Ohio State vs. My Christian Walk

Football pundits have made a big deal over the course of this last week about today's Ohio State v. Illinois game. Ohio State has a distinct advantage over many other schools: they start classes weeks later than most of their opponents (this week marks the start of their classes). This gives their team an opportunity to focus solely on football for the first few weeks of the season. Without classes to distract them they are able to live football every waking moment-they have nothing else to weigh them down.

The writer of Hebrews understood the advantage this type of focus gives a Christian in their daily walk:

"...let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish." (Hebrews 12:1,2 NLT)

As a Christian I am encouraged to:

1. Focus: Keep my eyes on Jesus
2. Forget: Leave my sins behind
3. Fly: Run the race God has selected for me

The foundation is focus. If I "keep my eyes on Jesus," I will gain the endurance necessary to live the life that God has selected for me. If I lose focus, it is easy for the devil to distract me with past sins/unhealthy desires. So... how do I "keep my eyes on Jesus" and "run the race?"

The writer of Hebrews continues to outline some simple steps:

1. Remember the price Christ has already paid (Hebrews 12:3, 13:12)
   
2. Submit to God's discipline (Hebrews 12:9, 13:7-9, 17)
3. Live in peace with everyone (verse 14)
4. Live a clean and holy life (Hebrews 12:14 and 16, 13:4-5)
5. Aid other believers in their walk (Hebrews 12:15, 13:1-3,16)
6. Do not allow unbelief to take root in me (verse 15)
7. Be thankful (verse 28)
   
8. Worship God (Hebrews 12:28, 13:15)

Just like the athletes at Ohio State must (eventually) attend classes, I still have to participate in my everyday life. I still have to interact with customers, associates and family members each day. I still have to pay bills, be a good steward of the gifts God has given to me and overcome my own insecurities. God has not called me to live apart from the world, but to be an active participant.

In Hebrews, He has given me the necessary tools to participate in life (run the race), and succeed.

• When I feel that people are laughing at me because of my beliefs, I remember the price that Christ had to pay--I have not had to give up my life for my beliefs.
• If I remember to aid other believers in their walk, then I am encouraged to hold myself to a higher standard rather than be made a hypocrite.
• If I am thankful and worship God regularly, I remain humble and remember my place in relation to God--he is the provider, I am merely a steward of the gifts He has given me.
• By living in peace with everyone, I exhibit the nature of Christ to the World.

God, thank you for the sacrifice that your son has made. Thank you for the Word that you have given. Give me the wisdom to be a good steward of the gifts you have given to me. Help me remember the price that Christ had to pay. Help me lay aside the weight of the sins in my life and any unholy desires or jealousy that may arise in me. Thank you for the Holy Spirit that you have sent as my helper in this life. Amen

BTW... Ohio State defeated the Fighting Illini 30-0. In two years Ohio State will change to the standard semester system that most universities use. They will lose the advantage they have had--their classes will start weeks earlier. Maybe then Illinois will stand a chance.

A Change in my Para-diggum

Last Sunday as my pastor was speaking I heard him say something that "clicked" inside of me. Now it's Thursday, and I still have what one of my favorite authors calls a "niggling thought" picking away at me... "What did Jesus save me from?"

I know that my future is secure (John 3:16)

and my past is forgotten (Romans 6:6,7).

But, what has He saved me from in this present life?

What advantage does living a Christian life give me now?

The answer is found in the book of Romans:

"Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." (Romans 5:1-5, NLT)

In this present life we gain peace, confidence and joy.

Paul does not state that we won't suffer any more in this present life... in fact, he says that we will run into problems and trials. He goes on to say that they are good for us, and develop endurance which produces strength of character, which in turn produces our fourth benefit: confident expectation--hope.

I go through plenty of stressful situations at work throughout the week: customer issues; freight planning; seasonal changes; district, regional and corporate visits, and day-to-day interaction with customers and employees. There are more stresses at home: home and vehicle maintenance; resource allocation (paying bills); family interaction; illness; and interaction with my neighbors/their kids. I have not been delivered from these things in this present life. However, I do have a new perspective on all of these things. I've "changed my para-diggum." Now, I can look at all of the stresses and pressures of life as character-building exercises. They are developing my endurance and increasing my strength of character. I can have the peace of God throughout all of these trials. I have confidence in my future. There is always hope for me... I am secure in my relationship with Christ. I can rejoice in my salvation, and it gives me strength in this present life!

Tonight I had to speak with someone about their recent pattern of behavior. In the past the person had been known to be dependable, cheery and very friendly. Recently, however, I noticed a decline in all three of these areas. I pulled the person aside to talk to them and they related several issues they were presently dealing with. The discussion then proceeded to include the other person's relationship with God. They related to me that the lack of a solid relationship with God, and the lack of their family's involvement in a local church was at the heart of their unrest. I talked about the importance of locking into a good church, and recommended mine. I didn't receive a confirmation that the person would attend my church, but did receive a confirmation that they would actively seek out a "Good Baptist One."

This simple conversation made me begin to think about the Peace of God... the Peace that passes understanding. The opposite of peace is chaos. I know that at times I have felt like the person that I spoke with: as though my life was overwhelming. I have felt like I had loose ends hanging out all over the place, and my life was just about to come unraveled. I've found that the key to overcoming this feeling is to focus on my relationship with God (I have to admit that many times it is my wife that reminds me to take this course); I pray for His wisdom in prioritizing the tasks in front of me and for His strength to overcome the obstacles. I also pray that He shows me the right tools/people I need to complete the tasks. Another focus of my prayer is that He will help me remember the future He has provided for me through His Son.

The opposites of joy, confidence and hope are depression, fear and despair. Again, by focusing on my personal relationship with God, I have been set free from each of these. As I look back at our conversation I realize that the person I spoke with was suffering from all four of the symptoms of a weakened (or non-existent) relationship with God. My prayer is that they take the necessary steps to strengthen their personal relationship with God, and that they find a good church that will help them in their walk.

The salvation that Christ has provided for me has not eliminated the pressures of this World, but it has provided me with a release valve. I can read scriptures that speak of the Lord as my peace (Isaiah 48:18, Colossians 3:15), others that speak of Him as my shepherd (Psalm 23), and still others that speak of Him as my healer (Psalm 6). God has many aspects, all of which combine to provide me with an overwhelming sense of peace as I realize that through Christ I have been reconciled to God. He won't allow me to be tested beyond my ability to stand up to the pressures of the World. When I feel as though I may fail, I can count on the strength that He has already provided for me to make it through--that strength comes in the form of my confident expectation of my salvation.

Thank you, God, for the salvation you have provided through the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me remember that when I face any trials or am forced to suffer in my day-to-day life that your Son has paid the price to plug me into the ultimate source of strength--You. Help me to live in your peace. Thank you for the joy and confidence that you give. Help me to walk in your wisdom. I pray this in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Squirming in the Pew

I'm continuing to read through Paul's letters; as I do so, I am continually struck by the timeliness (or is it "timelessness") of some of the comments he makes. It's amazing to me that a letter written to a church or an individual nearly 2,000 years ago can still retain its impact and that its message can be so relevant in our current day. Recently, I have been struck by a few verses in the fourth chapter of Second Timothy:

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths."(2 Tim 4:3-4 NLT)

Now that we are in an age where huge amounts of information are just a few clicks on a keyboard away, it is very easy for someone to search out preachers and sermons that make them feel good about themselves and the life they are living. When a television program (or even a commercial!) comes on that we don't like we are so used to changing the channel or diverting our attention elsewhere that we do the same thing when confronted with uncomfortable truths from the Word of God. I found myself doing it last week in church!

Last Sunday our pastor was teaching on "Jehovah Nissi" (God is My Banner) and pointed out that our natural tendencies lead us to be ruled by our appetites, to gripe, to blame others (particularly our leaders), and to doubt God. He asked the question, "Do we trust God completely, or not?" I was made uncomfortable by the question, and immediately looked at the people sitting near me (yes, including my wife) to see what their reaction was. I was hoping to see someone that looked more guilty than I felt. Then, I began to watch a young kid down the pew from me... I missed the next thing the pastor said, and had to cheat off of my wife's notes to catch back up!

I don't think that I am the only one that doesn't enjoy being made to feel uncomfortable when faced with difficult questions or when presented with truths from the Bible that force me to examine my own life more closely to ensure that it lines up with God's will.

Another thing that I do is search the Web looking for sermons from preachers that I enjoy listening to. A large number of the sermons I download are from iTunes. I find a preacher I like, pull up his list of messages, and then download the sermons with titles that appeal to me. After reading 2 Timothy 4, I feel as though I need to alter my habits. Now, I'm going to listen to the sermons sequentially, regardless of title. I know that, upon occasion, I download sermons on a specific topic because they relate to something I am currently experiencing; I will not stop doing that. But I will be sure that I download those sermons only in addition to the ones I am downloading sequentially. In this manner, I am sure that I will receive more well-rounded teaching from God's Word. I don't want to fall into the trap of only listening to messages that soothe my soul, or pat my back. A few verses earlier in 2 Timothy 3, Paul states:

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

and then Paul urges Timothy to

"Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2, NLT)

I believe it is important to receive a well-rounded education in the things of God. The phrase "All scripture" doesn't leave any wiggle room for me to pick and choose select scriptures to heed. When Paul tells Timothy that at times he will speak words of encouragement but at other times he will have to rebuke the people of his church it makes me think, "When was the last time my preacher (or one of my iTunes preachers) said something to me that was a rebuke?" If I can't think of a time, then I need to question whether or not I'm receiving the whole Word of God. Paul told Timothy that not every word that comes out of a pastor's mouth will be one of encouragement!

The Word of God and the teachings we receive from the pulpit each Sunday should in some cases correct us, in other cases rebuke us, and in other cases encourage us. If , after a reasonable amount of time passes, all three criteria aren't being met, then we need to examine our Christian growth with care, asking ourselves if we are really hearing/reading the whole Gospel.

I am happy to say that I am proud to be part of a church that teaches the whole Gospel. I freely confess that at times my pastor says things that make me feel uncomfortable when I compare myself to the standards he sets forth. At other times, I feel that he is speaking directly to me when he speaks of an instruction from God's Word that I have failed to follow. But, there are also times that I am encouraged; when he speaks of God's love and the mercy He has shown through the provision of His Son, Jesus, as a perfect example and sacrifice.

I pray that God continues to reveal His will for my life through His Word. I pray for God's wisdom--specifically in regards to discernment when I measure a preacher's sermon against God's Word. God, I pray for pastors everywhere--that you remind them to preach your entire Word, leaving nothing out--even if they fear offending some of their long-time members. God, thank you for the church to which you have led my family. I pray for your blessings over the pastors and their families. Amen

God, Give Me the Strength...

The life that Christ lived and the directions he gave His church contradicted the preconceived notions that the Israelites had about their "Messiah." They expected a leader that would come with military might and free them from the oppression of the Roman Empire. Instead they got a man that hung out with tax collectors and prostitutes. He healed the child of an enemy leader. Together, with his ragtag group of twelve apostles, he broke the laws of the Sabbath, insulted the religious leaders of the day with accusations of impurity and then confounded the teachers of the Law with simple but revolutionary answers to their questions. He began a revolution that has impacted the world like no other man, before or since. The example of the life that He lived and the sacrificial manner in which he died provides all of His followers with a standard that is impossible to attain without the help of God in the form of his Holy Spirit.

As we near the anniversary of September 11, I'm reminded again of some of the most difficult instructions He gave us. The following scriptures have been "bouncing around" inside of me for a few days, now. Bits and pieces of them have been at the back of my mind as I work each day. I thought that if I gathered them all in one place, and prayed over them, they would become easier to follow. Here's the list:

Matt 6:43-48, “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too.

"If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Romans 12:14, "If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them."

Romans 12:17-20, "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, 'I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,' says the Lord. Instead, do what the Scriptures say: 'If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink, and they will be ashamed of what they have done to you.' Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good."

Matt 5: 38-39, “You have heard that the law of Moses says, ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’ But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too."

Luke 6:27-36, "But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek.

"If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you. Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return.

"Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."



As I type these words I pray that God helps me gain fresh insight into these scriptures. I think it is very important to draw a distinction between personal injustices and those carried out against a nation. Each of the above listed scriptures deals with personal injustices. The Bible demonstrates, on multiple occasions, that war is necessary at times to punish a nation that defies God's commands. Now, the question becomes, who is qualified to make the decision to go to war? Who decides that a war is "just?" Are our leaders being led by God in their decisions to go to war?

A "Just War" can only be precipitated on the basis of gross injustices to the general populace of a nation (i.e. a direct defiance of God's will). Once those injustices have been brought to a halt, the peace process must immediately begin with pure motives of providing a foundation for continuing peace. When a nation goes to war for any other reason (say, economic gain...) the war is not justified, and Christians should stand up and say so--we must also speak up when we feel that civilian populations are unnecessarily being placed at risk. In a "just" war, I believe that it is the duty of Christians to serve when called upon--it's very difficult to claim the love of God while stepping aside and allowing innocent people to be harmed by tyrants that refuse to recognize the value of life. Jesus himself demonstrated to us that it is our place to step up and defend the defenseless when He stopped an angry mob from stoning an adulteress. He also showed that there are creative ways that the lives of defenseless people can be protected without resorting to violence.

Unquestionably, it is the role of every Christian to pray throughout any war for peace. We are to pray for the salvation of all involved parties. We must also pray for God's will to be manifest here on Earth. We must pray for the leaders of the involved nations that they are led by God to pursue peace as the ultimate goal. We should pray that everyone involved uses no more force than that which is absolutely necessary to accomplish this goal, and that they do so without risk to civilian populations. We must pray that our leaders motives remain pure. We must also respond appropriately when it is obvious that their motives are not pure or when they are placing the civilian population at risk.

Civil authorities are also given the right to use necessary force to secure individual freedoms within our society. Police officers must be able to respond with appropriate force when faced with a situation that places the citizens they are responsible for in a position of danger. Our society has very strict laws in place to ensure that our civil authorities understand the definition of "necessary force." Christians in positions of authority must be very careful to act within these carefully defined boundaries.

Now, how do we respond to personal attacks? As instructed by Christ. It won't be easy, but we can do all things with the strength provided by God, through Christ. It is the example we provide, when faced with personal injustices, that will prove to the world that we are truly followers of Christ.

We also prove our Christianity when we speak up for anyone whose rights are being violated regardless of the city, state or country in which they live, and regardless of their religious beliefs and lifestyle. If it is our own government that is violating the rights of others, then we must stand up and say so. Christ himself did not remain silent when witness to the injustices and hypocrisy of the legal and religious authorities of His day.

God, I continue to pray for your wisdom and discernment regarding these matters. Please lead me in the direction You would have me go. Help me live my life in accordance with Your will. I pray that your will is carried out here on Earth as it is in Heaven. I pray for peace and for your guidance of all world leaders and civic authorities. Amen.

God and Terrorism

History records the story of a man that hunted Christians from country to country; when he found them, he'd drag them to a nearby church and have them whipped until they cursed the name of Christ. He voted for the deaths of many Christian martyrs, and had others thrown into prison.

How does God treat this militant anti-Christian terrorist?

He converts him (Acts 9:18) and uses him to preach the gospel of Christ to the Jews in Damascus (Acts 9:20), then he uses him to strengthen established churches (Acts 11:26) and plant new ones all over the Mediterranean (Acts 13 &14). He uses him to write thirteen books of the New Testament. He also saves his life multiple times: from assassination attempts (Acts 9:24-25, 9:29-30), a shipwreck (Acts 27:41-44), a poisonous snake bite (Acts 28:5), and angry mobs (Acts 13:50, 14:5, 17:5).

The militant terrorist, Saul, became Paul, whom many scholars consider to be the second most influential person in the New Testament.

My question this week is: "How should I treat terrorists?"

What should my response be to people that have committed horrific crimes against innocent people, Christian or not? This is the first week of September, and in a few days we will mark the eighth anniversary of a terrible crime committed by a small group of religious terrorists. 2,985 people died as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A John Hopkins study estimates that between 420 and 790 thousand Iraqi's have died in the war that followed. This number excludes the ongoing war in Afghanistan.

I'll always remember that day... watching the news throughout the morning as the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York crumpled... seeing reports of another plane that crashed into the Pentagon, and another that was forced down in Pennsylvania by brave passengers that fought back against their captors. I remember wondering how many more terrorists were out there, and what other tactics they would use.

I remember the heroism of the New York Fire and Police Departments. I remember other fire fighters from across the country traveling to New York to help with the rescue efforts. I remember the political leaders, Rudy Gulliani and President Bush rallying Americans to help with the relief efforts and the aftermath of the devastating attacks.

I remember the reactions of our government--swift retaliation against those directly responsible and also against those suspected of providing aide to the perpetrators. Then the war became "pre-emptive." We began striking targets that we thought may be hotbeds of terrorism. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured and hanged (the video was all over the Web). People celebrated his death. Our government is still hunting down Osama Bin Laden. American troops are deployed in multiple theaters in support of our war on terror.

I remember my personal reaction: I felt helpless, afraid, relieved that it wasn't happening to me (I'm being honest...), and angry. What I didn't feel was love for the people that were responsible. I didn't feel pressed to pray for the people responsible for flying the planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I still struggle with typing "people" instead of "terrorists."

The fact remains that those responsible for these heinous crimes are/were "people." Christ died for them, just like he died for me. He instructed me to love them... to pray for them... to bless them. Christ did not tell us to retaliate with force, but to "turn the other cheek." He told us that the World will know that we are Christians by our love.

I find this challenging. I served in the U.S. Army during the Persian Gulf War. I am proud that I served honorably, and provided an important service for my fellow troops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait (I was assigned to AFRTS). At the time, I enjoyed hearing stories of our military successes in Kuwait and Iraq. Later, when our country was pushing back into Iraq and making inroads in Afghanistan the same sense of pride welled up in me.

I am proud of our troops. I am less proud of the decisions of their leaders. I am much less proud of what I see as the reaction of a large part of the Body of Christ. I believe that as a Christian it is right to support our troops with prayers for their safety. But, I also believe that I have the same obligation to pray for the lives of our enemies (I did not say that I pray for their success). I pray for their salvation. I pray that every one of them has a "Damascus Road" experience. Some of these zealous militants are obviously capable of leading large groups of people into radical acts that defy logic. How powerful would they be as missionaries for Christ? A military victory over these people does nothing to deter them from their hatred for Christians and "Westerners." The only victory that can have a permanent impact is to win these people for Christ. As a Christian, I have been instructed to respond to their acts of violence with God's love. This is very difficult for me. It can only be achieved through strength provided by God. I am not capable of doing it on my own.

God help me overcome my anger at the enemies of my country. Give me the strength to pray for them, to bless them, and to love them. Give me a heart like Christ's. Help me to become more Christ-like. God, I pray that each one my country's enemies has a "Damascus Road" experience. Reveal yourself and your Son to them. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.