Proverbs 5

***Proverbs 5*** "There's a price for every promise you don't keep" - Clay Walker (see video) One of the most important things that Solomon has to say to his children is to keep the sanctity of marriage. An interesting statement from a man who supposedly had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11)... but we won't go there. Solomon was the child of King David and Bathsheba, a woman that David stole from Uriah, a good man. David saw Bathsheba bathing on a rooftop and had to have her. He made her come to the palace while her husband was off at war. Then... well they committed adultery. David then sent Uriah to the front line of the battle so that he would be killed, then David married Bathsheba. I imagine that David lived with regret for the rest of his life over what he did. It must have tore him apart. How could it not? Anyone with a heart would feel terrible for doing such a thing. This story is unfathomable to me, just like having 7oo wives and 300 girlfriends. I have 1 wife. 1 wife that I made a promise to, that I would be faithful to until I die. I know people that have made the same promise I did to somone else, but broke their promise and gave in to lust. And everyone they know are victimized. The person that loves them the most is the one that's hurt the most. Then the kids and family. Then the friends... if you were friends with a couple, they both are mad at you now. Then there is verse 10 "lest strangers feast on your wealth"... there is a reason lawyers drive nice cars. All that's left is shattered relationships, empty bank accounts... and lonliness. That is the price of a broken promise. It's not worth it. The seductive voice of lust is a liar...

Proverbs 3 & 4

***Proverbs 3*** "Do not be jealous of violent people" Our society loves violence. Violence within the law, but violence nonetheless. We watch football to see a middle linebacker level a wide receiver coming over the middle. We watch NASCAR to see crashes at 175 miles per hour. We watch men in a ring or an octagon beat each other up until one man either gives up or is unable to get up. We watch movies with $200 million dollar budgets with everything under the sun blowing up, and we think for a second that maybe James Bond does have a cooler life than I do. And we give these people, those who are most violent, honor and wealth. We buy their jerseys, we have pictures of them in our gamerooms. We are violent people. I know some of you might be thinking that men are violent and women are delicate roses... It just so happens that I grew up with 2 olders sisters that shared clothes, so don't try that nonesense here! It's nothing new. Human society has always honored the violent. Knights and warriors have been honored in every tribe on earth. The message of God is different though. Our God is not a God of violence but of suffering. Our God opposes the bully and stands for the oppressed. So much so that our God sent his Son, to be the victim of humanity's violent ways, so that we would know how much each of us are loved. I wonder why they don't make jerseys for Jesus? ***Proverbs 4*** Solomon is pretty clear what he wants for his children... above all else he wants them to be wise. He writes it over and over, and in doing so he constantly urges them learn more. To seek a higher level of understanding. It's interesting. One would expect a father to pass on words of wisdom, something that he has learned. I think many fathers today teach their children what they know, they pass on a skill or trade. Solomon is not interested in that, what he is trying to pass on is an unquenchable desire for more learning. He's not teaching them a thing, he's teaching them to learn as many things as possible. We would serve our children well if while teaching them math and grammar, we taught them why learning is so important, and even though school work eventually ends, learning never ends. I was talking with a teacher last week and she was sharing some frustrations she has. Because of the economy school districts are having to let teachers go, and classroom sizes are getting bigger and bigger. Teachers are overwhelmed and the children are suffering because of it. It's a hard time to be a student and it's a hard time to be a teacher. But we can afford to build $50 million high school football stadiums. Violence wins again! (I know, I know... it's a different budget)

Proverbs 1 & 2

Happy Tuesday afternoon and welcome as we journey through Proverbs... the book of wisdom. Hopefully when we are done, we will all be a little smarter. ***Proverbs 1*** v.18 "These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves." I think it's safe to say that we have all encountered bad people. People who are motivated only by their own personal gain and will do anything, run anyone over to get what they want. Nowadays we aren't really scared of people hiding behind bushes, but people that wear ties and promise us the moon... Someone like Bernie Madoff. Often times it doesn't feel like these people are ambusing themselves, but they are ambushing us. They have enjoyed all the benefits that come from being super-wealthy, while so many are left to pick up the pieces after their nest-eggs were hit by a wrecking ball. So how is it that they ambush themselves? I believe that the most important thing on this world is relationships. If one has a relationship with God and with one's family and neighbors, then anything can happen, and it will be ok. The wicked do not have real relationships. The people that surround them only do so out of fear or they are in it for their own benefit. But what happens when it all comes crashing down? v. 26 "I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you." They ambush themselves and destroy all of their relationships, they end up alone. But are we so innocent? Have we never hurt someone else? Of course we have, we have each done and said wicked things. I am reminded of the famous scene of The Unforgiven with Clint Eastwood, when the kid says "Well I guess he had it coming" and Clint says, "We all have it coming kid." We do... death is coming for all of us, disaster will strike us all. But we won't end up alone... That's the good news. ***Proverbs 2*** We know the author of Proverbs is Solomon, but could it be that this book was written to his children? v1 "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you..." I could probably look up the Hebrew and figure it out, but I don't really want to. Besides, this is more a devotional thing than a theological essay. I'm just going to think that it is written from a father to a child. With that lens, we read this as wisdom which is being passed down from generation to generation. What a great gift to leave to your children, a book that has all the wisdom that one has learned in a life. Something a child can hold on to and read often as they grow and mature. It makes sense. It's what pilots do. If a pilot is flying from LA to New York and experiences turbulence, he will share that information with the pilots coming behind him. Problems in life are a lot easier to deal with when we can see them coming. I remember so many lessons from my parents and grandparents growing up, things that have made me the person I am today. I remember my grandma used to say "never make fun of anyone, because God made them, so if you make fun of them you make fun of God." That has stuck with me for a long time. I wonder if we are getting away from teaching our children. They are so busy with everything they have going on that when they get home everyone is tired and ready to relax, do homework, and go to bed. The most important thing we can leave children is knowledge. Maybe we can write our own books... or maybe we can read them this book.

Micah 7

***Micah 7***

"You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea"

I remember watching a video in a high school science class about the bottom of the ocean. Not the sandy bottom that Michelle and I enjoyed on our honeymoon in Cancun... but the bottom of the middle of the ocean.

The average depth of the ocean is a little more than 2 1/2 miles. And somewhere around Guam it is around 5 miles deep. The ocean is deep. So deep that sunlight doesn't make it down there. The water is very cold, it is dark, and the pressure is so intense that it makes research very difficult.

That is where God casts our sins. Somewhere that we will never see again. It's a powerful image, the thought of Jesus standing on the beach with a bag of sins on his back. He takes the bag in his hands swings them back and then heaves them in to the middle of the ocean... where they disappear to a place where no light will ever again shine on them.

And the amazing thing is, that in the bag is every sin we have ever committed, not one is left out. And it's not just our sins, but everybody's sins... remember 1 John 2:2 "and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world."

Maybe there is a reason that it is so hard to research the bottom the ocean, maybe we aren't supposed to see what is down there.

Writing this blog made me think of my favorite Jimmy Buffet song. In the song he says about the ocean "in your belly you hold the treasures few have ever seen." The problem is, there is more than just treasure down there. (some parts of the song aren't real churchy, but it's Friday)

See you on Tuesday when we start Proverbs! (you'll like Proverbs)

Micah 5 & 6

***Micah 5***

"O Little Town of Bethlehem..."

We often read from this chapter at Christmas, because the birth of Jesus fulfills Micah's prophecy.

But I think we lose out on the significance of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a small clan, it wasn't a power player in the political realm of Israel. One would expect that the Savior would be born in Jerusalem, right down the street from the temple. And the Savior would be the child of religious leaders who were wealthy and powerful.

Nope, that's not the way it happened and that's not the way God works. God works in the most unlikely places and uses the most unlikely people... The son a virgin who was raised by a carpenter.

And yet creation was redeemed through him.

Maybe we need to start focusing on the unlikely places in our lives to see what God is doing.

Stop focusing on Jerusalem and start focusing on Bethlehem.
Stop focusing on the past and start focusing on the future.
Stop focusing on our church and start focusing on God's church.
Stop focusing on us and start focusing on others.
Stop focusing on celebrities and start focusing on those in need.
Stop focusing on fear and start focusing on love.
Stop focusing on our differences and start focusing on what we have in common.

Maybe you haven't seen Jesus working... maybe you're looking for him in the wrong place.

***Micah 6***

In Micah 6 we have what I believe is the Old Testament equivalent to Jesus' greatest commandment. "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

The first two are pretty hard.

Acting justly means to treat other people right. To strive for justice in the world. But who defines what justice means? The definition of justice changes all the time. 25 years ago my cousin Billy was killed by a drunk driver... it was a tragedy that effected many people that I love. But the punishment for the driver would be a lot different if it had happened today. Our understanding of justice has changed.

How are we supposed to hit a moving target? We love.

I once heard a pastor say that mercy is a shield God uses to protect us from the punishment we deserve. I like that. God's mercy is a result of God's love, therefore I believe that to love mercy means to love God back. I met someone for lunch today that wanted to talk theology. It was a great meeting, he asked many great questions and had some insightful thoughts. He said that we can not accept God, we can only stop trying to deny Him. Once we give up the charade, then God's love flows in and there is nothing we can do to stop it. I really think this is a powerful statement. Once we stop running from God and accept the fact that God's love for us is not an option, then we understand mercy... how can we not love God back?

But the truth is that we screw up on both every day, which is why the third is so comforting. God understands that life is a journey, but we aren't expected to journey alone. God is there with us, every step of the way. And no matter how many times we screw up, God never leaves us to journey alone.

The humility comes in the realization that God is not with us because of who we are, but because of who God is. We haven't done anything to deserve His companionship.

Micah 3 & 4

***Micah 3***

Scholars believe that Micah was written sometime around 725 BC, that's over 2,700 years ago. That is a long time ago. But it sounds like things weren't much different back then. The leaders were more focused on themselves than doing what is right for the people.

I have promised that I will never talk partisan politics when I am speaking or writing as Pastor Nick. It's really easy for me to keep that promise because I am disgusted with both parties right now.

It seems that our political leaders have lost sight of what made America so great and are more focused with their own re-election. They aren't even allowed to think for themselves anymore, instead they must vote the way that the party has decided. And nothing important gets done.
(I know that there are exceptions, but this is my blog)

One of the reasons that Micah is revered as a prophet is because Israel listened to him, they changed there ways and heeded the warning. They turned the ship around and avoided disaster.

No country can flourish when its leaders are focused on themselves. Israel was able to make the necessary changes, I think we can too.

**Sidenote: My politics... Here are the changes I believe we should make, just in case you wanted to know. Understand my context, I am from the Detroit area, grew up in middle-class family and minored in political science. We need a balanced budget, we need to pay down debt and we need to make sure every child has a chance. When we have a surplus, we need to send the money to China instead of sending each American enough to go out for a nice dinner. We need to take a hard look at our foreign aid policy; I don't expect people to give to the church using a credit card but that is what America is doing, borrowing money to give to others... some of whom don't need it. (I'm not saying we shouldn't help those in need, we just need to be sure our aid is going to those in need and not sending the President of Egypt $2 billion dollars a year for his savings account) We need to strip lobbyist of their power and find alternative energy sources. We need to be sure that our American soldiers, the true heroes are fighting enemies who intend to do us harm... not just those who dislike us. Those are my thoughts, I won't say them from the pulpit and I don't expect anyone in my congregation to agree with me, though some might.

***Micah 4***

Micah seems to have a pattern. He speaks harsh words and then he gives hope. This hope is in the form of a promise. The promise is that many nations will return to the Lord and on His Holy Mountain they will find peace.

As long as nations and leaders are focused on themselves the world will never know peace. But when they all return to the Lord, they will all know peace. Their weapons will be destroyed and made into something new something with a new use, something that fulfills God's purposes.

And the reason is they won't need their weapons... "no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken."

My politics, which are 3 inches up your screen, come from the same place most political beliefs come from a strong mixture of faith and fear. But like my father's weedeater, it is probably a 4-1 mix... 4 units of fear to one unit of faith.

I am fearful that if we don't balance our budget and pay down our debt China will stop buying our treasury notes and we will see economic armageddon. I am fearful that if every child is not given a chance to succeed that the problems in Detroit will spread to other urban areas. I am fearful that if we do not find alternative energy sources that gas will get to $8 a gallon and we will struggle to pay our electric bills. I am fearful that my children are going to inherit the Titanic after it has hit the iceberg.

Which is why the promise of not having anything to fear sounds so sweet to my ears. All we need to do is hear the Lord Almighty speak.

Anytime now God is going to speak....

Wait for it...

I'm ready...

And...

Nothing?

God has already spoken, on the cross through Jesus. God has spoken and the message loud and clear is I LOVE THE WORLD. In return we are asked to love God and love each other. If we took these commandments seriously we wouldn't have anything to fear... remember last week when John wrote that love casts out fear.

God has spoken and continues to speak in every act of love on earth. It is up to you and I to be God's voice. It is up to you and I to bring about change, to bring about peace.

It is up to you and I to love.

Speak through us O God. Amen.

Micah 1 & 2

***Micah 1***

I have a friend that had a heart attack a few years ago. He was told that his heart attack was caused by his smoking and that he needed to quit. He was a younger guy when he had the heart attack and there is still a chance for him to live a long, healthy life. But he still secretly smokes. Very few people knowe he does, but he does.

My wife loves to watch the television show The Biggest Loser. In the beginning of the season they take the unhealthy contestants to see a doctor, and the doctor tells them how unhealthy they are. He tells them what their obesity is doing to their body and the morbid truths related to being that unhealthy. He tries to give them the worst case scenario so they are scared enough to change their lives.

That is the role of a prophet. That is what Micah is doing. Micah is pronouncing God's judgment to the Israelites, Micah is giving them the worst case scenario so that they will change.

God is threatening to turn their land into a heap... to destroy it unless they change their ways. The good news is that it is not too late. Just like my friend and the contestants on The Biggest Loser there is time to turn their lives around and do what God requests of them so that they might be spared from destruction.

I don't know what is going on in your life that is causing you pain or is an obstacle to your relationship with God. But as long as you are reading this blog I promise you, it is never to late to change your life. I'm not writing about salvation, Jesus already accomplished that, what I'm writing about it living the best life possible.

I know the Joel Osteen Corporation came out with a book about it... but I don't promise wealth. But we can often control our health, we can control how we value relationships and we can decide if we want to strive to be a better person.

Hear the prophet... he is speaking to all of us.

***Micah 2***

Finally, some words of hope at the end of the second chapter.

Though pain and suffering are coming, God promises that He will be present throughout. God will be a shepherd tending his flock.

I think that we lose out on a lot of the shepherd imagery in the bible because there aren't many shepherds left. I think that I am in the minority of all Americans because I actually know someone who is a shepherd, although it's more of a hobby than a job.

Shepherding is one of the world's oldest professions, dating back to over 6,000 years ago. The job of a shepherd is to feed, tend to and protect the flock of sheep.

God feeds His people, with manna in the desert and with bread and wine every Sunday.

God tends to His flock through the guiding presence of the Holy Spirit.

God is a protector. Through Jesus' death on a cross we are protected from sin, death, and the devil.

It was a promise made to a group of people nearly 3,000 years ago and it is a promise for us today. Through the pain and suffering of this life, God is there.

But unlike sheep, we have the freedom to live the life we want to live. We can run away from the shepherd and find the places where wolves and demons dwell.

We can let the shephered be the shepherd by acknowledging that we are sheep and trusting that the shepherd has a better path for us.