor do you fully trust the scriptures about Him? I feel as though that seminaries are beginning to universalize faith, and that the current theologians who teach our ministerial candidates are so far off the orthodox mark that we should seriously begin to question who is teaching what to our future pastors.
Now already I can hear some people saying, “That would be a witch hunt. You want to condemn those who have given their lives, intellect, and academic skills to theology and make them conform to your standards, John.”
No, I don’t, because like Paul before me, I am one of the worst sinners in the world. I don’t want people to follow the Gospel according to John Stuart, I want them to follow the Gospel according to Christ, as written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Not one of the Gospel writers believed that Jesus was any less than He declared Himself to be. Not one of them would have glibly cast Christ aside in favor of appeasing other faiths, other deities, other gods. If that was the case, they would never have spread the Gospel and the Jesus stories would just have been circulated locally. Christ would just have been another Palestinian prophet, a religious rabble-rouser who was squashed by the politico-religious system of His day.
Like the present Pope, Benedict XVI, I can say this: I trust the Gospels.* To me, there is no other legitimate source of my faith other than Bible. I may not be able to live up to the demands of the Scriptures (who can?), but my faith is bound up in them. The Christ of the Gospels is the One I worship, proclaim and follow. He is the only source of salvation. He is the only source of truth and meaning.
Whatever the outcome of the meeting this morning, I thank God for the opportunity of witnessing to Christ with my peers. I may not be the best pastor in the world, and I fall short of God’s expectations, but that will not disbar me from declaring that Christ is the most perfect, holy, and sacred Savior that the world has known, knows today, and will ever know. In Christ, I stand. I can do no other.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give our people hearts that are loyal to You, and faith that witnesses to Your True Power. We admit that we are all sinners, in need of forgiveness, and in need of salvation. Help us to give up our proud and stubborn ways. Grant us the courage to declare Your Uniqueness, Sovereignty, and Authority over all religions, over all creation. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen
* as written in his new book, “Jesus of Nazareth” – Joseph Ratzinger –we’ll be studying this at Erin later this year.
1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. (NIV)
I’m meeting with the care team sub-committee of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry this morning to have a discussion with them about what happened at the last Presbytery meeting. If you read these devotionals on a daily basis, you may remember that I asked several questions of a candidate for ministry, whose answers revealed that she would not be bound by the scriptures, nor would she confirm that Jesus is the only way to salvation.
Both of those answers perplexed me, for what is the point in being a Christian pastor if you don’t believe fully in Christ, nor do you fully trust the scriptures about Him? I feel as though that seminaries are beginning to universalize faith, and that the current theologians who teach our ministerial candidates are so far off the orthodox mark that we should seriously begin to question who is teaching what to our future pastors.
Now already I can hear some people saying, “That would be a witch hunt. You want to condemn those who have given their lives, intellect, and academic skills to theology and make them conform to your standards, John.”
No, I don’t, because like Paul before me, I am one of the worst sinners in the world. I don’t want people to follow the Gospel according to John Stuart, I want them to follow the Gospel according to Christ, as written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Not one of the Gospel writers believed that Jesus was any less than He declared Himself to be. Not one of them would have glibly cast Christ aside in favor of appeasing other faiths, other deities, other gods. If that was the case, they would never have spread the Gospel and the Jesus stories would just have been circulated locally. Christ would just have been another Palestinian prophet, a religious rabble-rouser who was squashed by the politico-religious system of His day.
Like the present Pope, Benedict XVI, I can say this: I trust the Gospels.* To me, there is no other legitimate source of my faith other than Bible. I may not be able to live up to the demands of the Scriptures (who can?), but my faith is bound up in them. The Christ of the Gospels is the One I worship, proclaim and follow. He is the only source of salvation. He is the only source of truth and meaning.
Whatever the outcome of the meeting this morning, I thank God for the opportunity of witnessing to Christ with my peers. I may not be the best pastor in the world, and I fall short of God’s expectations, but that will not disbar me from declaring that Christ is the most perfect, holy, and sacred Savior that the world has known, knows today, and will ever know. In Christ, I stand. I can do no other.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, give our people hearts that are loyal to You, and faith that witnesses to Your True Power. We admit that we are all sinners, in need of forgiveness, and in need of salvation. Help us to give up our proud and stubborn ways. Grant us the courage to declare Your Uniqueness, Sovereignty, and Authority over all religions, over all creation. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen
* as written in his new book, “Jesus of Nazareth” – Joseph Ratzinger –we’ll be studying this at Erin later this year.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Rehab
Audio version here ... or here
1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (NIV)
I like Michael Vick as an athlete. I think that he has been given an extraordinary amount of talent that is largely unequalled in the NFL. I’ve watched him since his playing days at Virginia Tech and I believed that he would have become one of the major sporting heroes in the United States this decade. I have been deeply disappointed in what has been revealed. I find it hard to believe that’s someone with so much talent, so much wealth, and so much potential would waste it all on illegal betting and savage dog-fighting.
I hope and pray that Michael is rehabilitated whilst he is in prison. I watched his public apology yesterday and I believe that he meant what he said. He’s a young man and if he keeps himself reasonably fit in prison, he may still have something to offer to his sport. Everybody deserves a second chance. My prayer is that Michael abandons his foolish ways and becomes a better person.
Sometimes fallen idols make the best witnesses of God’s redeeming love. When I read Paul’s letters in the Bible, I’m reminded that he originally persecuted the church and may even have killed some of Christ’s followers. On the Damascus road, things changed for Paul in a mighty way. The Lord revealed Himself to Paul and showed him the error of his ways. Paul was given a second chance and he embraced it.
We all make mistakes; we all fall short of God’s expectations; we all are in need of redemption and rehabilitation. Christ comes to us in the midst of our troubles and crises to release us from our addictions, obsessions, temptations, and miscalculations. He has the power to renew our lives; He has the ability to restore us to God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died for our sins so that we might not be defined by our mistakes, but rather refined by Your grace. Help us to turn away from those things that potentially lead us away from God. Grant us mercy when we sin. Give us hope to make our lives better again. Release us from our past regrets and guide us to a future glory. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.
1 Corinthians 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (NIV)
I like Michael Vick as an athlete. I think that he has been given an extraordinary amount of talent that is largely unequalled in the NFL. I’ve watched him since his playing days at Virginia Tech and I believed that he would have become one of the major sporting heroes in the United States this decade. I have been deeply disappointed in what has been revealed. I find it hard to believe that’s someone with so much talent, so much wealth, and so much potential would waste it all on illegal betting and savage dog-fighting.
I hope and pray that Michael is rehabilitated whilst he is in prison. I watched his public apology yesterday and I believe that he meant what he said. He’s a young man and if he keeps himself reasonably fit in prison, he may still have something to offer to his sport. Everybody deserves a second chance. My prayer is that Michael abandons his foolish ways and becomes a better person.
Sometimes fallen idols make the best witnesses of God’s redeeming love. When I read Paul’s letters in the Bible, I’m reminded that he originally persecuted the church and may even have killed some of Christ’s followers. On the Damascus road, things changed for Paul in a mighty way. The Lord revealed Himself to Paul and showed him the error of his ways. Paul was given a second chance and he embraced it.
We all make mistakes; we all fall short of God’s expectations; we all are in need of redemption and rehabilitation. Christ comes to us in the midst of our troubles and crises to release us from our addictions, obsessions, temptations, and miscalculations. He has the power to renew our lives; He has the ability to restore us to God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You died for our sins so that we might not be defined by our mistakes, but rather refined by Your grace. Help us to turn away from those things that potentially lead us away from God. Grant us mercy when we sin. Give us hope to make our lives better again. Release us from our past regrets and guide us to a future glory. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sky Pilots
Romans 12:6a We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (NIV)
I was officiating at a funeral of a man who clocked up more than 34,000 hours of flying time. He served in the USAF and Arizona Air National Guard for thirty-six years, became a commercial pilot for a while, and also served as a test pilot. He was born and brought up in the boonies of East Tennessee and yet somehow he managed to become one of the best pilots in America. His gift was flying, which is a wonderful skill for anyone to have.
I wondered what to say or write for the funeral. You see, I’m terrified of flying and hate being up in the air. How could I relate to this man, who had spent so much of his life up in the air?
I used the gifts that God has given me. I selected passages from the scriptures about flying, heights, clouds, and skies. And then I decided to write a Pilot’s version of Psalm 23. Here’s what I came up with:
The Lord is my Sky Pilot,
I will not be afraid.
He lets me fly over green pastures
And guides me across many waters,
As He refreshes my soul.
He elevates me to the Sun above the clouds,
Where His Name is exalted.
Even though I fly through times
Of turbulence and stormy weather,
I will fear no fall;
For You are with me,
Your stick and compass
They bring me in.
You prepare a landing for me
In the presence of adverse conditions.
You bless my flight with ample fuel
And my plane flies perfectly.
Surely good times and joy will follow me
All the flying hours of my life,
Then I will fly west and land
In the Lord’s airdrome forever.
Written by Rev. John Stuart, Knoxville
In memory of
Major General Jack Brasher
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the gifts that You bestow upon us. Help us to use them gladly for the sharing of faith, the spreading of the Gospel, and the praising of Your name. Amen.
I was officiating at a funeral of a man who clocked up more than 34,000 hours of flying time. He served in the USAF and Arizona Air National Guard for thirty-six years, became a commercial pilot for a while, and also served as a test pilot. He was born and brought up in the boonies of East Tennessee and yet somehow he managed to become one of the best pilots in America. His gift was flying, which is a wonderful skill for anyone to have.
I wondered what to say or write for the funeral. You see, I’m terrified of flying and hate being up in the air. How could I relate to this man, who had spent so much of his life up in the air?
I used the gifts that God has given me. I selected passages from the scriptures about flying, heights, clouds, and skies. And then I decided to write a Pilot’s version of Psalm 23. Here’s what I came up with:
The Lord is my Sky Pilot,
I will not be afraid.
He lets me fly over green pastures
And guides me across many waters,
As He refreshes my soul.
He elevates me to the Sun above the clouds,
Where His Name is exalted.
Even though I fly through times
Of turbulence and stormy weather,
I will fear no fall;
For You are with me,
Your stick and compass
They bring me in.
You prepare a landing for me
In the presence of adverse conditions.
You bless my flight with ample fuel
And my plane flies perfectly.
Surely good times and joy will follow me
All the flying hours of my life,
Then I will fly west and land
In the Lord’s airdrome forever.
Written by Rev. John Stuart, Knoxville
In memory of
Major General Jack Brasher
Prayer: Lord, we thank You for the gifts that You bestow upon us. Help us to use them gladly for the sharing of faith, the spreading of the Gospel, and the praising of Your name. Amen.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Sunday Sermon: Preparing God's People
Preparing God’s People – how has God accomplished this?
Ephesians 4:11, 12, 13 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (NIV)
Isaiah 61:6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (NIV)
Throughout the summer, we‘ve been exploring Paul’s ministry to the Ephesian church and the response has been amazing. God seems to be working amongst us and I have never known a more exciting time of expectancy and enthusiasm in this wee church than what we are experiencing now. As the Church year is set to begin again in September with all our programs and projects in full swing, there is a deep sense of commitment, purpose, and direction that we have not known in a long time. God has been preparing us for this moment in our church’s history and I am so glad to be a part of the revival that is going on.
Today’s message is about preparation and how Christ positions His people in different places and times, in order to accomplish His ministry and mission. He did this in the mighty seaport of Ephesus when he called Paul to minister there for a couple of years. The people were ready to do something new and beautiful for God. Paul was merely the catalyst that Christ used to get the people moving.
Six generations ago, God positioned our church in this beautiful area that we call Bearden. Whether there was an actual den of Black or Grizzly bears in this region, I do not know, but I have come to love the name. Where I grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, my brothers and I used to hike twelve miles during the summer to visit a small town called Bearsden, which even existed when the Romans of Paul’s time occupied Scotland! It is a bonnie wee place and one dear to my heart – which is why I often refer to our church as being a bonnie wee place, too.
For some mysterious reason, God positioned our church here in this area 130 years ago and the great thing is this: Bearden is undergoing renewal, expansion and growth. I’ve been amazed at how much this whole area has been transformed. It’s become a commercial Klondike as a bounty of businesses develops this area. New houses are being built all over the place, which really excites me. This means that there is a new population here just waiting to be contacted, encouraged, and supported. In fact, at the last Outreach meeting, Tracy suggested that we begin to contact the people living in the surrounding apartments that are literally on our doorstep. I think that is a fantastic idea and one that we need to follow through.
But there are also booming new businesses in this area. A couple of years ago, a hairdressing salon was built across from our parking lot. In the first week of business, the owners came to visit our church and sent us some chocolates, coffee, and mugs. It was the start of a great relationship and friendship, for those business people were none other than Mary Alice, Don, Jose and Tonio, who are now part of our church family. God prepared us to be here for them, but He also moved their hearts to reach out to us first! And think of the great ministries and missions that have been born out of that connection, especially to the school in Guatemala!
It has made me think. There are new businesses opening in our area every year. Wouldn’t it be great if we could take a welcome basket from the church wishing them every blessing for the future? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our church was known for its prayers and support to business men and women in this area? They are investing their lives in this part of our lovely city. Why shouldn’t we let them know that God has invested us here, too? God positions the church to fulfill His mission. He makes us Ephesian Christians in a sea of commerce to advance the work of the Gospel.
But as well as positioning His people, God is constantly readying His congregations for missions that matter. The Ephesians people were amongst the biggest idolaters in the Mediterranean region, yet Christ planted a church there. He was going to use the Ephesians enthusiasm for organized religion and turn it into a great gift of evangelization across the region. Many Christians in the first couple of centuries after Christ would be thankful for the faith that was expressed and sent out from Ephesus. Its bishops would be revered for generations and in the history of the church, some of the greatest thinkers and theologians emerged from Ephesus.
But what about us here at Erin? What have we done in our history that has made any impact for the Christian church in the world? Well, let me give you three current examples.
Yesterday I received this email from Samuel Lawrence in Canada:
Dear Mr. Stuart:
This past summer, I spent six-weeks in China as a volunteer English
Teacher. The program was hosted by China Christian Council, and my local
sponsor is the United Church of Canada. Our students were young
ministers, lecturers from theological seminaries and other church
workers. We had a team of four teachers--two from Canada and two from
the USA. It was an awesome experience!!!. Now, daily I am forwarding my
"Daily Devotion" to about 35 students, who came to learn English from
all over China--from Inner Mongolia to Hanan Island in the South. All my
students love receiving "Daily Devotion". It is very valuable to them
for Devotion and continuous learning of English language.
I wish to thank all the devoted writers to "Daily Devotion", it has
become a part of my global ministry.
Cheers!!
Keep on writing
Samuel Lawrence
Part of the ministry that you allow me to do here is writing daily devotionals which connect with many people in our congregation. Over 120 of them have been used by the Presbyterian Church of Canada’s daily devotion series…and now they are influencing the hearts and minds of people in China! That’s how we are an Ephesian church!
Secondly, we received a phone call this week from a young mother in Cookeville, TN. She wants to start up a MOPS group in her church and she heard that ours was one of the best in this area. That means that the ministry which young moms set up here and have continued throughout the years is having a bigger impact than we ever dreamed of. This is Erin being an Ephesian Church!
Thirdly, in October, when Evelyn and I are away for a weekend to go and visit Lynsey in Blacksburg, I’ve arranged for a missionary to come and lead the service. He has worked in Africa for decades, setting up a seminary to train pastors in Kenya. The seminary has graduated hundreds of pastors, who in turn have led thousands of churches, which in turn are full of hundreds of thousands of Africans hungry for the Gospel and sharing the Good news. What has all of this to do with Erin, I hear you ask?
The missionary is Myron Goodwin, who was baptized in this church many years ago, who grew up amongst us and when he was in Youth group, he gave his heart to the Lord! That’s what an Ephesian Christian church can do! And that’s what our wee church has been doing and will continue to do in the future.
When Christ calls us to be Ephesians servants at Erin, He wants us to be equipped in a unity of faith that will be displayed through our service to the community. But how do we equip people for Christian service at Erin?
Well, take today for instance. It’s stacked full of opportunities to be equipped in faith and to serve the Lord. We gathered for Rally Day to give everyone the opportunity to sign up for Sunday School Classes. We cater to all age groups from newborns to people in their nineties. We offer different classes with different themes. We all come in here to share worship together, teaching the faith to our kids, commissioning our teachers, and preaching the Word. We have an opportunity to cheerfully give to the Church so that we can enhance Christ’s work through the resources of the congregation.
After worship, we’re holding a Family Council to discus our current needs and to work on our future areas of growth. This afternoon, we have a funeral with the Brasher & Huber families – giving us an opportunity to offer them our support, our love, and our prayers. And tonight, our young people of Such is the Kingdom meet to practice singing for an event at Farragut Presbyterian Church in October; our youth groups meet to worship and discuss current issues, and then at the end of the evening, Glenfinnan are practicing for an all day Scottish concert that’s being held in Dandridge in September. All in one day – all for one purpose – to serve Christ within and beyond the walls of this church.
But it gets even better because wherever you go this week – to your work, place of business, to your school, to neighborhood clubs and societies – wherever you are, you are called to be ambassadors for Christ, ministers of God, and servants of the Kingdom. God has brought you here today to be equipped in faith, hope, and love, so that you can go out from this building to share the Gospel through your words, choices and deeds throughout this week until we gather here once more. We are all priests with a purpose and pastors with a passion for proclaiming the word and praising God’s name. We are all Ephesian Christians, equipped for service in the world, growing and building this church, this bonnie wee place called Erin to the glory of God and the exaltation of Christ’s Name!
One day, one glorious day, when we are all gathered in Heaven, Christ will show us what our wee church has done throughout its history. Six, sixteen or even sixty generations of Erin people will be standing together and feel proud of the faith we share, the hopes we have born, and the love we have shown…and then Jesus will show us even more people from all over the world – myriads of people who came to Christ through being treated by Christian nurses in Pakistan that we support – hundreds of children in Guatemala whose lives were touched and transformed through the missions we have financed – thousands of Chinese who have been taught the faith by students learning English using our daily devotions – and hundreds of thousands of Africans whose pastors have been trained by a missionary leader who gave his heart to the Lord as a teenager in this bonnie wee place called Erin.
And if you think that is wonderful, well to quote Al Jolson – You ain’t seen nothing yet! Glory to God and Halleujah!
Ephesians 4:11, 12, 13 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (NIV)
Isaiah 61:6 And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. (NIV)
Throughout the summer, we‘ve been exploring Paul’s ministry to the Ephesian church and the response has been amazing. God seems to be working amongst us and I have never known a more exciting time of expectancy and enthusiasm in this wee church than what we are experiencing now. As the Church year is set to begin again in September with all our programs and projects in full swing, there is a deep sense of commitment, purpose, and direction that we have not known in a long time. God has been preparing us for this moment in our church’s history and I am so glad to be a part of the revival that is going on.
Today’s message is about preparation and how Christ positions His people in different places and times, in order to accomplish His ministry and mission. He did this in the mighty seaport of Ephesus when he called Paul to minister there for a couple of years. The people were ready to do something new and beautiful for God. Paul was merely the catalyst that Christ used to get the people moving.
Six generations ago, God positioned our church in this beautiful area that we call Bearden. Whether there was an actual den of Black or Grizzly bears in this region, I do not know, but I have come to love the name. Where I grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, my brothers and I used to hike twelve miles during the summer to visit a small town called Bearsden, which even existed when the Romans of Paul’s time occupied Scotland! It is a bonnie wee place and one dear to my heart – which is why I often refer to our church as being a bonnie wee place, too.
For some mysterious reason, God positioned our church here in this area 130 years ago and the great thing is this: Bearden is undergoing renewal, expansion and growth. I’ve been amazed at how much this whole area has been transformed. It’s become a commercial Klondike as a bounty of businesses develops this area. New houses are being built all over the place, which really excites me. This means that there is a new population here just waiting to be contacted, encouraged, and supported. In fact, at the last Outreach meeting, Tracy suggested that we begin to contact the people living in the surrounding apartments that are literally on our doorstep. I think that is a fantastic idea and one that we need to follow through.
But there are also booming new businesses in this area. A couple of years ago, a hairdressing salon was built across from our parking lot. In the first week of business, the owners came to visit our church and sent us some chocolates, coffee, and mugs. It was the start of a great relationship and friendship, for those business people were none other than Mary Alice, Don, Jose and Tonio, who are now part of our church family. God prepared us to be here for them, but He also moved their hearts to reach out to us first! And think of the great ministries and missions that have been born out of that connection, especially to the school in Guatemala!
It has made me think. There are new businesses opening in our area every year. Wouldn’t it be great if we could take a welcome basket from the church wishing them every blessing for the future? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our church was known for its prayers and support to business men and women in this area? They are investing their lives in this part of our lovely city. Why shouldn’t we let them know that God has invested us here, too? God positions the church to fulfill His mission. He makes us Ephesian Christians in a sea of commerce to advance the work of the Gospel.
But as well as positioning His people, God is constantly readying His congregations for missions that matter. The Ephesians people were amongst the biggest idolaters in the Mediterranean region, yet Christ planted a church there. He was going to use the Ephesians enthusiasm for organized religion and turn it into a great gift of evangelization across the region. Many Christians in the first couple of centuries after Christ would be thankful for the faith that was expressed and sent out from Ephesus. Its bishops would be revered for generations and in the history of the church, some of the greatest thinkers and theologians emerged from Ephesus.
But what about us here at Erin? What have we done in our history that has made any impact for the Christian church in the world? Well, let me give you three current examples.
Yesterday I received this email from Samuel Lawrence in Canada:
Dear Mr. Stuart:
This past summer, I spent six-weeks in China as a volunteer English
Teacher. The program was hosted by China Christian Council, and my local
sponsor is the United Church of Canada. Our students were young
ministers, lecturers from theological seminaries and other church
workers. We had a team of four teachers--two from Canada and two from
the USA. It was an awesome experience!!!. Now, daily I am forwarding my
"Daily Devotion" to about 35 students, who came to learn English from
all over China--from Inner Mongolia to Hanan Island in the South. All my
students love receiving "Daily Devotion". It is very valuable to them
for Devotion and continuous learning of English language.
I wish to thank all the devoted writers to "Daily Devotion", it has
become a part of my global ministry.
Cheers!!
Keep on writing
Samuel Lawrence
Part of the ministry that you allow me to do here is writing daily devotionals which connect with many people in our congregation. Over 120 of them have been used by the Presbyterian Church of Canada’s daily devotion series…and now they are influencing the hearts and minds of people in China! That’s how we are an Ephesian church!
Secondly, we received a phone call this week from a young mother in Cookeville, TN. She wants to start up a MOPS group in her church and she heard that ours was one of the best in this area. That means that the ministry which young moms set up here and have continued throughout the years is having a bigger impact than we ever dreamed of. This is Erin being an Ephesian Church!
Thirdly, in October, when Evelyn and I are away for a weekend to go and visit Lynsey in Blacksburg, I’ve arranged for a missionary to come and lead the service. He has worked in Africa for decades, setting up a seminary to train pastors in Kenya. The seminary has graduated hundreds of pastors, who in turn have led thousands of churches, which in turn are full of hundreds of thousands of Africans hungry for the Gospel and sharing the Good news. What has all of this to do with Erin, I hear you ask?
The missionary is Myron Goodwin, who was baptized in this church many years ago, who grew up amongst us and when he was in Youth group, he gave his heart to the Lord! That’s what an Ephesian Christian church can do! And that’s what our wee church has been doing and will continue to do in the future.
When Christ calls us to be Ephesians servants at Erin, He wants us to be equipped in a unity of faith that will be displayed through our service to the community. But how do we equip people for Christian service at Erin?
Well, take today for instance. It’s stacked full of opportunities to be equipped in faith and to serve the Lord. We gathered for Rally Day to give everyone the opportunity to sign up for Sunday School Classes. We cater to all age groups from newborns to people in their nineties. We offer different classes with different themes. We all come in here to share worship together, teaching the faith to our kids, commissioning our teachers, and preaching the Word. We have an opportunity to cheerfully give to the Church so that we can enhance Christ’s work through the resources of the congregation.
After worship, we’re holding a Family Council to discus our current needs and to work on our future areas of growth. This afternoon, we have a funeral with the Brasher & Huber families – giving us an opportunity to offer them our support, our love, and our prayers. And tonight, our young people of Such is the Kingdom meet to practice singing for an event at Farragut Presbyterian Church in October; our youth groups meet to worship and discuss current issues, and then at the end of the evening, Glenfinnan are practicing for an all day Scottish concert that’s being held in Dandridge in September. All in one day – all for one purpose – to serve Christ within and beyond the walls of this church.
But it gets even better because wherever you go this week – to your work, place of business, to your school, to neighborhood clubs and societies – wherever you are, you are called to be ambassadors for Christ, ministers of God, and servants of the Kingdom. God has brought you here today to be equipped in faith, hope, and love, so that you can go out from this building to share the Gospel through your words, choices and deeds throughout this week until we gather here once more. We are all priests with a purpose and pastors with a passion for proclaiming the word and praising God’s name. We are all Ephesian Christians, equipped for service in the world, growing and building this church, this bonnie wee place called Erin to the glory of God and the exaltation of Christ’s Name!
One day, one glorious day, when we are all gathered in Heaven, Christ will show us what our wee church has done throughout its history. Six, sixteen or even sixty generations of Erin people will be standing together and feel proud of the faith we share, the hopes we have born, and the love we have shown…and then Jesus will show us even more people from all over the world – myriads of people who came to Christ through being treated by Christian nurses in Pakistan that we support – hundreds of children in Guatemala whose lives were touched and transformed through the missions we have financed – thousands of Chinese who have been taught the faith by students learning English using our daily devotions – and hundreds of thousands of Africans whose pastors have been trained by a missionary leader who gave his heart to the Lord as a teenager in this bonnie wee place called Erin.
And if you think that is wonderful, well to quote Al Jolson – You ain’t seen nothing yet! Glory to God and Halleujah!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Reformation
2 Timothy 1:10 “but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (NIV)
Yesterday, I commented on the fact that our Presbyterian faith is plummeting into Deism and Universalism. But what do these terms mean? To me, they encompass the current theological trend that seems to set aside what Christ has done for us, in order to believe in an all-powerful and all gracious God who forgives everyone and who permits any religion on earth to become a legitimate path to immortality and everlasting love. In other words, who Christ is doesn’t really matter and what He did is limited to the Christian sphere.
These kinds of beliefs accommodate all sorts of religions and you end up with salvation soup. People mix together what they want to believe and shape God into the philosophical, theological idol that they want Him to represent. Absolute truths from the past become relative and subordinate. Current trends and cultural pressure becomes supreme.
The Bible informs us of who Christ is and what His work has accomplished. For centuries, Christians have believed that the scriptures contain the truth about God’s plan of salvation. Ever since the end of World War 2, this has been popularly challenged by a society that no longer wants to live by a Biblical code or a Christian ethic.
The trouble is this: instead of maintaining the traditional standards of faith, we have been free-falling as Christians in a frenzy of trying to keep up with the culture. We have allowed ourselves to become overly-anxious about relevance, as opposed to reverence for God. We have walked down a blind-alley that leads to insignificance, instead of holding on to the incarnation of Christ in our world. We have become lazy Christians, who no longer influence society because we are just the same as society.
It’s time to stop this warping of our faith by trying to weave ourselves into the culture of our times. Christians are meant to be different. Christ’s followers have always been persecuted, pinioned, and pelted for their faith. If we become the same as everyone else, and if everyone else is bound for glory, then Christ’s ways, words, works, and worth are completely bogus, unnecessary, and irrelevant.
I cannot, I will not, I dare not subscribe to the irrelevance of Christ and the diminishing of His ministry. He has saved me from my sins and promised me eternal life. I will not turn my back on what He represents. Here I must stand; I can go no further with the cultural chaos that is being bred in the Church today.
I am a sinner in need of a Savior –Christ Jesus, the Everlasting Lord.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, it’s time to begin a new Reformation of faith by returning once again to You. For too long we have fed our own foolishness by believing that everyone is saved and anything goes. Forgive our cultural stupidity and cleanse our hearts of all those things that kill our faith. Grant us the courage to admit that we are all sinners, and at the same time, to declare that we are Your servants, called to be the salt of the world, chosen to be different. In Your Holy Name, we reverently pray. Amen.
Yesterday, I commented on the fact that our Presbyterian faith is plummeting into Deism and Universalism. But what do these terms mean? To me, they encompass the current theological trend that seems to set aside what Christ has done for us, in order to believe in an all-powerful and all gracious God who forgives everyone and who permits any religion on earth to become a legitimate path to immortality and everlasting love. In other words, who Christ is doesn’t really matter and what He did is limited to the Christian sphere.
These kinds of beliefs accommodate all sorts of religions and you end up with salvation soup. People mix together what they want to believe and shape God into the philosophical, theological idol that they want Him to represent. Absolute truths from the past become relative and subordinate. Current trends and cultural pressure becomes supreme.
The Bible informs us of who Christ is and what His work has accomplished. For centuries, Christians have believed that the scriptures contain the truth about God’s plan of salvation. Ever since the end of World War 2, this has been popularly challenged by a society that no longer wants to live by a Biblical code or a Christian ethic.
The trouble is this: instead of maintaining the traditional standards of faith, we have been free-falling as Christians in a frenzy of trying to keep up with the culture. We have allowed ourselves to become overly-anxious about relevance, as opposed to reverence for God. We have walked down a blind-alley that leads to insignificance, instead of holding on to the incarnation of Christ in our world. We have become lazy Christians, who no longer influence society because we are just the same as society.
It’s time to stop this warping of our faith by trying to weave ourselves into the culture of our times. Christians are meant to be different. Christ’s followers have always been persecuted, pinioned, and pelted for their faith. If we become the same as everyone else, and if everyone else is bound for glory, then Christ’s ways, words, works, and worth are completely bogus, unnecessary, and irrelevant.
I cannot, I will not, I dare not subscribe to the irrelevance of Christ and the diminishing of His ministry. He has saved me from my sins and promised me eternal life. I will not turn my back on what He represents. Here I must stand; I can go no further with the cultural chaos that is being bred in the Church today.
I am a sinner in need of a Savior –Christ Jesus, the Everlasting Lord.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, it’s time to begin a new Reformation of faith by returning once again to You. For too long we have fed our own foolishness by believing that everyone is saved and anything goes. Forgive our cultural stupidity and cleanse our hearts of all those things that kill our faith. Grant us the courage to admit that we are all sinners, and at the same time, to declare that we are Your servants, called to be the salt of the world, chosen to be different. In Your Holy Name, we reverently pray. Amen.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
No Turning Back
Hebrews 3: 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast. (NIV)
I couldn’t believe what happened at our Presbytery meeting yesterday. A candidate for the ministry made, what I believe to be, two apostate statements and still had her call upheld! In front of everyone, she stated that she wouldn’t be bound by the scriptures, and that Christ was not the only redeemer of humankind. I asked her directly if she believed Jesus to be the sole redeemer of the world, to which she answered, “I would hesitate to say that. That would be putting God in too small a box for me.”
So, it’s okay to put Jesus in a small box? It’s all right to diminish His Lordship and ministry of salvation? When did we start to become Deists and Universalists in the Presbyterian Church? What are they teaching our candidates for ministry at seminary? Why is it that no one sees the link between accepting universalist pastors into our pulpits and the decline of church membership?
The first Christians were surrounded by thousands of pagan gods and idols. Do we honestly think that if Jesus was just a localized, personalized redeemer that His earliest of followers would have allowed themselves to become martyrs? Do we really believe that first century Christians refused to say “Caesar is Lord” before Roman authorities and be led to savage deaths in the Coliseum if they thought that salvation could be found outside of the Christianity? They knew that to be in and of the house of Christ that they had to hold on to their courage in the face of cruelty and terrifying persecution.
We have become so biblically illiterate, so theologically ignorant, and so arrogantly apostate that we don’t see ourselves becoming blatantly heretical through wanting to be culturally sophisticated and religiously tolerant. Our need to be liked and courteous is leading us down a narcissistic path that takes us outside of God’s Kingdom and Christ’s household. Unless we put the brakes on this apostasy now, unless we draw lines of belief in the sand, the Presbyterian Church is going to continue to die. God will not bless or honor that which does not honor His Son.
We need to seriously start reading the Bible again and stop using it as a pathetic panacea to ease our consciences. We need to understand that Christianity is not a leisure pursuit that we shape to fit our lives. We need to recognize that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, the only Truth, Way, and Life, and that our work in the world, according the first stated end of the Church in our current Book of Order, is to preach the Gospel in order to save humankind.
I am fed up to the core with faithless statements and false ideas. I am a sinner saved by Christ alone, whose work of salvation saves the world alone. There is no other name given to humanity under heaven that can save the earth. There is no other Savior than Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please stop the Church from wounding itself by giving up age-old beliefs about You. Grant us the courage to stand up to those who would diminish Your ministry and devalue Your Gospel. We are all sinners in need of saving; we are all imperfect in need of redemption. Help to do what is right and not what we think to be right. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
I couldn’t believe what happened at our Presbytery meeting yesterday. A candidate for the ministry made, what I believe to be, two apostate statements and still had her call upheld! In front of everyone, she stated that she wouldn’t be bound by the scriptures, and that Christ was not the only redeemer of humankind. I asked her directly if she believed Jesus to be the sole redeemer of the world, to which she answered, “I would hesitate to say that. That would be putting God in too small a box for me.”
So, it’s okay to put Jesus in a small box? It’s all right to diminish His Lordship and ministry of salvation? When did we start to become Deists and Universalists in the Presbyterian Church? What are they teaching our candidates for ministry at seminary? Why is it that no one sees the link between accepting universalist pastors into our pulpits and the decline of church membership?
The first Christians were surrounded by thousands of pagan gods and idols. Do we honestly think that if Jesus was just a localized, personalized redeemer that His earliest of followers would have allowed themselves to become martyrs? Do we really believe that first century Christians refused to say “Caesar is Lord” before Roman authorities and be led to savage deaths in the Coliseum if they thought that salvation could be found outside of the Christianity? They knew that to be in and of the house of Christ that they had to hold on to their courage in the face of cruelty and terrifying persecution.
We have become so biblically illiterate, so theologically ignorant, and so arrogantly apostate that we don’t see ourselves becoming blatantly heretical through wanting to be culturally sophisticated and religiously tolerant. Our need to be liked and courteous is leading us down a narcissistic path that takes us outside of God’s Kingdom and Christ’s household. Unless we put the brakes on this apostasy now, unless we draw lines of belief in the sand, the Presbyterian Church is going to continue to die. God will not bless or honor that which does not honor His Son.
We need to seriously start reading the Bible again and stop using it as a pathetic panacea to ease our consciences. We need to understand that Christianity is not a leisure pursuit that we shape to fit our lives. We need to recognize that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, the only Truth, Way, and Life, and that our work in the world, according the first stated end of the Church in our current Book of Order, is to preach the Gospel in order to save humankind.
I am fed up to the core with faithless statements and false ideas. I am a sinner saved by Christ alone, whose work of salvation saves the world alone. There is no other name given to humanity under heaven that can save the earth. There is no other Savior than Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please stop the Church from wounding itself by giving up age-old beliefs about You. Grant us the courage to stand up to those who would diminish Your ministry and devalue Your Gospel. We are all sinners in need of saving; we are all imperfect in need of redemption. Help to do what is right and not what we think to be right. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Need
Audio version here ... or here
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
I’ve almost completed John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” for the fifth time. I love the way Bunyan mixes the stories of Christian, the pilgrim, with verses and promises from the Bible. Page after page, the book overflows with words of encouragement and caution, inspiration and instruction. At one time, it used to be required reading in some schools. Sadly, a lot of people don’t know that it even exists.
John Bunyan was imprisoned for his faith, just like the apostles Peter and Paul from the New Testament era. In his day, preachers were required to obtain a license in order to preach the Gospel. Bunyan refused to do this and so he was treated as an antagonist. He went to jail several times, but he persevered in his faith.
Pilgrim’s Progress was mostly written during his times in prison. Being unable to preach on the outside of his captivity, he wrote the book to reach the hearts and minds of people that he never met. His book influenced more lives than his itinerant preaching ever did. His prose and poems are almost Shakespearean. What began as a project to help him get through the tedium of being in prison became a vehicle for his faith to inspire the same in others. The book has been translated into many languages and it still touches the hearts and souls of thousands of Christians throughout the world today.
In today’s passage, Peter emphasizes that God secures all that we need for life and promises an enrichment of godly knowledge, both of which enriches our hearts and souls. It reminded me of Bunyan because he lived a simple life, devoted to God and enhanced by faith.
In our rush to succeed and to obtain all that we Westerners can, we sometimes forget that life is for living and giving, not for getting and collecting. Perhaps if we enjoyed the simpler things of life, we would discover a brand of happiness, health, and hope that would completely satisfy our hearts and souls.
There’s an old chorus that perfectly sums up these thoughts:
“He is all I need, He is all I need; Jesus is all I need. He is all I need, He is all I need; Jesus is all that I need.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we complicate our lives by surrounding ourselves with many possessions that end up possessing us. Help us to let go of the things we have, and to let God have a hold on us. Grant us the discernment and wisdom to dedicate our ways to You alone. You are all that we need. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
I’ve almost completed John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress” for the fifth time. I love the way Bunyan mixes the stories of Christian, the pilgrim, with verses and promises from the Bible. Page after page, the book overflows with words of encouragement and caution, inspiration and instruction. At one time, it used to be required reading in some schools. Sadly, a lot of people don’t know that it even exists.
John Bunyan was imprisoned for his faith, just like the apostles Peter and Paul from the New Testament era. In his day, preachers were required to obtain a license in order to preach the Gospel. Bunyan refused to do this and so he was treated as an antagonist. He went to jail several times, but he persevered in his faith.
Pilgrim’s Progress was mostly written during his times in prison. Being unable to preach on the outside of his captivity, he wrote the book to reach the hearts and minds of people that he never met. His book influenced more lives than his itinerant preaching ever did. His prose and poems are almost Shakespearean. What began as a project to help him get through the tedium of being in prison became a vehicle for his faith to inspire the same in others. The book has been translated into many languages and it still touches the hearts and souls of thousands of Christians throughout the world today.
In today’s passage, Peter emphasizes that God secures all that we need for life and promises an enrichment of godly knowledge, both of which enriches our hearts and souls. It reminded me of Bunyan because he lived a simple life, devoted to God and enhanced by faith.
In our rush to succeed and to obtain all that we Westerners can, we sometimes forget that life is for living and giving, not for getting and collecting. Perhaps if we enjoyed the simpler things of life, we would discover a brand of happiness, health, and hope that would completely satisfy our hearts and souls.
There’s an old chorus that perfectly sums up these thoughts:
“He is all I need, He is all I need; Jesus is all I need. He is all I need, He is all I need; Jesus is all that I need.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we complicate our lives by surrounding ourselves with many possessions that end up possessing us. Help us to let go of the things we have, and to let God have a hold on us. Grant us the discernment and wisdom to dedicate our ways to You alone. You are all that we need. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Burden Bearer
Christian at the foot of the Cross where his over-bearing burden fo sin falls from off his back.
Stianed Glass design for John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
Stianed Glass design for John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Pilgrim's Progress Project
Next to the Bible, I love John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. Throughout the years, the story of Christian's journey from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City has inspired me. In recent weeks, I've been working on a small project to design stained glass windows based on Pilgrim's Progress. Here are the results:
Evangelist points Christian to the Wicker Gate
Christian tormented by demons as he walks through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Christian and Faithful enter Vanity Fair
Hopeful supports Christian as they cross the Jordan River to reach the Celestial City
Evangelist points Christian to the Wicker Gate
Christian tormented by demons as he walks through the Valley of the Shadow of Death
Christian and Faithful enter Vanity Fair
Hopeful supports Christian as they cross the Jordan River to reach the Celestial City
Friday, August 17, 2007
Teachers
Audio version here ... or here
Psalm 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. (NIV)
There’s an old joke from Scotland about a wee boy who comes back from his first day of school. His mom asks him how it went and he answers: “It was okay, but I don’t need to go back. The teacher told me she can’t teach me anything.”
Our teachers went back to school this week hoping that the young hearts and minds in their classes will be open to instruction and lessons. My wife is the best teacher that I know. She prepares hours of work for the classroom each day. Throughout the summer, she was poring over new textbooks and writing out exercises for the children. Every weekend, she brings home a whole bunch of papers to grade and new textbooks to read.
Like most other teachers, she’s devoted to the well-being and education of the children under her care. She teaches in public school which has many pressures attached to the job. Her life is invested in the future success of her students. Some of them don’t realize this, of course; but many of them are truly thankful to her when she meets them years later. It always amazes and pleases me when former students come up to her to thank Evelyn for the one year of fifth grade that she taught them. For most of them, it’s a turning point in their lives.
I’ve always been thankful for my teachers. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their gifts of instruction. I’m also thankful that the greatest teacher in my life is also the Son of God. His words and ways influence the challenges and choices that I face each day. His lessons of life confront my selfish and foolish deeds. His teaching is a turning point in my life each day. I may not be perfect and holy. I still say and do stupid things, but Christ’s patient and forgiving nature teaches me a lot about faith and helps me through each day.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Great Teacher of life, the universe, and everything. We thank You for Your words and stories, Your parables and lessons that show us what life is all about. We also pray for the teachers in our schools whose devotion to their profession changes young lives. Bless them for their gifts and skills, their patience and hard work. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 119:99 I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. (NIV)
There’s an old joke from Scotland about a wee boy who comes back from his first day of school. His mom asks him how it went and he answers: “It was okay, but I don’t need to go back. The teacher told me she can’t teach me anything.”
Our teachers went back to school this week hoping that the young hearts and minds in their classes will be open to instruction and lessons. My wife is the best teacher that I know. She prepares hours of work for the classroom each day. Throughout the summer, she was poring over new textbooks and writing out exercises for the children. Every weekend, she brings home a whole bunch of papers to grade and new textbooks to read.
Like most other teachers, she’s devoted to the well-being and education of the children under her care. She teaches in public school which has many pressures attached to the job. Her life is invested in the future success of her students. Some of them don’t realize this, of course; but many of them are truly thankful to her when she meets them years later. It always amazes and pleases me when former students come up to her to thank Evelyn for the one year of fifth grade that she taught them. For most of them, it’s a turning point in their lives.
I’ve always been thankful for my teachers. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their gifts of instruction. I’m also thankful that the greatest teacher in my life is also the Son of God. His words and ways influence the challenges and choices that I face each day. His lessons of life confront my selfish and foolish deeds. His teaching is a turning point in my life each day. I may not be perfect and holy. I still say and do stupid things, but Christ’s patient and forgiving nature teaches me a lot about faith and helps me through each day.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Great Teacher of life, the universe, and everything. We thank You for Your words and stories, Your parables and lessons that show us what life is all about. We also pray for the teachers in our schools whose devotion to their profession changes young lives. Bless them for their gifts and skills, their patience and hard work. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Pride
Audio version here ... or here
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (NIV)
My mom often used to say to me, “Watch out! Pride comes before a fall, John!” Usually, she said it when I was being a typical teenager and wouldn’t heed her advice. I’d be going to do something stupid and, in my ornery, essert, and stubborn way, I wouldn’t accept her maternal wisdom.
For example, I used to sit on the porch in my front garden and ridicule the kids who walked by in the street. We’d call each other names and I guess it was a twisted form of territorialism. My mom was never impressed with this, and scolded me on several occasions, which usually ended with me walking away as she voiced those awful words, “Pride comes before a fall.”
Inevitably, my mom was right, because one day a kid from the neighboring subdivision walked past my front gate. I did my usual jeering, expecting him to do the same. He didn’t. He walked through the garden gate and dealt me a swift uppercut to my jaw. His name was Eddie Connelly and he was training to be a boxer. I ran into my house in pain, whilst Eddie continued his journey. My mom had seen the whole incident and she was very unsympathetic to my plight. I didn’t know what humiliated me the most – Eddie’s first class punch or my mom’s words ringing in my ear. I had learned a lesson on both accounts. I had been taught what I didn’t want to hear.
Pride leads us into blind alleys and causes us to reject help. Pride paralyzes addicts from seeking a cure. Pride stops us from asking for forgiveness and keeps us from healing broken relationships. Pride is amongst the deadliest of sins to our souls, and it always comes before a fall.
Jesus discarded pride when He humbled Himself and became, as Paul states, ‘obedient to death.’ He didn’t have to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He didn’t have to go to Jerusalem to be falsely accused and corruptly judged by the authorities. He didn’t have to walk the way of suffering to the Cross at Calvary, so that our world may be saved. Pride could have kept Him from doing all of these things. Love, mercy, and grace empowered Him to overcome pride and bring salvation to sinners everywhere.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes our pride imprisons our spirits and damages our relationships. Sometimes our pride ruins our dreams and diminishes our faith. Forgive our vanity; pardon our stubborn ways. Grant us the strength and courage to overcome pride. Be with us and lead us by Your love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (NIV)
My mom often used to say to me, “Watch out! Pride comes before a fall, John!” Usually, she said it when I was being a typical teenager and wouldn’t heed her advice. I’d be going to do something stupid and, in my ornery, essert, and stubborn way, I wouldn’t accept her maternal wisdom.
For example, I used to sit on the porch in my front garden and ridicule the kids who walked by in the street. We’d call each other names and I guess it was a twisted form of territorialism. My mom was never impressed with this, and scolded me on several occasions, which usually ended with me walking away as she voiced those awful words, “Pride comes before a fall.”
Inevitably, my mom was right, because one day a kid from the neighboring subdivision walked past my front gate. I did my usual jeering, expecting him to do the same. He didn’t. He walked through the garden gate and dealt me a swift uppercut to my jaw. His name was Eddie Connelly and he was training to be a boxer. I ran into my house in pain, whilst Eddie continued his journey. My mom had seen the whole incident and she was very unsympathetic to my plight. I didn’t know what humiliated me the most – Eddie’s first class punch or my mom’s words ringing in my ear. I had learned a lesson on both accounts. I had been taught what I didn’t want to hear.
Pride leads us into blind alleys and causes us to reject help. Pride paralyzes addicts from seeking a cure. Pride stops us from asking for forgiveness and keeps us from healing broken relationships. Pride is amongst the deadliest of sins to our souls, and it always comes before a fall.
Jesus discarded pride when He humbled Himself and became, as Paul states, ‘obedient to death.’ He didn’t have to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He didn’t have to go to Jerusalem to be falsely accused and corruptly judged by the authorities. He didn’t have to walk the way of suffering to the Cross at Calvary, so that our world may be saved. Pride could have kept Him from doing all of these things. Love, mercy, and grace empowered Him to overcome pride and bring salvation to sinners everywhere.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes our pride imprisons our spirits and damages our relationships. Sometimes our pride ruins our dreams and diminishes our faith. Forgive our vanity; pardon our stubborn ways. Grant us the strength and courage to overcome pride. Be with us and lead us by Your love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Brooke
Psalm 49:16, 17 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. (NIV)
When Brooke Astor died a couple of days ago, so did a part of New York city. Her philanthropy was well known and in her lifetime, she managed to give away $200 million to worthwhile causes throughout the city. Brooke inherited the money from her husband’s fortune, a foundation of $69 million. She insisted that both the interest and the capital be spent, so that within her lifetime, all of the money was used.
Brooke was a real lady, whose good manners, dignity, and interest in people were legendary in New York. She insisted on visiting places where money from the foundation was being spent. She personally interviewed group leaders in drug-infested areas of New York to ensure that the money they requested from her was being spent on worthwhile projects. Most of her money went to arts and cultural organizations, but a substantial sum also established many community programs.
She was the last of the great philanthropists who gave out of compassion. She was not motivated by guilt like Carnegie, or the need for fame like the Rockefellers. She gave simply because, in her own words, “"Money is like manure, it should be spread around."
Her last years were surrounded by controversy because her care-givers squabbled about what was left of her money. She died at the grand old age of 105. She left riches on earth, but I believe that through her giving, she will receive greater riches in heaven. She couldn’t take money with her, but she could take a soul that pleased God through her generous philanthropic ways.
We each have been blessed and given resources by God. We all are called to be responsible with those gifts. Are we willing to spread around what God has given us, so that other people, places, and programs will be established, enabled, and enhanced through our gifts? Are we motivated by our need to succeed, which promotes greed; or do we live to give?
Prayer: Lord God, everything we possess is a gift from You. All that we have is given to us by You. Help us to share what we have and to spread Your blessings around. Release us from the insecurity that grasps our hearts and plagues our minds. Free us from the worry of wasting our blessings. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
When Brooke Astor died a couple of days ago, so did a part of New York city. Her philanthropy was well known and in her lifetime, she managed to give away $200 million to worthwhile causes throughout the city. Brooke inherited the money from her husband’s fortune, a foundation of $69 million. She insisted that both the interest and the capital be spent, so that within her lifetime, all of the money was used.
Brooke was a real lady, whose good manners, dignity, and interest in people were legendary in New York. She insisted on visiting places where money from the foundation was being spent. She personally interviewed group leaders in drug-infested areas of New York to ensure that the money they requested from her was being spent on worthwhile projects. Most of her money went to arts and cultural organizations, but a substantial sum also established many community programs.
She was the last of the great philanthropists who gave out of compassion. She was not motivated by guilt like Carnegie, or the need for fame like the Rockefellers. She gave simply because, in her own words, “"Money is like manure, it should be spread around."
Her last years were surrounded by controversy because her care-givers squabbled about what was left of her money. She died at the grand old age of 105. She left riches on earth, but I believe that through her giving, she will receive greater riches in heaven. She couldn’t take money with her, but she could take a soul that pleased God through her generous philanthropic ways.
We each have been blessed and given resources by God. We all are called to be responsible with those gifts. Are we willing to spread around what God has given us, so that other people, places, and programs will be established, enabled, and enhanced through our gifts? Are we motivated by our need to succeed, which promotes greed; or do we live to give?
Prayer: Lord God, everything we possess is a gift from You. All that we have is given to us by You. Help us to share what we have and to spread Your blessings around. Release us from the insecurity that grasps our hearts and plagues our minds. Free us from the worry of wasting our blessings. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Gentle Lochiel
(Celtic Moon O'er Brigadoon" - original artwork by John Stuart)
Audio version here
Ecclesiastes 9:15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. (NIV)
Just over 260 years ago, my hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, was surrounded by Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Highlander army. At that time, the people of Glasgow distrusted the Jacobite rebels and because they wouldn’t welcome the Highlanders, the city was almost looted and razed to ground. The order went out to destroy Glasgow and kill as many of the population as possible. There was no escape, because the Jacobite forces had cut off all of the roads and waterways. The city prepared itself for a savage assault, and its leaders realized that the government forces were too far away to help anyone.
Just as the Highlanders prepared to ransack and destroy Glasgow, one of the elderly Jacobite chieftains, Cameron of Lochiel (loch-eel), pled with the Prince to spare the city. He had been the first chieftain to support the Prince’s rebellion, and so his loyalty was not questioned. Lochiel suggested that instead of being ransacked, the city of Glasgow should be held to ransom for clothes, food, and supplies, which would enable Charlie’s army to retreat safely into the Highlands. The Bonnie Prince favored Lochiel’s suggestion and the city was saved.
After the Highlander army left the surrounding area, the city fathers made a proclamation that whenever Cameron of Lochiel or his descendants visited Glasgow, all the church bells would be rung to proclaim their arrival. “Gentle Lochiel”, as he came to be known, never heard those bells, for soon after this incident, Charlie’s army was defeated and Lochiel went into exile with the Prince, never to return to the shores of Scotland.
But to this day, the city of Glasgow honors their promise and in December of 2006, the Lochiel Camerons gathered in the city square to be welcomed and to listen to the peels of gratitude, favor and blessing from church bells all over the city.
Lochiel was a poor man, but he is remembered for the riches of his grace that saved Glasgow. In our own Christian faith, we also recognize that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, was poor and lowly carpenter, chosen by God to liberate the world and to save our souls. Almost 2000 years have come and gone since His sacrifice at Calvary, but there has never been a day, a year, or century since then that His great work of deliverance and salvation has not been proclaimed, honored, and glorified. And even into eternity, as John Newton put it, “there will be no less days to sing God’s praise” to worship Christ, and to exalt His grace.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You struggled with poverty all the days of Your earthly life. You understood what it meant to have needs and to be in want. For a time, You were refugee, made homeless by powerful kings and corrupt politicians. For years, You trekked across the country, proclaiming the Gospel amongst the poor and outcast, the insignificant and exiled. And then, to crown all of Your triumphs, You laid down Your life for this poor world and all our poor sakes, so that we may experience God’s grace, be rescued from our sins, and restored to everlasting joy and favor. You are the Power of the Poor, the Wisdom of the Wasted, and the Love of the Lost. In Your Holy Name, we joyfully pray. Amen.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Meaning
Audio version hereJohn 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
I was having an interesting discussion the other day about church with a long time member. This person volunteers three days a week for a special organization because he wants to do something that makes a difference in the world. He doesn’t feel that organized religion can supply his personal needs to be doing something meaningful. Somewhere along his spiritual journey, his attitude about church has become detached. I listened carefully to what he was saying and tried to understand his dilemma. He wants his church to make a difference in the world, but he can’t see that what we are presently doing accomplishes that goal.
I think that what he was expressing is something that many people feel about church today. It’s an institutional monster which constantly needs fed to maintain buildings, ministries, and missions. There’s nothing exciting about giving money to fix a wall or sending money to other religious institutions. There’s nothing dynamic about maintaining ecclesiastical cisterns and pipes, rooms and roofs that constantly need attention. If you think that church is just a religious business or commercial caring center, then you may indeed lose any sense of relevance that is has. If all that we are doing in church is oiling the machinery of ministry and keeping the momentum for mission support going, then there is no meaning or purpose. We are just collecting dollars in order to spend them. We’re just recycling money in a religious way.
But what is the purpose of the church? Is it to make an impact on the community, so that life on earth is better? If that’s the case, then we’re no different from all the other philanthropic clubs, organizations, and foundations in our community. We may as well merge with other compassionate associations that promote the well-being of the community. Church life would be no different and church membership would just be like joining a club.
Yet there is a difference. All those clubs, organizations, and foundations will eventually diminish and fade away. The church goes on into eternity. Where we have made a difference in the world is preparing people to meet their Maker, is in helping others to get into God’s Kingdom. Our churches, ministries and missions are vehicles for one eternal and everlasting purpose: to bring people to Christ and to help them find salvation for their souls. At the end of history, when all of humanity is judged, it will not be the amount of philanthropic organizations that we have financed, joined or helped that will save us; it will be our sincere belief in Jesus Christ, as the Son of God who forgives our sins and saves our souls, that will be of the utmost and eternal importance.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, there are many good causes in our community that need our time, talents, and treasures of support. They specialize in making a difference in the world for those who are helpless, powerless, and in great need. Your churches are in the same business, yet they are called to have an impact, not just in today’s world, but throughout all of eternity. Give us a better understanding of why our churches exist, what we are supposed to do, and how we can expand, extend, and enhance Your ministry and mission in the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Stock market
With the stock market reeling this week and scrambling to recover its losses, some of us may feel a bit edgy about finances.
I've found a healthy alternative to worrying. It's called KIVA, which is an organization that has been set up to help people in under-developed areas of the world set up their own businesses.
I read about a young single woman in Samoa called Naomi who wants to set up her own home business making popsicles for local school kids. She works in the fields pulling up roots during the day and at night dreams about owning her own popsicle stand near the school. You can read her story at the following website
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15722
I loaned her $25 via the KIVA website this evening - a loan that will be paid back in 14 months. I can then use the $25 to sponsor someone else. It's like recycling money or giving a gift that always gives.
Have a look at Naomi's page and see what you think - if everyone who reads these devotionals was to loan $25 tomorrow, Naomi could go into business for herself next month.
Thanks for your precious time. God bless you all.
I've found a healthy alternative to worrying. It's called KIVA, which is an organization that has been set up to help people in under-developed areas of the world set up their own businesses.
I read about a young single woman in Samoa called Naomi who wants to set up her own home business making popsicles for local school kids. She works in the fields pulling up roots during the day and at night dreams about owning her own popsicle stand near the school. You can read her story at the following website
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=15722
I loaned her $25 via the KIVA website this evening - a loan that will be paid back in 14 months. I can then use the $25 to sponsor someone else. It's like recycling money or giving a gift that always gives.
Have a look at Naomi's page and see what you think - if everyone who reads these devotionals was to loan $25 tomorrow, Naomi could go into business for herself next month.
Thanks for your precious time. God bless you all.
Rescue
Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.(NIV)
I was talking to someone the other day about my struggle with alcohol when I was a teenager. I grew up in the West of Scotland where the culture imposes a lot of pressure on young people to get as drunk as often as they can, just to prove that they are normal and can handle liquor. I started drinking when I was thirteen and five years later, I became addicted. I honestly cannot remember going more than a day without drinking beer, vodka, or whisky from when I was eighteen to twenty.
Typically, there was a great shadow or sadness over my soul and the only way that I could find to get rid of the darkness was to brighten up my spirits with intoxicating spirits. But alcohol is a depressant and when my ‘spiritual’ high was over, I was worse off than before.
People who loved me hinted that I had a problem, but no one really confronted me or intervened. It’s not that they didn’t care – I’m sure that my parents and some of my friends wanted me to stop – it’s just that I was so strong-willed and stubborn, they didn’t know what to do or say. My addiction made me powerless to give it up; and it paralyzed my loved ones who wanted to help.
It took intervention to rescue me – divine intervention. God got a hold of my attention and when I pleaded for help, He heard my prayer. I had to hit rock bottom before I could start on the road to recovery. I had to fall on my knees and ask for help before any turning point could begin in my life.
Since those dark days, I’ve known others to be in the same predicament, who have wrestled with the dark demons of addiction. Some of them have lost that battle and died prematurely, but I’m glad to say that there are others who have found God and conquered their dependency on alcohol. They have also experienced that precious moment of divine rescue in their lives when God has saved them from themselves.
Perhaps some of you who are reading or hearing this are struggling with an addiction. Maybe you have a loved one who is wrestling with nicotine, alcohol, drugs or pornography. Ask God to intervene; pray for divine rescue; plead for deliverance from the darkness. He has the power – all you need is the prayer for perseverance.
Prayer: Lord God, when we do damage to ourselves through solvent abuse and chemical dependency, rescue us. When we try to overcome addiction and obsession from things that harm our bodies, minds, and souls, deliver us. And when we or our loved ones have taken the wrong path, made foolish choices, or have slid back into fallen ways, restore us, O God, to Your light, Your life, and Your love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Revelation
Audio Version here
Jeremiah 16:20 Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!" (NIV)
For several years, the Virgin Birth disturbed me. I couldn’t understand why God chose to impregnate Mary without Joseph’s involvement. It seemed to be quite absurd that God would do something so strange and against the laws of biological science, in order to bring Jesus into the world. I had heard ministers preach about the sinlessness and perfection of Christ as being the specific reason why the Holy Spirit caused Mary to conceive; but it still bothered me and I couldn’t bring closure to my questions or reasoning.
Then, when I went to Trinity College at Glasgow University, I stumbled across a theologian and Biblical scholar named Karl Barth. His explanation of the Virgin Birth settled some of my doubts; Joseph was rejected as Christ’s father because God was setting aside the strength and masculinity of men. A new creation was required and because Jewish identity is passed through the mother, God needed to work with Mary, and not Joseph. The genealogies in Matthew may indicate Joseph’s lineage, but it was Mary’s Jewishness that God needed and used for the Messiah to be truly born. That explanation satisfied my need for answers to my questions about the Virgin birth.
And then when I was reading this passage this morning, this verse from Jeremiah sprang out at me. If Joseph had been involved in the conception of Jesus, then Christ would have been made by man. And if Jesus was made by a man, then He would not be our Lord, our Savior, or our God. This verse is a prophecy about the Virgin Birth. I hadn’t realized this before; now it all seems to make sense.
I don’t know if you have been able to follow my chain of theological thought this morning. It may appear as though I’m rambling. I just feel as though I’ve had a revelation about this biblical verse and wanted to share that moment with you.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for revealing Your mysterious ways through the words and deeds recorded in scripture. Thank You for the profound meaning that can be discovered in individual verses and passages from the Bible. Let Your word change our ways; let Your scriptures guide our thoughts and paths. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Jeremiah 16:20 Do men make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!" (NIV)
For several years, the Virgin Birth disturbed me. I couldn’t understand why God chose to impregnate Mary without Joseph’s involvement. It seemed to be quite absurd that God would do something so strange and against the laws of biological science, in order to bring Jesus into the world. I had heard ministers preach about the sinlessness and perfection of Christ as being the specific reason why the Holy Spirit caused Mary to conceive; but it still bothered me and I couldn’t bring closure to my questions or reasoning.
Then, when I went to Trinity College at Glasgow University, I stumbled across a theologian and Biblical scholar named Karl Barth. His explanation of the Virgin Birth settled some of my doubts; Joseph was rejected as Christ’s father because God was setting aside the strength and masculinity of men. A new creation was required and because Jewish identity is passed through the mother, God needed to work with Mary, and not Joseph. The genealogies in Matthew may indicate Joseph’s lineage, but it was Mary’s Jewishness that God needed and used for the Messiah to be truly born. That explanation satisfied my need for answers to my questions about the Virgin birth.
And then when I was reading this passage this morning, this verse from Jeremiah sprang out at me. If Joseph had been involved in the conception of Jesus, then Christ would have been made by man. And if Jesus was made by a man, then He would not be our Lord, our Savior, or our God. This verse is a prophecy about the Virgin Birth. I hadn’t realized this before; now it all seems to make sense.
I don’t know if you have been able to follow my chain of theological thought this morning. It may appear as though I’m rambling. I just feel as though I’ve had a revelation about this biblical verse and wanted to share that moment with you.
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for revealing Your mysterious ways through the words and deeds recorded in scripture. Thank You for the profound meaning that can be discovered in individual verses and passages from the Bible. Let Your word change our ways; let Your scriptures guide our thoughts and paths. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Tracing
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (NIV)
My Aunt Trudy was a professional tracer. No, she didn’t try to find people who were lost or get information for bounty hunters; she traced blueprints and diagrams for a shipping engineer firm. She must have had a steady hand and a keen artistic eye because tracing was a highly specialized skill.
She worked in the days before copiers and computers entered the work place. Her task was to produce copies of intricate diagrams so that teams of engineers could work on building ships and engines, machinery and special parts. She must have pored over and traced hundreds of documents in any given year.
I like to think that what she did was a form of art and much appreciated by those who used her skills. She probably would have preferred to paint pictures and sketch drawings of her own creation, but she had a large family, so she did what she could with her artistic gifts to provide for all of them.
When Paul writes about the wisdom and knowledge of God, he states that God’s paths are beyond tracing out. He means that God’s infinite ways cannot be copied, no matter how wise and wonderful some people may be. There is a sense of reverence and awe in Paul’s words. When he writes about God, the apostle cannot fully communicate what he means. In other words, God is beyond his knowledge and imagining; God cannot be confined to what Paul thinks and feels about Him.
Only in Christ, do we get a true picture of God and what He is like. And it’s only through Jesus that we can come into God’s presence. We may not be able to trace God’s paths, but we can follow in Christ’s footsteps to find Him.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all desire to find God and know Him. We all want to rest in His arms and abide in His presence. Guide us to God through Your words and Your Spirit. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
My Aunt Trudy was a professional tracer. No, she didn’t try to find people who were lost or get information for bounty hunters; she traced blueprints and diagrams for a shipping engineer firm. She must have had a steady hand and a keen artistic eye because tracing was a highly specialized skill.
She worked in the days before copiers and computers entered the work place. Her task was to produce copies of intricate diagrams so that teams of engineers could work on building ships and engines, machinery and special parts. She must have pored over and traced hundreds of documents in any given year.
I like to think that what she did was a form of art and much appreciated by those who used her skills. She probably would have preferred to paint pictures and sketch drawings of her own creation, but she had a large family, so she did what she could with her artistic gifts to provide for all of them.
When Paul writes about the wisdom and knowledge of God, he states that God’s paths are beyond tracing out. He means that God’s infinite ways cannot be copied, no matter how wise and wonderful some people may be. There is a sense of reverence and awe in Paul’s words. When he writes about God, the apostle cannot fully communicate what he means. In other words, God is beyond his knowledge and imagining; God cannot be confined to what Paul thinks and feels about Him.
Only in Christ, do we get a true picture of God and what He is like. And it’s only through Jesus that we can come into God’s presence. We may not be able to trace God’s paths, but we can follow in Christ’s footsteps to find Him.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all desire to find God and know Him. We all want to rest in His arms and abide in His presence. Guide us to God through Your words and Your Spirit. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Monday, August 06, 2007
Grace is Amazing
Audio Version here
John 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (NIV)
For a while, Grace was a popular name for girls in Scotland, especially among those who are now Baby Boomers. I used to wonder if the name Grace was chosen for spiritual reasons, because Billy Graham’s revivalist meetings were taking place in Scotland when these girls were born. Maybe Grace was chosen as a name because everyone was rediscovering the hymn “Amazing Grace.”
Then I realized it was probably something else, or rather someone else who caused the name Grace to be popular in Scotland: Grace Kelly. She was idolized by people throughout the world and when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco, her life was a fairy-tale come true. Perhaps Grace was chosen as a name for all of those Scottish babies long ago because their moms wished a happy, successful, and beautiful life for their daughters.
The Greek word for grace in the New Testament is charis (cha-rees), from which we get the word charity. It describes an act of graciousness that has been divinely influenced or inspired. We often talk about our God given rights, but in this case, we are talking about God given guidance which influences our thoughts and hearts into showing mercy, lending support, and offering help to people. This grace is often applied in circumstances where our help, charity and love is largely undeserved or unexpected.
That’s exactly what God offers to us through Jesus Christ, His Holy Son. He grants us a grace that can never be equaled. God’s grace sustains the universe and maintains our lives. God’s grace forgives our sins and redirects our ways. God’s grace gives us a divine opportunity to be restored to His favor and everlasting love. We deserve to die for our disobedience, disrespect, and distrust of God. Instead, through Jesus Christ, God offers an undeserved way out of oblivion, a merciful path to heaven. That’s why an ex-slave trader like John Newton could write a hymn called “Amazing Grace.” It is totally unexpected; it is completely undeserved.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our grace, our mercy, and our love. Even although we are completely unworthy and undeserving of salvation, You offer us forgiveness, restoration, and eternal peace. Enable us to grasp this grace and to cling to the charis that You give to us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (NIV)
For a while, Grace was a popular name for girls in Scotland, especially among those who are now Baby Boomers. I used to wonder if the name Grace was chosen for spiritual reasons, because Billy Graham’s revivalist meetings were taking place in Scotland when these girls were born. Maybe Grace was chosen as a name because everyone was rediscovering the hymn “Amazing Grace.”
Then I realized it was probably something else, or rather someone else who caused the name Grace to be popular in Scotland: Grace Kelly. She was idolized by people throughout the world and when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco, her life was a fairy-tale come true. Perhaps Grace was chosen as a name for all of those Scottish babies long ago because their moms wished a happy, successful, and beautiful life for their daughters.
The Greek word for grace in the New Testament is charis (cha-rees), from which we get the word charity. It describes an act of graciousness that has been divinely influenced or inspired. We often talk about our God given rights, but in this case, we are talking about God given guidance which influences our thoughts and hearts into showing mercy, lending support, and offering help to people. This grace is often applied in circumstances where our help, charity and love is largely undeserved or unexpected.
That’s exactly what God offers to us through Jesus Christ, His Holy Son. He grants us a grace that can never be equaled. God’s grace sustains the universe and maintains our lives. God’s grace forgives our sins and redirects our ways. God’s grace gives us a divine opportunity to be restored to His favor and everlasting love. We deserve to die for our disobedience, disrespect, and distrust of God. Instead, through Jesus Christ, God offers an undeserved way out of oblivion, a merciful path to heaven. That’s why an ex-slave trader like John Newton could write a hymn called “Amazing Grace.” It is totally unexpected; it is completely undeserved.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are our grace, our mercy, and our love. Even although we are completely unworthy and undeserving of salvation, You offer us forgiveness, restoration, and eternal peace. Enable us to grasp this grace and to cling to the charis that You give to us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Sunday Sermon - Freely & Confidently
Ephesians 3:7-13
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
I once played a butler in a play called “Shall We Join the Ladies?” written by J.M Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. It’s a murder mystery set in the dining room of a country manor. The guests all have a connection to the victim and they try to elicit clues from one another as they talk at the dinner table. The butler does not say a word in the play and must be attentive to each of the guests by bringing and removing silverware, plates and glasses. It’s only a one act play, but it’s one of the most intense murder mysteries I have been involved in and being the butler I had to fully concentrate on what was being said, done and expressed by the whole cast.
I literally had to become a servant to all of the other actors on the set to make the plot work.
Paul does the same when he’s writing to the Ephesians. The plot of the Gospel is to save the entire world and the mystery is how God accomplishes this through grace. When Paul declares himself to be the servant of the gospel, he’s letting the Ephesians knows that his life is dedicated to serving God’s purpose, attending to Christ’s demands, and fulfilling the tasks that are set before him. Paul doesn’t leave it to someone else to get things done – he’s on a mission for God and that mission is to spread the Gospel, preach the Kingdom, and glorify Christ all over the Mediterranean.
The Ephesians understood what it meant to be servants; after all, they had served Diana, their goddess, for hundreds of years. Their culture, their economy, their reason to exist was built upon serving the Great Temple of Diana, one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, and devoting their energy, gifts and resources to maintaining her relevance in the civilized world. Without Diana, Ephesus would have been bypassed long ago. Without the temple, the Ephesians would just have been just another small Mediterranean town.
So they understood service and being servants, which is why Paul emphasizes his own servitude to Christ. He wants to link with their experiences and relate his faith to their life style. He wants to match his purpose with theirs. He is looking for ways to make faith in Christ attractive and acceptable to the Ephesians by meeting them on their own terms, in their own cultural ways. He is finding a way to tear down the walls of being a Jew in a Gentile world. Paul is making inroads with his Gospel message by using the culture to convey his beliefs.
This is something that our own church did nearly 130 years ago. Out of all the names that we could have been known by, our spiritual forefathers and foremothers chose the name “Erin.” It was the name of this district a long time before it became known as Bearden, but when we were established we could have easily been called Bearden Presbyterian Church. So why did the charter members choose the name “Erin?” It all had to do with cultural relevance and Missional outreach to the surrounding community.
Erin is the ancient Gaelic name for Ireland and it means “the beautiful island.” It’s a poetic and lyrical name for the old country. Anyone who was a Scots-Irish Protestant in this area would have been drawn to the church by the old Gaelic name. We were established to serve God by serving as a spiritual home for the Scots-Irish in this area. It’s part of our heritage. It’s a wonderful part of our history. And if you have a look at the church register for the last 130 years, you’ll see that Scots-Irish names still make up the majority of those written in its pages.
So, in order to be culturally relevant, the original charter families chose the name “Erin.” For Paul to be culturally relevant to the Ephesians, he used the term ‘servant’ to describe membership in God’s Kingdom through Christ.
8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Some servants are more important than others. In Victorian households, the butler was the chief manservant who organized all the servants below him. He acted as concierge and confidante to the family; he saw to it that all the duties assigned to the household servants were accomplished. His role was chief servant and steward to the entire household. He ensured that all the family’s resources for domestic purposes were not squandered or wasted.
In Paul’s time, there was a also chief servant attached to every successful household. His duties as overseer were practically the same, so the Ephesians would have understood that with service and servant hood, there was some sort of order and hierarchy. So they expected Paul, as preacher and teacher to their church, to be the chief servant – but Paul would not accept that mantel of esteem. In Christ’s kingdom, all servants are equal because all are preachers, teachers, ministers and priests for the sake of the Gospel. No one servant lords it over another. There is only One Lord – Jesus – and all of His followers are servants.
That’s why I love being a Presbyterian. We don’t have a hierarchy in our denomination or church. Ministers of the word and sacrament are set apart, not set above the people, when they are ordained. Elders are chosen by the congregation, as is the pastor, so that all the people have a say in the shaping of the church, the direction it is headed in, and the vision for the future. We don’t have bishops, cardinals, or popes who individually decide things for us. We are all servants of God here; we are all called to do Christ’s bidding.
In recent years, our denomination has encouraged members of local churches to think about becoming commissioned lay pastors. Instead of going to seminary, those members in our midst, who have served at least three years as an elder, are given the opportunity to serve the church in a wider capacity as lay pastors. I’m delighted to tell you that both Charles Snodgrass and Katina Stair from our own wee congregation. In years to come, their service to our presbytery and church may be crucial for the PCUSA in this area. As servants of Christ, they will have opportunities to minister in specialized areas of our church’s life, work, and ministry. And I am hoping that they are the first among a whole group of Erin elders who will undertake, endure, and accomplish this special training.
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When Paul was writing to the Ephesians about being servants, they must have asked themselves what that serving entailed. It’s easy to accept serving God, after all the Ephesians had served Diana for generations – all they had to do was transfer their devotion from one deity to another – but what was their purpose as servants, what was God calling them to do?
Paul is ahead of them with regard to this question – he states what service to God is all about – the church’s purpose is to make God known in the world and to let their community know that Jesus Christ is Lord of life. That’s the Gospel in a nutshell – that’s the message reduced to its most simplistic form. Where I come from in Glasgow, Scotland, my city has this motto: “Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word and the praising of God’s Name.” It’s the exact same message that Paul was expressing to the Ephesians in his letter – serving God meant preaching the Word; being servants involved the praising of God’s Name.
Perhaps we could adopt something similar as a new mission statement for Erin, something like: “We are called to be servants of Jesus, growing in God’s Wisdom and praising Christ’s Holy Name.”
And talking about service for Christ at Erin, in the next couple of minutes, we are going to welcoming new members into our church. They have expressed a desire to join with our congregation and we are absolutely delighted that they have chosen to do this. But how can we help them become servants of the Lord, as well as members of our church? What experiences, ministries and missions can we offer them to enhance their connection to God and their relationship with Jesus? Are we content just to let them worship with us on Sundays, or are we going to make it our intent to invite and include them in our classes, our studies, our fellowship, our teams, our programs, and our plans? They have reached out to us: how are we going to reach out to them, to learn their names, to know of their gifts, to encourage and support them in their walk with God? We are all servants here – let us therefore serve one another by reaching out to these new members with our hearts and hopes, our faith and friendship, our laughter and love.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Finally, Paul writes to the Ephesians about why service to Christ in God’s Kingdom is important. They knew what to do and how to serve, but why were they called to serve Christ?
Almost every religion in the world has this common theme: that one day, every person who has ever lived on earth, will stand before God and be held accountable for every thought, word, deed, misdeed, and mistake that they made during their existence on earth. In most faiths it’s called the Time of Reckoning and Christianity is no different from many others on this point. People worship God, or gods, or goddesses to preserve and protect them from the trials and snares that this life imposes upon them. They also devote themselves and serve their God, gods or goddesses, in order to placate, appease and please them.
Just the other day, a devout Hindu in India, sought to win favor from his goddess Kali by making a sacrifice. The sacrifice he chose was to cut off his right hand. He’s now in hospital undergoing emergency surgery. But if he was a Christian, if he served Christ, he wouldn’t have to fear his God. We serve Christ because He has sacrificed Himself for us, so there is no greater sacrifice that God would ask of us. We can freely and confidently, as Paul writes, approach God and be in his presence without fear of reproach, retribution or reckoning. Our everlasting destiny has already been prepared when we decided to become Christ’s servants. We look forward to a moment in glory when we will be united with Christ through the unsearchable riches of His grace. We have nothing to fear… and this is why we are called to be servants of the Lord, so that others who fear death, punishment, and eternal separation may hear, know, and accept the Gospel – which tells us that we are not doomed to death and destruction, but that we are made for light and everlasting love.
Our calling as a church, as a congregation called Erin is to be that beautiful island of faith that everyone needs in their lives. Our task is to maintain the infrastructure of the Gospel, so that a bridge between heaven and earth can be experienced by as many people in our community that we know. And if we accept this calling of our hearts to serve Jesus, then one glorious day we will step forward, confidently and freely in the holy presence of our Almighty God to receive His eternal blessing and everlasting love. We will truly be Ephesian people, Erin Church members, and Christian servants, both now and always. Amen.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
I once played a butler in a play called “Shall We Join the Ladies?” written by J.M Barrie, the author of Peter Pan. It’s a murder mystery set in the dining room of a country manor. The guests all have a connection to the victim and they try to elicit clues from one another as they talk at the dinner table. The butler does not say a word in the play and must be attentive to each of the guests by bringing and removing silverware, plates and glasses. It’s only a one act play, but it’s one of the most intense murder mysteries I have been involved in and being the butler I had to fully concentrate on what was being said, done and expressed by the whole cast.
I literally had to become a servant to all of the other actors on the set to make the plot work.
Paul does the same when he’s writing to the Ephesians. The plot of the Gospel is to save the entire world and the mystery is how God accomplishes this through grace. When Paul declares himself to be the servant of the gospel, he’s letting the Ephesians knows that his life is dedicated to serving God’s purpose, attending to Christ’s demands, and fulfilling the tasks that are set before him. Paul doesn’t leave it to someone else to get things done – he’s on a mission for God and that mission is to spread the Gospel, preach the Kingdom, and glorify Christ all over the Mediterranean.
The Ephesians understood what it meant to be servants; after all, they had served Diana, their goddess, for hundreds of years. Their culture, their economy, their reason to exist was built upon serving the Great Temple of Diana, one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, and devoting their energy, gifts and resources to maintaining her relevance in the civilized world. Without Diana, Ephesus would have been bypassed long ago. Without the temple, the Ephesians would just have been just another small Mediterranean town.
So they understood service and being servants, which is why Paul emphasizes his own servitude to Christ. He wants to link with their experiences and relate his faith to their life style. He wants to match his purpose with theirs. He is looking for ways to make faith in Christ attractive and acceptable to the Ephesians by meeting them on their own terms, in their own cultural ways. He is finding a way to tear down the walls of being a Jew in a Gentile world. Paul is making inroads with his Gospel message by using the culture to convey his beliefs.
This is something that our own church did nearly 130 years ago. Out of all the names that we could have been known by, our spiritual forefathers and foremothers chose the name “Erin.” It was the name of this district a long time before it became known as Bearden, but when we were established we could have easily been called Bearden Presbyterian Church. So why did the charter members choose the name “Erin?” It all had to do with cultural relevance and Missional outreach to the surrounding community.
Erin is the ancient Gaelic name for Ireland and it means “the beautiful island.” It’s a poetic and lyrical name for the old country. Anyone who was a Scots-Irish Protestant in this area would have been drawn to the church by the old Gaelic name. We were established to serve God by serving as a spiritual home for the Scots-Irish in this area. It’s part of our heritage. It’s a wonderful part of our history. And if you have a look at the church register for the last 130 years, you’ll see that Scots-Irish names still make up the majority of those written in its pages.
So, in order to be culturally relevant, the original charter families chose the name “Erin.” For Paul to be culturally relevant to the Ephesians, he used the term ‘servant’ to describe membership in God’s Kingdom through Christ.
8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Some servants are more important than others. In Victorian households, the butler was the chief manservant who organized all the servants below him. He acted as concierge and confidante to the family; he saw to it that all the duties assigned to the household servants were accomplished. His role was chief servant and steward to the entire household. He ensured that all the family’s resources for domestic purposes were not squandered or wasted.
In Paul’s time, there was a also chief servant attached to every successful household. His duties as overseer were practically the same, so the Ephesians would have understood that with service and servant hood, there was some sort of order and hierarchy. So they expected Paul, as preacher and teacher to their church, to be the chief servant – but Paul would not accept that mantel of esteem. In Christ’s kingdom, all servants are equal because all are preachers, teachers, ministers and priests for the sake of the Gospel. No one servant lords it over another. There is only One Lord – Jesus – and all of His followers are servants.
That’s why I love being a Presbyterian. We don’t have a hierarchy in our denomination or church. Ministers of the word and sacrament are set apart, not set above the people, when they are ordained. Elders are chosen by the congregation, as is the pastor, so that all the people have a say in the shaping of the church, the direction it is headed in, and the vision for the future. We don’t have bishops, cardinals, or popes who individually decide things for us. We are all servants of God here; we are all called to do Christ’s bidding.
In recent years, our denomination has encouraged members of local churches to think about becoming commissioned lay pastors. Instead of going to seminary, those members in our midst, who have served at least three years as an elder, are given the opportunity to serve the church in a wider capacity as lay pastors. I’m delighted to tell you that both Charles Snodgrass and Katina Stair from our own wee congregation. In years to come, their service to our presbytery and church may be crucial for the PCUSA in this area. As servants of Christ, they will have opportunities to minister in specialized areas of our church’s life, work, and ministry. And I am hoping that they are the first among a whole group of Erin elders who will undertake, endure, and accomplish this special training.
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When Paul was writing to the Ephesians about being servants, they must have asked themselves what that serving entailed. It’s easy to accept serving God, after all the Ephesians had served Diana for generations – all they had to do was transfer their devotion from one deity to another – but what was their purpose as servants, what was God calling them to do?
Paul is ahead of them with regard to this question – he states what service to God is all about – the church’s purpose is to make God known in the world and to let their community know that Jesus Christ is Lord of life. That’s the Gospel in a nutshell – that’s the message reduced to its most simplistic form. Where I come from in Glasgow, Scotland, my city has this motto: “Let Glasgow flourish by the preaching of the Word and the praising of God’s Name.” It’s the exact same message that Paul was expressing to the Ephesians in his letter – serving God meant preaching the Word; being servants involved the praising of God’s Name.
Perhaps we could adopt something similar as a new mission statement for Erin, something like: “We are called to be servants of Jesus, growing in God’s Wisdom and praising Christ’s Holy Name.”
And talking about service for Christ at Erin, in the next couple of minutes, we are going to welcoming new members into our church. They have expressed a desire to join with our congregation and we are absolutely delighted that they have chosen to do this. But how can we help them become servants of the Lord, as well as members of our church? What experiences, ministries and missions can we offer them to enhance their connection to God and their relationship with Jesus? Are we content just to let them worship with us on Sundays, or are we going to make it our intent to invite and include them in our classes, our studies, our fellowship, our teams, our programs, and our plans? They have reached out to us: how are we going to reach out to them, to learn their names, to know of their gifts, to encourage and support them in their walk with God? We are all servants here – let us therefore serve one another by reaching out to these new members with our hearts and hopes, our faith and friendship, our laughter and love.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Finally, Paul writes to the Ephesians about why service to Christ in God’s Kingdom is important. They knew what to do and how to serve, but why were they called to serve Christ?
Almost every religion in the world has this common theme: that one day, every person who has ever lived on earth, will stand before God and be held accountable for every thought, word, deed, misdeed, and mistake that they made during their existence on earth. In most faiths it’s called the Time of Reckoning and Christianity is no different from many others on this point. People worship God, or gods, or goddesses to preserve and protect them from the trials and snares that this life imposes upon them. They also devote themselves and serve their God, gods or goddesses, in order to placate, appease and please them.
Just the other day, a devout Hindu in India, sought to win favor from his goddess Kali by making a sacrifice. The sacrifice he chose was to cut off his right hand. He’s now in hospital undergoing emergency surgery. But if he was a Christian, if he served Christ, he wouldn’t have to fear his God. We serve Christ because He has sacrificed Himself for us, so there is no greater sacrifice that God would ask of us. We can freely and confidently, as Paul writes, approach God and be in his presence without fear of reproach, retribution or reckoning. Our everlasting destiny has already been prepared when we decided to become Christ’s servants. We look forward to a moment in glory when we will be united with Christ through the unsearchable riches of His grace. We have nothing to fear… and this is why we are called to be servants of the Lord, so that others who fear death, punishment, and eternal separation may hear, know, and accept the Gospel – which tells us that we are not doomed to death and destruction, but that we are made for light and everlasting love.
Our calling as a church, as a congregation called Erin is to be that beautiful island of faith that everyone needs in their lives. Our task is to maintain the infrastructure of the Gospel, so that a bridge between heaven and earth can be experienced by as many people in our community that we know. And if we accept this calling of our hearts to serve Jesus, then one glorious day we will step forward, confidently and freely in the holy presence of our Almighty God to receive His eternal blessing and everlasting love. We will truly be Ephesian people, Erin Church members, and Christian servants, both now and always. Amen.
Friday, August 03, 2007
Weekend Screensaver - Jazz 4 July
Life, liberty and the pursuit of jazz!
An original Stushie stained glass window design for Independence Day.
An original Stushie stained glass window design for Independence Day.
Would Christianity survive without the Bible?
Audio version here
Colossians 2:17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (NIV)
Someone recently posed the question: could Christianity survive without the Bible? That’s a tough question to answer. For three thousand years, God’s people have looked to the sacred scriptures to build a foundation of faith and tradition in order to give their lives meaning and purpose. The stories of the Bible have become timeless examples of how ordinary people overcome their troubles in extraordinary ways. How solid would our faith be without the heroic exploits of Noah and his ark; of Joseph and his brothers; of Daniel in the lions’ den? These ancient tales of faith have inspired generations of God’s people in every country and culture throughout the earth.
But what if the Bible suddenly disappeared from our world? What would happen if we as Christians could no longer read the Gospels? What would our faith become? Could it survive?
If we look back to the faith of the first Christians, we come across an amazing fact: they didn’t have any scriptures to sustain their beliefs. The Gospels were written thirty years after the Church was established. The Old Testament wasn’t canonized in its present form until AD93. This must mean that the first Christians established their faith on maintaining their relationship with Christ. Their reality of faith depended upon their connection to His Spirit and not to words written on a scroll of papyrus.
I’m not advocating that we do away with the Bible. It is very important as a guide book for how we ought to live our lives, but in the end it will not be our knowledge of scripture that will get us into heaven. It will be our living, day-to-day relationship with Christ that will secure our salvation. He is the Eternal Word of God – the true Word that is alive, dynamic, and everlasting. Jesus is not someone who is confined to the pages of history, nor is He a mere character in a holy book. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, in whom our faith abides and through whom Christianity survives. The scriptures are a shadow of the things that were to come, and as Paul would say, “the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Books will one day turn to dust, and even our computers will become redundant and decay, but the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ, will never pass away.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the scriptures and for the many things with which they teach us about You, about Your messages, and about Your mighty deeds. These sacred words bring us closer to You, but they are not the source of our salvation. Only Your Spirit can connect us to God; only Your power can restore us to His favor. Enable us this day to grow closer to You in prayer, in devotion, and in service. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Colossians 2:17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. (NIV)
Someone recently posed the question: could Christianity survive without the Bible? That’s a tough question to answer. For three thousand years, God’s people have looked to the sacred scriptures to build a foundation of faith and tradition in order to give their lives meaning and purpose. The stories of the Bible have become timeless examples of how ordinary people overcome their troubles in extraordinary ways. How solid would our faith be without the heroic exploits of Noah and his ark; of Joseph and his brothers; of Daniel in the lions’ den? These ancient tales of faith have inspired generations of God’s people in every country and culture throughout the earth.
But what if the Bible suddenly disappeared from our world? What would happen if we as Christians could no longer read the Gospels? What would our faith become? Could it survive?
If we look back to the faith of the first Christians, we come across an amazing fact: they didn’t have any scriptures to sustain their beliefs. The Gospels were written thirty years after the Church was established. The Old Testament wasn’t canonized in its present form until AD93. This must mean that the first Christians established their faith on maintaining their relationship with Christ. Their reality of faith depended upon their connection to His Spirit and not to words written on a scroll of papyrus.
I’m not advocating that we do away with the Bible. It is very important as a guide book for how we ought to live our lives, but in the end it will not be our knowledge of scripture that will get us into heaven. It will be our living, day-to-day relationship with Christ that will secure our salvation. He is the Eternal Word of God – the true Word that is alive, dynamic, and everlasting. Jesus is not someone who is confined to the pages of history, nor is He a mere character in a holy book. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, in whom our faith abides and through whom Christianity survives. The scriptures are a shadow of the things that were to come, and as Paul would say, “the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
Books will one day turn to dust, and even our computers will become redundant and decay, but the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ, will never pass away.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the scriptures and for the many things with which they teach us about You, about Your messages, and about Your mighty deeds. These sacred words bring us closer to You, but they are not the source of our salvation. Only Your Spirit can connect us to God; only Your power can restore us to His favor. Enable us this day to grow closer to You in prayer, in devotion, and in service. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Contractual Agreement
Audio Version here
Psalm 25:10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. (NIV)
I had to sign a contract this morning for our Scottish folk band, Glenfinnan. We’re due to make three appearances at an all-day Celtic music festival which is being held on Saturday September 22 in Dandridge, Tennessee. The contract states that we will play two sets in the afternoon at the hospitality tent and headline the evening concert next to the dam. The contract also stipulates that no matter what the weather is like, the performances will still take place. I guess it is standard procedure for organizers to have these contracts signed, but it is the first time our band has had to sign one.
Covenants in the Bible are a bit like contracts, except that God is usually the one to initiate and complete them. Part of my seminary education at Glasgow University was to read about the covenants in the Old Testament. Time and time again, God makes a covenant with His chosen people. Time after time, the Hebrew people break the covenant, so God has to get them to re-commit themselves to Him. Finally, God chooses to initiate one last covenant, one last witness to His faithfulness, which we call the New Testament. Jesus Christ seals this new covenant with His blood on the Cross at Calvary. There are no more options, no more testaments, no more covenants after His death – after all, how could God top the sacrifice of His Only Son?
The way in which we can keep this new covenant is to believe that Jesus died for our sins and that through Him alone we are reconciled and restored to God. All other covenants are futile. All other ways fail.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for the everlasting covenant that You made with humankind through Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. In Him, we have forgiveness. Through Him, we are given salvation. To Him, we covenant our lives. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Psalm 25:10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant. (NIV)
I had to sign a contract this morning for our Scottish folk band, Glenfinnan. We’re due to make three appearances at an all-day Celtic music festival which is being held on Saturday September 22 in Dandridge, Tennessee. The contract states that we will play two sets in the afternoon at the hospitality tent and headline the evening concert next to the dam. The contract also stipulates that no matter what the weather is like, the performances will still take place. I guess it is standard procedure for organizers to have these contracts signed, but it is the first time our band has had to sign one.
Covenants in the Bible are a bit like contracts, except that God is usually the one to initiate and complete them. Part of my seminary education at Glasgow University was to read about the covenants in the Old Testament. Time and time again, God makes a covenant with His chosen people. Time after time, the Hebrew people break the covenant, so God has to get them to re-commit themselves to Him. Finally, God chooses to initiate one last covenant, one last witness to His faithfulness, which we call the New Testament. Jesus Christ seals this new covenant with His blood on the Cross at Calvary. There are no more options, no more testaments, no more covenants after His death – after all, how could God top the sacrifice of His Only Son?
The way in which we can keep this new covenant is to believe that Jesus died for our sins and that through Him alone we are reconciled and restored to God. All other covenants are futile. All other ways fail.
Prayer: Lord God, we thank You for the everlasting covenant that You made with humankind through Jesus Christ, Your Holy Son. In Him, we have forgiveness. Through Him, we are given salvation. To Him, we covenant our lives. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Camera Obscura
Audio version hereJob 28:24 “for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.” (NIV)
At the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, there is a tall building in which resides the famous Camera Obscura. Thousands of people each year walk up the lofty stairs to the tower to gather in a small dark room around a large circular table. Just as their eyes are getting used to the dim lit room, a wonderful things happens – light boldly shines out of the table showing a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. The table is not table at all – it is a large lens – and it displays a mirror image of most of old Edinburgh.
People gasp as they watch the scenery unfold – the castles, the palaces, the gardens, great gothic churches and classical Greek buildings are clearly displayed on the Camera Obscura. It is an amazing event, giving each spectator a never to be forgotten view of the whole city. Every participant goes home with a sense of wonder in their hearts. They just didn’t experience a bird’s eye view of the old city; they felt that they have just been given a God’s eye view of the people and places of Edinburgh. They saw the divine bigger picture.
In the book of Job, we’re often confronted with this idea of God knowing everything and seeing the bigger picture all of the time. We get so caught up in our own lives, troubles and issues that we forget God is looking after the whole of humanity, not just ourselves. We think that we see clearly what needs to be done to fix the world and heals the earth, but only God knows what is required. Instead of advocating for political groups, justice organizations or personal rights, we should ask ourselves this first: what does God see that needs to be changed? And perhaps the answer to that question will be something like: He needs to change me first.
Prayer: Lord God, for countless generations You have watched over our people. You have seen kingdoms rise and fall; You have experienced the clashing of civilizations and the changing of cultures across the globe. Throughout all of those events and times, You have never abandoned nor forsaken us. Speak to our hearts today and let us know what You want us to do with our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray.
At the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, there is a tall building in which resides the famous Camera Obscura. Thousands of people each year walk up the lofty stairs to the tower to gather in a small dark room around a large circular table. Just as their eyes are getting used to the dim lit room, a wonderful things happens – light boldly shines out of the table showing a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. The table is not table at all – it is a large lens – and it displays a mirror image of most of old Edinburgh.
People gasp as they watch the scenery unfold – the castles, the palaces, the gardens, great gothic churches and classical Greek buildings are clearly displayed on the Camera Obscura. It is an amazing event, giving each spectator a never to be forgotten view of the whole city. Every participant goes home with a sense of wonder in their hearts. They just didn’t experience a bird’s eye view of the old city; they felt that they have just been given a God’s eye view of the people and places of Edinburgh. They saw the divine bigger picture.
In the book of Job, we’re often confronted with this idea of God knowing everything and seeing the bigger picture all of the time. We get so caught up in our own lives, troubles and issues that we forget God is looking after the whole of humanity, not just ourselves. We think that we see clearly what needs to be done to fix the world and heals the earth, but only God knows what is required. Instead of advocating for political groups, justice organizations or personal rights, we should ask ourselves this first: what does God see that needs to be changed? And perhaps the answer to that question will be something like: He needs to change me first.
Prayer: Lord God, for countless generations You have watched over our people. You have seen kingdoms rise and fall; You have experienced the clashing of civilizations and the changing of cultures across the globe. Throughout all of those events and times, You have never abandoned nor forsaken us. Speak to our hearts today and let us know what You want us to do with our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray.
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