Where's HIS Place?

I was recently given a small devotional called “God Is In The Small Stuff At Christmas.” Little did I know I would soon be needing it! While enjoying the pleasant weather over the Thanksgiving holiday, my lovely bride suggested that I put up the outside Christmas lights. Now, you need to know that I despise outside Christmas lights…it’s not that I’m a Scrooge (really, I’m not!)…but lacking any intrinsic value to the holyday, they seem to represent the first step on that slippery slope that inevitably leads to a mentality of out-doing the neighbors and a total commercialization of the season! Do I believe that? Not really, but they are a lot of work and cost money that might be better spent elsewhere. So I am reading this little book and Bruce & Stan (the authors) point something out to me…something I knew, but I guess I needed to hear. “God is more concerned about His place in your heart than about the decorations in (or on) your home.” Sometimes we do miss the obvious! All the lights in the world will not save your soul, yet too many believers have their attention focused on the lights instead of on the Savior. If you believe decorations add to the holyday, then decorate…but not until Jesus is the focus of the celebration in your heart (after all, that’s where the real celebration takes place!). And for those who argue for strict authenticity in the celebration of Christmas…I guess they would have us spend the day living as homeless outcasts in a barn filled with animals…that’s fine, but make sure first that Jesus is the focus of your heart.

God's Will Be Done

Well, Thanksgiving is over and the shopping season has now begun. Depending upon where you get your information, I’ve heard forecasts that spending this year will be up 3 to 5% and I’ve also heard it will be flat (I understood that to mean no measurable increase). I would interpret that to be good news…but then, I do not work for Madison Avenue. If I may interpret, maybe the economy has not worsened since last year, maybe we are tired of spending for the sake of spending, or to impress others…maybe we are not as concerned with “keeping ups with the Jones” as we have been in years past. Maybe, just maybe, more people are coming to the realization that there IS a reason for this season, and it's not the doorbuster specials! I am not implying that as a nation we are experiencing revival…oh, that that should happen! But I am saying that we all have a God-sized void in our lives, and filling it with all sorts of stuff just leaves us feeling as empty as before. Perhaps people are finally realizing that! God is moving in our church, community, nation, & country. Sometimes it seems undetectable, but nevertheless, God is moving and our movement is towards Him. Pray that His will is accomplished this season of Advent…both for the Christian and for the non-believer. That might be the greatest gift you could give someone!

Give Thanks!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving…a uniquely American holiday. I find it disheartening that in the 21st Century United States many people jump from Halloween to Christmas with no concern for Thanksgiving. They surely have forgotten how the pilgrims, in search of freedoms (I know they were religious, but lets forget that for the moment), were very nearly wiped out that first winter by disease and lack of supplies. Nevertheless, in the fall of 1621, 53 of the original 102 emigrants who stepped off the Mayflower, along with 91 Indians gave thanks to God for his provision of wildlife and the harvest. Regardless of which traditional account you have learned, we all know these pilgrims experienced a tough time and this harvest they praised God for was meager at best. Now, flash forward to today: we live in a land of bounty and want for nothing…yet our praise is muffled by cries for more. I am reminded of the praise song by Don Moen, "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart" and I wonder just how grateful we truly are. It seems true…the more men have, the less they need (or want) God. I pray you have a truly grateful Thanksgiving Day with family & friends. Maybe this link will help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBpv-ZzcQD8

Praise God! Again!

I apologize for not posting last Friday...I was so busy, but it paid off. I have had a super-stupendous weekend…if that is such a word. Friday evening I went to Crossville UMC for a revival service led by old friends of mine, Richard & Susan Rhodes, and Joe Palisoc (they are actually not that old…), and the Spirit fell! This was my second night with them last week as I went back to Sesser for revival services on Tuesday night. Then on Saturday afternoon, our daughter, Samantha became the bride of Sgt. Michael Gripp and yes, they are a lovely couple…if she would hyphenate her name, it would be Quick-Gripp (I thought that was ironic but few others saw the humor). And on Sunday we had 188 in worship for our Back to Church Sunday…that is approximately a 25% increase, just because we chose to be intentional about inviting others (I wonder how many would have shown up if everyone invited someone?). The number is really impressive when you count those missing due to illness, traveling, or previous commitments…we would have easily had over 200 in attendance. The only way to top off a weekend like that is to celebrate 5 baptisms on Sunday evening…so that is what we did! Did I say it was super-stupendous? Praise God, we have been truly blessed here at Beulah, still it is far short of what God intends for us to do…or rather I should say it is far short of what God intends to do thru us. Pray that His will continues to be revealed and accomplished in Beulah UMC and in the lives of those worshiping here…while I try to get down out of these clouds!

God Doesn't Disappoint!

Today is such a cold and dreary day…I know it’s that time of year, but I am never really ready for it. Cold, damp, dark… it is no wonder many people struggle with depression this time of year. Add to that the holiday shopping season which promises fulfillment in all kinds of toys that many cannot afford, along with a false sense of happiness on the faces of so many, and more and more people of all ages and backgrounds experience unfulfilled dreams that in effect cripple them. Some of them come to the church looking for answers and fulfillment, but unfortunately too many churches are operating outside the power of the Holy Spirit, lacking any power or hope at all, and it just deepens their depression. Remember God doesn’t disappoint (oh, you might think he does for a time, but just wait for the blessings of God’s will to occur in your life and see if it wasn’t greater than what you asked for). And if people are being hurt by a church doesn’t it reason that God is not there? I know those are hard words, but think about it a minute. Our God is a healer, yet too many people come out of churches hurt, crippled, or humiliated. Is that of God? I don’t think so. That is satan at work in a church and it’s sad to say, but in too many churches satan would be more comfortable (and welcome) than Christ.

He's Talking!

What would you do if God spoke to you? I am not speaking of your conscience or a moral urge to do something right…but God spoke to you…what if it was audible? What would you do if God spoke to you and the message was unbelievable? What if God spoke to you and asked you to do something you knew you could not ever do…what then? What if someone’s life depended upon it…would that make a difference? One of the disorders of the Church universal today is that we have the faith (or fear) to think satan can attack us and cause us harm, yet we lack the faith to believe that God’s power works in ways foreign to our “normal” views and customs (which reminds me of Patsy Clairmont’s book, “Normal Is Just A Setting on Your Dryer!”). Read Scripture…repeatedly God uses things like a burning bush, a donkey, angels, prophets, and signs & wonders to ‘speak’ to his followers, but for some reason we do not expect, or will not allow, God to communicate to us that way. What if we did? What would our world look like? More smiling people…churches full…no more hurting? I am not exactly sure, but we have the opportunity to find out. God has spoken to us…all of us…and told us to witness to everyone about Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8). Need a reason beyond that? Next Sunday is Back to Church Sunday…who will you invite?

Our Call to Action

Last night I attend a United Methodist Men fall rally at West Salem with several of the men from Beulah. It was one of those events that is designed to be a shot in the arm for men. This was a good time…I got to see several men I have met over the years and several of my pastor friends. However, the shot in the arm came from Fred Bishop. Many will know Fred either thru his son, Shane Bishop, a former pastor here at Sumner & Beulah, or thru his ministry, “No Greater Love.” Most notably, No Greater Love sponsors trips to Mardi Gras and the Indianapolis 500 and other events that attract many people in order to share our witness to Jesus Christ. I was reminded at the rally just how edgy and uncomfortable some people can be with sharing their witness. I know not everyone is called to be a street preacher in New Orleans or Indianapolis, but we are all commanded to be his witness…even to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8 & Acts 13:47). So, as we find ourselves this week inviting people to attend church with us, who have you shared Christ with? It’s not a suggestion that we may or may not act upon. Or maybe, the conviction of the Holy Spirit has fallen upon you and you’re thinking of attending Mardi Gras…let me know and maybe we can go together! But in the meantime know that if God calls us, he equips us…and if the Spirit provides the conviction, he’ll also provide the power.

I'm A Man; I'm A Woman

So, some of my favorite television commercials are the Mac/PC spots by Apple. They are so good the concept has been copied for years by many different products; including faith…I just love them. However, I just found the very best spoof yet! Check it out and let me know what you think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGVMG0EBDus

Holy Synergy!

We are experiencing synergy here at Beulah. You know, it’s the interaction of elements or conditions whose total effect is greater than the sum of all the individual elements. Actually, some will call it synergy, but I would call it the Holy Spirit of God. When the Spirit is involved in something…nearly anything…the total of what the Spirit does far exceeds the sum, or even the expectations of those involved. Ruth Graham said it well, “By unexpected means God frequently makes possible the impossible by motivating the unmotivated! Here at Beulah, we have had visitors nearly every Sunday, we have more baptisms scheduled soon, we are getting ready to celebrate Back to Church Sunday, and Advent/Christmas is coming. I believe God is getting ready to do a mighty work here at Beulah. I shared last Sunday that I really wanted to set a goal for Back to Church Sunday’s attendance…but God spoke to me and said that I didn’t yet know what He was going to do. I’ll confess that I would have calculated an increase of 10 or 15% raising our attendance to 160 or so, but God impressed on me that we should have over 200 in attendance every Sunday. God then said to me, this church was built to hold 300…why isn’t it full? My heartfelt response was that we must lack passion...after all he has provided everything else we need. So here’s my prayer for all of us currently attending Beulah; that God will give us a passion for the lost, a holy boldness in our witness, and the desire to follow wherever the Spirit leads. Amen.

The Victory is Ours!

Yesterday several of us celebrated Melissa’s 16th birthday. That was a tough day for me. I never had the privilege of meeting Melissa, only those who love her, but it hasn’t yet been four years since we lost our daughter Emily and that pain lingers just below the surface…I think it always will. However, what caught me off guard was Bella’s request following the balloon release at the cemetery to visit her mother’s grave…because she missed her. Out of the blue it was like being hit by a mortar right in the chest. Twila Paris recorded a song way back in 1984 (my how time flies!) that is not only one of my favorites, but a classic Christian song called, “The Warrior is a Child.” If you’ve never heard it, she sings of a victorious warrior with battered and dented armor who is really just a child who cries when he’s alone...who when he falls down, he runs back to the Father who strengthens and cares for his child warrior. Jesus never told us it would be easy…he never said there would not be battles to fight…he never implied that we would not be wounded in the battles…but he did assure us of the victory. "Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:55-57). I do not know your battles, hurts, or wounds, but I know the One who is able to see us through every battle victorious. Do you know him?

Veteran's Day 2009

Today we honor the Veterans who have served our country and preserved our freedoms. Praise God for each one…I say that with mixed emotions. On one hand, I believe the sacrifice that many have made over the years has truly made a difference…in attempts to stop evil in our world…in attempts to free oppressed people…and in my life, in the freedoms that I enjoy today. On the other, there is no such thing as a just war…there always have been, always will be those unjustified causalities of war. It is one thing to rout the radical tyrants of history, it is quite another to, even mistakenly, take the lives of the innocent…and war, being what it is, always claims the lives of innocent children, women, and men. I am not sure a justified response to violence is violence. I realize that at times it is the only response left, but that does not justify it. Don’t misunderstand me…I do not have the answers. It is often too simplistic to quote Scripture and say "we are to turn the other cheek," or "love your enemy (Matthew 5)" but I have yet to find anyone who, after a war, truly believes that killing was the answer. What I do know is this: many today, including myself, enjoy great freedoms that have come at a high price to a few. Whether we agree philosophically is not the point…we owe a dept of gratitude to all who served when called. Let me say Thank You to all the veterans!

Watch Your Step!

Today I’ve been in conversation with a person who is trying to help someone understand the love of God. While that sounds simple, it’s not always an easy task. Especially since the person has become firmly entrenched in a legalistic understanding of the Bible. I understand Scripture, as Wesley did, through the lenses of tradition, reason, & experience. That is the famed Wesleyan quadrilateral (the Bible, tradition, reason, & experience) that scholars speak of which forms our faith. And like it or not, each of these impact the other. We cannot, try as we might, understand Scripture apart from traditions that we have learned over the years…and quite often multiple traditions inform us. We cannot understand the simplest of Scripture verses without dipping into the reservoir of personal experiences we’ve endured…good or bad; we all have personal and shared experiences. And we cannot understand Scripture without it being reasonable or logical (not that we can understand the mind of God)…still, try as they might; I fail to see the logic behind being a suicide bomber! Likewise our traditions, reason & experiences each lack understanding without Scripture. It’s when these four things are not held in tension (with Scripture being primary of course) that we find people on theologically thin ice, practicing rejection and hatred rather than love and forgiveness.

Are You Kingdom Building?

Okay…so I’ve caught those subtle hints about not posting everyday…and yeah, I do have thoughts every day, but honestly some of them you would not want me to share! But now things are better…charge conference is over, Praise God! I have figured out (hopefully) the problems with some audio files on the sermon page…and while I am struggling with why my radio laptop will not record correctly with the audio system here at the church…in time it will be solved (again…hopefully). So with those struggles behind me, here goes. Leonard Sweet, a great visionary of our day, recently observed, “If Jesus is the human face of God, then is not the Bible God’s Facebook?” He is so much more clever than I am! But, while I admire Leonard, I am a much more practical person…so here’s my observation: if we are God’s hands and feet and mouthpiece, what opinion of Jesus Christ do people get after they’ve been in contact with us? Let’s be practical…and real. How are you, God’s messenger to a lost world, how are you sharing (dare I say witnessing) Jesus to others? Think of it this way…if you were the only one God had chosen to let others know of Jesus and his saving grace…how large would the Kingdom be? Are you doing your part? Think about it…God has gone to great lengths to give you certain gifts, both natural and spiritual…to give you certain friends, co-workers, family members…are you bringing those two together for the glory of God? What ya waiting for…the rocks to cry out?

It All Points To Jesus!

What’s your passion? No, this is not a trick question, I am just wondering what it is that drives you. What is it that you live for? Sports…family & friends…music…prayer…games…learning (how weird is that!). There is no wrong answer…I’m not taking names so I can condemn you for not saying Jesus…unless of course Jesus is your passion! God created all these things, yeah, even those things that satan corrupts…God created them. In fact, I believe God created them for our good…so what is your passion? Movies…guns…fishing…let’s be honest. I think God wants us to have a passion (perhaps even one other than Jesus). The reason I ask is because, as a follower of Jesus Christ, all we are, all we do, is supposed to point toward Jesus. He does not want, nor intend to be a two-hour topic on Sunday mornings. He wants to be your Lord…24/7/365. If that is true (and I confidently believe it is) then our passions should also point to Jesus. They may take the long route to arrive there, but he is the final destination…the focus of our lives. I believe Christians have a responsibility to witness to their faith (Acts 1:8…“you will tell others” (emphasis added). I also believe God wants us to enjoy life…as he defines it…but whether we do or not, we will be his witnesses. So, what’s your passion…food…reading…jewelry…Harley’s? Does it point to Jesus?

Forgotten God

I rarely do this, but I have found a book that every believer should be reading. Forgotten God by Francis Chan, sub titled, Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, published by David C Cook. Francis is a pastor in Southern California and yes, out of the charismatic movement, but you still should read this book! In fact every charismatic, every evangelical, every conservative, every liberal needs to read his book (no, I am not getting royalties from it). He simply, reasonably, and biblically supports the reasoning for, and activity of, the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer, and how, in our enlightened day and age, we have strayed from the interaction that God intended for us from the beginning. It is an easy read; it’s one of those that I couldn’t put down. Get it (or ask to borrow my copy)…you will be blessed!