Omipotence and orbits…bringing people together

Last summer we were visiting Orlando with our kids and my sister’s children.  We were staying at the All Star Disney Hotel in Disney properties.  With all of the fun that went on around that place, very few things could really get the attention of all the crowd at that hotel. 

One afternoon we were eating at the food court in the hotel when we noticed 50-60 people standing outside looking up in the air.  We stepped outside to see what was happening.  As we looked up over the building into the sky, we noticed that something amazing was taking place.  The U.S. space shuttle had taken off from Cape Canavral and was shooting high into the sky.  In the face of this mighty event, people from all around the grounds had gathered to watch the power and thrust of this powerful machine.  In fact, not only were people around those grounds gathering to watch, but people all over that part of Florida watched the Space Shuttle launch.

Imagine that…?  A variety of people from numerous races, backgrounds, and social classes stopped what they were doing to gather in a common location and view a common event.  People who did not even know each other were spellbound in viewing this breathtaking picture.  It is amazing what a powerful event or experience can do to bring people together and point them toward a common cause. 

And…if a large space ship shooting into the sky can so grip people as to bring them together in a common gaze, how much more can the mighty and majestic power of a magnificent God bring people together in a common gaze and common mission?  In Ephesians 3, by the end of the chapter, the Apostle Paul has elevated his speech to the hights of majesty, power, beauty, and eternality of the great, great God.  Once this greatness and might of God has been established, Paul then describes the impact on the church.

In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul describes the beautiful attitude and ministry of the church as he says, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, ^with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; ^one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ^one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Note the beauty of the attitude of the church as described by Paul.  It is a humble church, meek church, loving church, patient church, and church full of truth.  What, you may ask, can cause a church to be this rooted in truth and full of love for one another?  It seems that the church, in response to the greatness and magnificence of God, cannot help but express love for one another and a yieldedness to truth.

The conclusion of the matter is this.  If the people on vacation will stop everything to focus on a mutual scene of science, how much more will the people of God change everything when they truly see a great God?  I believe we know the answer to that.

Brush Your Teeth and Preach the Word Over 9800 Times.

My children are 14 years/11 months, 11 year/3 months, and 4 years/2 months.  We begin the montra of “Brush your teeth before bed” or “Have you already brushed your teeth?”  by the time they are about two years old.

Since we began the brush your teeth marathon, when our kids were approximately 2 years old, I have done some estimating.  Figuring their current ages — and allowing for getting home late some nights and missing teeth brushing, getting busy and forgetting, or just slipping up and missing it – I allowed for missing the “Brush Your Teeth” patrol about 10% of the time.  With a deduction of 10% of their days, I figure I have instructed and encouraged my kids (Elissa and I are one unit on this) over 9800 times in the last 13 years.

Why in the world would two people repeat the same thing over and over again for so many days?  Why would we expend so much oxygen repeating the same statements over, and over, and over, and over again….?  It is quite simple.  Elissa and I fully understand the value of taking care of our teeth.  Recently, our four year old had to have work done on a baby tooth.  With dental insurance, we still had to pay over $200.00.  It does not take long to see the incredibly important impact of healthy teeth on the family budget.

The fact is that, when we see something that is critically important in the lives of our children or loved ones, we will repeat it 9800 or 98,000,000 times if necessary.  The same must hold true for a pastor and his people that he shepherds.  There are certain truths that simply cannot be repeated too much by a pastor to his sheep.  These truths are critical to the very existence and health of his flock.

At the church I pastor there are certain ideas and statements I issue over and over again.  In the same way that teeth brushing is important enough to speak repeatedly for physical health, certain spiritual disciplines and ideas are crucial enough to speak repeatedly for spiritual health.  One of those ideas I chant over and over again is the regarding the accurate teaching and preaching of God’s Word. 

Why, you may ask, is this idea so crucial?  What is so critical about preaching and teaching the Word of God?

Let’s consider 2Timothy 4:1-5.  In it, Paul is writing to his young protege’ Timothy.  He is in jail and nearing the end of his life.  It is cold and lonely.  His body hurts, and the winter months do not help matters any.  Timothy is his son in the faith, and Paul simply wants impart wisdom for this precious young man.  Toward the end of this pastoral epistle, Paul declares:

The first reason preaching and teaching God’s Word is crucial is a matter of…ACCOUNTABILITY

2Timothy 4:1  “ I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and     the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

As Paul is about to command Timothy to preach the Word, he proclaims that the accountability that we have before the great judge of the universe.  In other words, we will not give an account of our actions before people but before the God of the universe. 

I must be more concerned about God’s desires for me than for man’s expectations of me.  When it is all said and done, my explanation of my activities on this earth will be toward God.  In that day, I want to be able to say that I have preached faithfully and accurately God’s Word.

 The first reason preaching and teaching God’s Word is crucial is a matter of…ACCESSIBILITY.

1Timothy 4:2:  “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”

Here Paul describes when and how the Word is to be preached.  If I am committed to the Word and its proclamation when people want it and when they do not want it, that covers about every part of every day. 

In addition, by every means possible I am to preach it.  Someone might ask, “When am I to preach?”  A paraphrase of Paul’s answer might be, “Preach when it is light, when it is dark, when it is cold, and when it is hot.”  Wait…there is no time not to preach. 

^The next reason preaching and teaching God’s Word is crucial is a matter of…APATHY.

1Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ^ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Paul warns that people will become apathetic toward God’s Word.  As they do, it will become even more important for God’s people and God’s leaders to be consistent in the Word.  Someone MUST sound the alarm of salvation and righteousness.  It does not matter if people want to hear sweet messages that make them feel good.  They need real truth that calls them to God.  We must be the people who provide that truth. 

The final reason ^preaching and teaching God’s Word is crucial is a call to…ACTION.

“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Great Olympic Opening Ceremonies Does Not Erase the Blood on their Hands

Did you watch the opening ceremonies in Beijing, China?  I am not a big opening ceremonies guy.    I love watching the thrill of victory and agony of defeat.  I cannot get as fired up about parades, pomp, and circumstance. 

There is another reason I had a hard time watching the opening ceremonies.  You see, I just finished reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs updated edition by Voice of the Martyrs.  I chronicles Christians who have been martyred for their faith up through 2006.  A number of those mentioned in the book were martyred in China.  It is hard for me to see the facade of the elegance and majesty put on by a country whose officials have instigated or allowed gross persecution of Christians, Christian churches, and their leaders.

For instance, consider these accounts:

“The New York — based Committee for Investigation on Persecution in China revealed that 182 house-church Christians from 24 cities and 16 counties were arrested between June and August 2002.  Many were repeatedly tortured by the police.”  (Foxe Book of Martyrs, 420)

“In December 2002, Phillip Xu was sentenced to eighteen years of re-education through labor leading an unregistered house church service near Shanghai the previous month.  Xu had previously spent six years in Laojiao (re-education through labor) and had been released from prison only two years earlier.  This was his fourth imprisonment.  His sentence was served and he was released in June 2004.” (Foxe, 421)

“In June 2004, thirty-four-year-old Jiang Zongziu was arrested for ‘disturbing the social order’ when distributed children’s gospl literature in the marketplace.  She was beaten to death by police while incarcerated in Tongzi County.” (Foxe, 423)

“A major crackdown against unregistered church groups continued in early 2006.  On January 8 & 15, Beijing Public Security agents raided well-known unregistered Beijing Ark House-church during Sunday services.  On PSB officer declared the church was disturbing the neighbors, while another quoted State Council Regulations on Religious Affairs saying the congregation was meeting in an ‘illegal religious gathering place’ because it was not registered.  A house-church member was beaten after a PSB officer noticed that the raid was being videotaped.  Thirty-six students of a house-church Bible school in Huaibei City, Anhui Province, were arrested March 1, 2006, when PSB officers in anti-riot uniforms and vehicles stormed the school.  Christian materials were confiscated.” (Foxe, 425)

China’s government may have cleaned up awfully nice, but does anyone really think that it has become the shining beacon of the Olympic Spirit that it appears to be at the 2008 Games?  I think not.  One good thing we can pray for as believers is that the public exposure will expose the gross injustices of a Chinese, communist government that does not allow law abiding citizens to worship freely.

In Acts 7, at the end of a powerful Gospel sermon, the church leader named Stephen was stoned to death for simply serving and preaching Christ. Over to the side the murderers of Stephen left the coats with a man named Saul (Acts 7:58).  While Saul did not throw a stone, he held the coats of those who did.  His culpability in this crime is obvious.

Believers, we must lift our voices for the persecuted believers in China.  We must pray that they would remain steadfast.  And, wherever our voices will be heard, let us proclaim Christ to the lost.  Yet, let us also let people know of the travesty in China.  If we ignore our brothers and sisters inside China, I fear that though we are not throwing the stones, we will be holding the coats of those who do.

To God be the Glory!

The Details of Happy Birthday…and Worship

“I just want to have a simple birthday party…”   Yeah…right!

When is the last time you really planned, organized, and implemented a simple birthday party?  That simple party began with the plan to honor the person whose birthday it is. 

Next, you thought through the guest list and began writing down names.  Simple…right?  “Well…if I invite him, then it might make her feel badly if I do not invite his sister.  Oh yeah…if I invite her, then I will probably need to invite her brother.  If her brother comes, his girlfriend will probably come with him.”  The guest list turns into an emotionally and mentall taxing time of planning and strategy. 

Pheww…!  The guest list is finally done and took a lot more effort than you had planned.  What about the location?   Where can we have the party?  “Well, I think I’ll have it at my house.  That means I better schedule a half day off from work to mow grass, clean up, clean bathrooms, and make the house look nice for everyone.  Wait…I have a project at work due on Monday.  It will be hard to take that half day off.  I better plan to burn the midnight oil and clean the house the night before.  Can’t take the time off.”  House preparations have now been made. 

Next…let’s plan for simple food.  “With the people coming, I better plan for pizza, so I can afford it.  I also need a cake.  But, since I have to make time to clean the house, I will not have time to bake it.  Maybe I better ask someone else to bake it.  Or…maybe I’ll just pick one up from Baskin Robbins.  Yeah…an ice cream cake would be great.  Wait…I can’t pick it up early in the day, or it will melt.  I have to work out making time to pick it up on the way home and put it in the freezer.  I’ll have to work out that plan.”  Food preparations are made, but what about drinks, cups, plates?  “I better plan to run out to Wal Mart tonight and get that stufff.  Good thing it’s open 24 hours.” 

But…remember…this is just a simple birthday party for this person to honor him.  Simple…right?  Yeah…right.

Guess simple birthdays sometimes turn out to be a complex event with a lot of details most of the time.  All of these details are covered for one purpose:  To honor the person whose birthday it is. 

Here is a question:  Are you prepared to expend at least as much effort and detail toward honoring the Savior of the world that you are in acknowledging a friend or family member’s birthday? 

In Nehemiah 12:44-47 the service to praise God and glorify Him was being laid out.  It was a service to lift up the name of God for the finishing of the wall.  Read of just a few of the plans for this worship service.

“44  And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. 45  And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. 46  For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. 47  And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.”  (emphasis added)

Note the effort put forth and the intricate and extensive detail put into worshiping, praising, and exalting God.  There seems to be no overlooking any detail that will enable God’s people to magnify Him in a more powerful and thorough manner. 

Now my question for you.  How much effort will you expend to express worship and adoration to God?  How much detail will you pursue just to be sure that no detail is missed that might magnify your Savior in a greater way?  This Sunday the church will gather to worship and praise God.  The goal is that He might be lifted up. 

What will you do to prepare for that day?

Witness…Do You?

“You are what you eat.”

Is that a ridiculous cliche’, or not?  I think that it can be rather ridiculous.  If I like salads, does that make me lettuce?  If I like to eat ice cream, does that make me a dairy product (and I do like ice cream) ? 

Of course, the cliche’ means that the way you eat will determine how effectively and efficiently your body works.  If you eat junk food, your body will not work as efficiently as if you eat healthy.  In this case, it is safe to say that your activity determines your identity — and vice versa.

It is the same for believers.  Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses.”  As Christians, Jesus did not offer the option of being a witness but He established it as an absolute.  We are witnesses, but the question is “Do I witness as a testimony to the Lord Jesus Christ?” 

Do You…?

I cannot get away from the fact that we must be intentional about doing who we are.  We must be intentional about doing the work of our identity…WITNESSES.  There are a lot of things that Christians get concerned and preoccupied about.  Is the intentionality of our witness one of those things?  Is there anything more imperative than warning someone that he is about to die if he does not change?

If you are saved, you are a witness.  If you are saved, are you intentional about doing your life as a reflection of your identity?  Are you finding new ways to intentionally learn to witness?  Are you finding ways to intentionally share a witness?  Are you finding ways to communicate a witness?

Find ways to get better at doing the very thing that you are…WITNESS.

P.S.:  Come be a part of a new series in August 2008 on Sunday mornings at Green Acres Baptist Church called WITNESS, or check out the audio versions if you are in church somewhere else at www.greenacresbc.com and see the bottom of the front page.